Marit Bjoergen – Page 2

Kowalczyk Back In Front At Rogla 10k Classic

Audrey ManganDecember 17, 2011

After struggling to match her form from last winter, Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) was finally back on top of the World Cup podium on Saturday in Rogla, Slovenia for the 10 k mass-start classic distance. Throughout the beginning of the five-lap race, Kowalczyk traded the lead on and off with Therese Johaug (NOR), who ended up fading to second at 22.1 seconds back. Her teammate Vibeke Skofterud (NOR) made a late-race challenge for silver, but ended...

Racing World Cup

Randall Wins Skate Sprint In Davos, Ending Bjoergen’s Streak

Kieran JonesDecember 11, 20117

Davos, Switzerland — Marit who? At least that’s how it appeared in the World Cup in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday, during the 1.5 k freestyle sprint, as it was American Kikkan Randall who destroyed the field rather than the usual Marit Bjoergen devastation. The Alaskan native blasted her way to her second consecutive World Cup sprint victory of the year, skiing away from the other five women in the final, leaving Russian Natalia Matveeva to grab...

Racing World Cup

Bjoergen Wins Again; Norwegian Women Dominate in Davos

Kieran JonesDecember 10, 20111

Davos, Switzerland – There is no doubt that the Norwegian women’s ski team is currently the best in the world. On Saturday morning, during the 15 k individual start freestyle in Davos, Switerland, they absolutely dominated the leader board, putting six women in the top ten, and taking the first four places. Surprising no one, Marit Bjoergen (NOR) crossed the line with the fastest time, leaving Vibeke Skofterud the silver medal, 41.8 seconds back. Therese...

Racing World Cup

Davos Preview: North American Edition

Audrey ManganDecember 9, 2011

For North American ski fans, here’s a look at who to watch for this weekend in Davos, Switzerland. Saturday’s 15/30 k—long awaited as it is one of only two such distances on the entire World Cup schedule—begins at 6:15 am EST with the women’s 15 k. The men’s start follows at 8:00 am EST. Women It says quite a bit about U.S. skiing these days that Kikkan Randall also featured prominently in our raw Swiss...

Racing World Cup

Davos World Cup Preview – No Cheese Here

Kieran JonesDecember 9, 20116

After a weekend of city sprinting in Germany, including gluhwein, spills, and DSQ’s, the FIS World Cup heads to Davos, Switzerland, this weekend for another pair of skate races. Saturday sees a rare beast on the World Cup — a long distance individual start skate race (15 for the women, and 30 k for the men) — while Sunday features what might be the most intense sprint of the World Cup season. While Dusseldorf...

World Cup XCFeeds

Odds + Ends From Kuusamo

JoranNovember 28, 2011

Annsi Pentsinen Doogiski over at NordicXplained asked how Pentsinen’s 4.3 second win in qualification on Friday stacks up historically. Quite impressively, it turns out. That’s the second largest qualifying round winning margin for the men’s field in WC, OWG or WSC races. The only larger one was almost 10 years ago, with a 4.7 second [...] Related posts:

Racing World Cup

Bjoergen Starts World Cup on Top, Norwegian Women Dominate in Sjusjoen

Topher SabotNovember 19, 2011

There were plenty of surprises in Saturday’s World Cup opener in Sjusjoen, Norway. Marit Bjoergen (NOR) was most definitely not one of them. The “Queen” of the 2011 World Championships with four golds and a silver served notice that she would once again be the woman to beat on cross-country skiing’s biggest stage. The 31-year-old Bjoergen threw down from the get go, building an early lead en route to a 27.1 second victory over Charlotte...

General News

Team 1: Norway

Kieran JonesNovember 18, 2011

where she pulled away from Marit Bjoergen and Justyna Kowalczyk to become World Champion in the 30 k skate. Most importantly, Johaug’s prowess broke up the Bjoergen-Kowalczyk club, and introduced a new power into womens skiing. With Bjoergen knocking the stuffing out of every single woman on the circuit this year, and Johaug stepping up to a new level, the Norwegians have an unbeatable 1-2 punch in women’s skiing. Add in the aging but putting...

XCFeeds

Can Bjørgen Repeat Her Dominant Performance?

JoranSeptember 16, 2011

Marit Bjørgen pretty much wiped the floor with folks last year in distance events: As a stats guy, when I see extreme events I tend not to expect them to repeat themselves. The general principle here is called regression to the mean. Extreme events are just unlikely, so it doesn’t make sense to expect them [...] Related posts:

World Cup XCFeeds

Are Women’s WC Fields Really ‘Weaker’?

JoranAugust 29, 2011

I received an email recently asking about field strength for the men’s and women’s WC fields, particularly as it applies to mass start races. Lately we’ve seen the men’s field engage in a fair bit of pack skiing, whereas the women’s field strings out more quickly. First, I want to dispatch with a common bit [...] Related posts:

General News

Last Day of Blink Festival Cancelled As Norway Mourns

Audrey ManganJuly 27, 2011

Organizers of the Blink Festival in Sandnes, Norway decided to cancel Saturday’s races in light of the tragic events in Utoya and Oslo that have sent the country reeling. “The situation has changed dramatically over the past day, and all parties agreed to cancel today’s events,” wrote Jan Kvalheim on Saturday, a representative of the festival organizer, World Event. The three-day annual festival, which has been around since 2006, puts on cross country and biathlon...

Health World Cup

The Skinny on Marit Bjoergen’s Inhaler

Chelsea LittleMay 16, 201114

At Polish three time overall World Cup champion Justyna Kowalczyk has never been one to keep her mouth shut. Take, for example, her accusation that Marit Bjoergen’s asthma medicine is performance-enhancing. “Without the medicine Marit would not have won gold medals,” Kowalczyk said at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. If Bjoergen has asthma, then it may very well be true. But Kowalczyk’s implication was that either Bjoergen did not have asthma and was taking the...

Biathlon General News Racing World Cup

Northug to Chase Bjoergen in Season Wrap Event

Inge ScheveMarch 28, 2011

Skarverennet in Norway, the unofficial international season finale, draws deep and competitive field of racers from both the biathlon and cross-country World Cup circuit. This year, it’s a pursuit: the men will chase the women for the overall title.

XCFeeds

Was Bjørgen vs Kowalczyk Really An Issue This Season?

JoranMarch 28, 2011

Doogiski over at NordicXplained has a good post up regarding the rivalry (such as it is) between Marit Bjørgen and Justyna Kowlaczyk. The issue between the fans of these two great skiers is the question of which one is better. Shocker, I know. Doogiski gives a good rundown of some of the limitations of comparing [...] Related posts:

General News Other Racing

“When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go” – Northug Wins National Championship Despite Bathroom Break

Inge ScheveMarch 27, 2011

Petter Northug Jr. won the 50K skate mass start at the Norwegian National Championships in Tromsø Saturday, despite having to make a pit stop in the woods.

Racing World Cup

Bjoergen, Kowalczyk, Johaug Again in Pursuit, Randall Slowed by Crash

Topher SabotMarch 19, 2011

Marit Bjoergen’s slump is over. Starting with her silver medal in the World Championship 30k, Bjoergen went a whole two distance races without a victory, proving that she is in fact mortal. She was back on top today however, dominating the 10km pursuit at the World Cup Finals in Falun, Sweden. Bjoergen skied away from Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) for a clear victory, opening an insurmountable gap in the overall. Therese Johaug (NOR) battled back from...

Racing World Cup

Bjoergen Opens Lead in World Cup Final, Randall Maintains 10th After Prologue

Topher SabotMarch 18, 2011

Rail hard tracks, crisp air, and extra blue – none were in evidence as the World Cup Finals continued with a 2.5-kilometer classic prologue in Falun, Sweden. It may not have been pretty, but it was a ski race. With 10-15 centimeters of snow falling into the morning, and temperatures just below freezing, it is perhaps an understatement to term the conditions a sloppy mess. Marit Bjoergen (NOR) served notice that she would not be...

Racing World Cup

Majdic Goes Out on Top, Thrashes Field in Stockholm

Topher SabotMarch 16, 20111

For the last time Petra Majdic (SLO) crossed the line, arms pumping madly, yelling with joy in what has become one of cross-country skiing’s most flamboyant and predictable celebrations. The tall Slovenian, who will retire at the end of the season, locked up her 20th career World Cup caliber victory skiing away from Norwegians Marit Bjoergen and Maiken Caspersen Falla right out of the gate. Kikkan Randall (USA), showing her fifth place qualification last weekend...

Racing World Cup

Cologna, Bjoergen Headline Lahti World Cup Pursuits

Topher SabotMarch 11, 20111

Less than a week following the conclusion of the 2011 World Championships,in Oslo, the World Cup picks back up in Lahti, Finland. This is the last event prior to the World Cup Final, where only the top-50 ranked skiers and continental cup series leaders may enter. There are a number of interesting story lines as the season winds down, mainly revolving around standings. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) has locked up the women’s overall World Cup but...

General News Racing World Cup

Johaug Climbs to Solo 30 K Win, as Bjoergen is Finally Bested

Nathaniel HerzMarch 5, 20117

Carrying the hopes of a nation on your shoulders is hard enough. But when your shoulders are as small as Therese Johaug’s, it’s a feat nothing short of monumental. In the penultimate race of the 2011 World Ski Championships, the 5’2” Johaug did something that so many larger women had tried and failed to do all season: she beat her teammate Marit Bjoergen. Buoyed by the cheers of an estimated 100,000 spectators packed dozens deep...

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