Bjoergen returns with victory in Ulricehamn

Norway's Marit Bjoergen has won her 104th individual World Cup with her victory in the 10 km free technique interval start competition in Ulricehamn, Sweden.  It was her first competition since La Clusaz prior to Christmas and today she won by just 10.7 seconds ahead of Finland's Krista Parmakoski.  Parmakoski continues with her impressive season and appears to have recovered well from her Tour de Ski efforts.  In third place to the excitement of the home crowd was Sweden's Charlotte Kalla +24.9 back from Bjoergen.  It went right to the finish line to know who was third place today as Kalla crossed just 0.8 seconds ahead of Norway's Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen.  Hometown girl Hanna Falk recorded her best ever World Cup distance result with an 8th place finish +36.4 seconds off the lead.  She was the early leader with bib 10 and stayed in the leader's chair until Jacobsen crossed the line with bib 30.

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ATHLETE QUOTES

Marit Bjoergen (NOR)
It is always great to win. I stayed at home for 5 weeks at home and trained. It is great to come back with a victory is great. I know that the training I had done was good. It was an amazing atmosphere. There were people cheering everywhere.

Krista Parmakoski (FIN)
I had a great day. I have proven to myself I can ski fast also in free technique. Of course 10 km Classic in Lahti is the big goal for me.

Charlotte Kalla (SWE)
I did not know I was third until I crossed the finish line. It was very noisy all the way. I only heard from the coaches I was skiing well but I did not know in which position. The audience was World class.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS

LADIES - 10 km F interval start

1. BJOERGEN Marit 1980 NOR 23:46.3
2. PARMAKOSKI Krista 1990 FIN +10.7
3. KALLA Charlotte 1987 SWE +24.9
4. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 1987 NOR +25.7
5. HAGA Ragnhild 1991 NOR +32.3

Complete results are available HERE.

WORLD CUP OVERALL STANDINGS

WENG Heidi NOR 1391 pts
PARMAKOSKI Krista FIN 1112
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 1072

Overall rankings available .

WORLD CUP DISTANCE STANDINGS

1. WENG Heidi NOR 638 pts
2. PARMAKOSKI Krista FIN 537
3. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 524

Distance rankings available HERE.