Oh Liberec, oh Liberec, before we say so long … here’s what didn’t quite fit into last weekend’s recaps of the World Cup classic sprints and team sprints in the Czech Republic. Disclaimer: It’s Canadian- and female-heavy.
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Liberec World Cup
After the Tour de Ski, cross country skiers took a rest while the sprinters returned to the fore, with perennial favorites Teodor Peterson (sprint) and Maiken Caspersen Falla (team sprint) taking wins in Liberec; new faces also rose to the top, like Mona-Liisa Mahlvaleto of Finland in the women's sprint. In biathlon, Martin Fourcade is back to himself and Tora Berger won the mass start on the same course she took her World Championship title last year. Domestic racing was on pause.
Two 22-year-old Norwegians, Maiken Caspersen Falla and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, topped Sunday's World Cup team sprint podium, beating Sweden's Ida Ingemarsdotter and Stina Nilsson by half a second in the 6 x 0.85 k skate sprint. The U.S. women with Sadie Bjornsen and Ida Sargent ended up seventh after hanging in third.
Rested and Ready, Canadians All Qualify, Gaiazova Nearly Makes Podium in Liberec
Alex KochonJanuary 12, 2013
The four Canadians in Saturday's classic sprint made the rounds, where Dasha Gaiazova in fourth led the team in all-around solid day. Gaiazova narrowly missed the podium in a photo finish, Perianne Jones tallied a career best in ninth and Lenny Valjas also made the top 10.
Musical Champ, Malvalehto Rises to First World Cup Victory in Liberec Sprint
Alex KochonJanuary 12, 2013
It took Finland’s Mona-Liisa Malvalehto 67 World Cup starts to achieve her first podium, but she did it in winning fashion Saturday in the classic sprint, ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk, Maiken Caspersen Falla and Dasha Gaiazova. A mother with a musical background and reality show title, Malvalehto won the first of two sprints in Liberec, Czech Republic.
Strong Results in Canada Earn Caldwell, Davis World Cup Starts in Liberec
Audrey ManganDecember 19, 2012
Based on their recent results from Quebec City and Canmore, the USST has offered Sophie Caldwell and Skyler Davis the chance to start another World Cup in Liberec, Czech Republic, in mid January. The races there take place just before U23 Worlds at the same venue and fall just inside the selection period the USST will use to select its team for World Championships.