Emil Hegle Svendsen and Lowell Bailey had a few things in common on Thursday. While Bailey started the four-leg race for the Americans and Svendsen anchored the Norwegians, both led to the finish and capitalized on one critical hill to do so.
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Sednev’s Doping Suspension Leaves Uneasiness in the Biathlon Community
Chelsea LittleJanuary 13, 2015
Sergui Sednev of Ukraine is the latest athlete to be caught in the International Biathlon Union's re-testing of suspicious anti-doping samples from seasons past. At stake are two seasons' worth of results. All of the old samples have now been tested, but it's unclear whether more suspensions are still to come - a month passed between the analytical result in Sednev's case and the release of his name.
Ivan Babikov felt faster than 12th on the day up Alpe Cermis, yet that's where he ended up for 31st overall in the Tour. Canadian teammate Devon Kershaw ended the final stage in 35th -- not where he wanted to be, either.
Ever since the season started in West Yellowstone, Rosie Brennan's been on a roll. On Saturday, she achieved her seventh-straight podium, and third-consecutive win out of four races at U.S. nationals, becoming the first skier to do so since Kikkan Randall won all four nationals events in 2010.
Canadian star Alex Harvey had been pondering an unorthodox plan to classic ski up the Tour de Ski's final climb, but he pulled out after a lackluster result Saturday.
Stephen: ‘I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Imagined a Classic Race Shaping Up into Fifth’
Chelsea LittleJanuary 10, 2015
Liz Stephen found herself in fifth place in Saturday's 10 k classic mass start at the Tour de Ski, and she thought, why not? Why don't I belong here? She hung on to record her best-ever finish in the classic technique, and hopes to move from sixth up to fourth in the Tour's final stage on Sunday.
Fourcade Overcomes All Obstacles, Back to Business with Oberhof Sprint Win
Evan GirardJanuary 10, 2015
Despite heroic efforts by the organizing committee to truck in snow and repair a race course that melted overnight, nobody seemed happy to race in Oberhof, Germany, today. Skiing was treacherous, shooting unfair - even race winner Martin Fourcade suggested the IBU rethink its schedule.
Therese Johaug surprised nobody as much as herself when she passed Marit Bjørgen in the final meters of Saturday's 10 k classic mass start. Norway swept the podium again, but Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland turned in her best performance all season in fourth place, and American Liz Stephen finished an assertive fifth.
Decisions on the World Cup circuit, like when to stop when the going's good or whether to stay in Europe when things aren't going exactly according to plan, aren't easy. But they have to be made. APU Head Coach Erik Flora explains the thought processes behind some recent U.S. Ski Team member moves.
Gearing up for the Long Run: Ski Classics’ Jizerská 50 in Czech Republic on Sunday
Inge ScheveJanuary 9, 2015
Sunday’s 50-kilometer classic race Jizerská Padesatka near Liberec, Czech Republic, is the next event in the 2015 Swix Ski Classics long-distance circuit and racers are eager to hit the tracks after a long break since mid-December.
Windy Oberhof Can’t Stop Czech, Italian Women; Dunklee 21st to Lead North Americans
Evan GirardJanuary 9, 2015
Another windy day in Oberhof, Germany, for the IBU World Cup 7.5-kilometer women’s sprint race caused some of the big names to make huge errors on the range and created room for new faces on the podium.
Kris Freeman knew he couldn't let the U.S. nationals 30 k classic mass start come down to a sprint. The seasoned veteran sat patiently throughout the three-lap race on Thursday, then attacked with 2 1/2 kilometers to go to take the title by 3.7 seconds over APU's Lex Treinen.
A bitter Evgeniy Belov of Russia, who finished fourth in today's sprint finish of the 25 k Tour de Ski pursuit, pointed his finger at Petter Northug - the Norwegian skied 24.7 kilometers with the lead pack of four, but never actually led the race until he won it. He now leads the Tour by seven seconds over Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Calle Halfvarsson.
Harvey 14th in 10 k Classic Stage, Starting Seventh in Tour’s Toblach Pursuit
Alex KochonJanuary 7, 2015
Three Canadians remain in the Tour de Ski, and in the 10 k classic on Wednesday, Alex Harvey led them in 14th -- a result he considered good, not great. Devon Kershaw placed 21st and Ivan Babikov was 32nd.
It was a warm one in Oberhof, Germany, on Wednesday, but the Czech Republic women remained consistent, both with their skiing and shooting, in the 4 x 6 k relay to win by nearly 9 seconds over France. Belarus rebounded from 10th to third, and the Canadians were lapped on the final loop.
Brennan Paves the Way, Keeps on Plugging for Classic-Sprint National Title (with Gallery)
Alex KochonJanuary 6, 2015
Rosie Brennan didn't let a hefty amount of fresh snow hold her back, qualifying in second in a blizzard then dominating each of her heats, including the classic-sprint final, at U.S. nationals on Tuesday. With the exception of Becca Rorabaugh and Anne Hart, the rest of the women's A-final achieved career bests by making it to the final.
For the second sprint in a row, Italy's Federico Pellegrino came out on top of a stacked World Cup field. Petter Northug of Norway, however, finished second, and retained his overall Tour de Ski lead. “Today, one of my big dreams has come true: to beat Petter (Northug) in the sprint final,” Pellegrino said.
With the pace slowed after 2.5 k, the 15 k classic pursuit in Oberstdorf, Germany, looked more like a mass start. From the huge pack of skiers, Petter Northug threaded his way to a sprint finish win, with Alex Harvey of Canada out-double-poling Sweden's Calle Halfvarsson for second.
Sunday's 15 k classic pursuit proved to be rough for the American men on the Tour de Ski. Erik Bjornsen led the Americans in 60th, while Simi Hamilton, following a successful prologue, finished just behind in 61st. Andy Newell suffered a crash and finished in 88th.
In the two days leading up to U.S. nationals, we caught up with several podium contenders for the races in Houghton, Mich., which start this Sunday and last through next Saturday.