Matveeva and Skar win Toblach sprints

Natalia Matveeva (RUS) and Sindre Bjoernestad Skar (NOR) have won the 1.3 km free technique sprints in Toblach, Italy both in photo finishes.  For Matveeva it was her second career individual sprint victory.  Her first came back in 2007 in Dusseldorf, Germany.  Matveeva followed the World Cup overall sprint leader Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway onto the finishing stretch and managed to win by just 0.08 seconds.  In third place was Sweden's Hanna Falk for her third podium of the season.  The World Cup sprint standings top 3 is shared by today's top 3 ladies but with Falla with a big lead followed by Falk and Matveeva who are separated by just 2 points.

On the men's side it was the first World Cup victory ever for Skar.  He as well won in a photo finish just ahead of the USA's Simeon Hamilton by just 0.03.  This was Hamilton's second sprint podium in a row in Toblach.  He was second here as well in December 2015 behind at that time Federico Pellegrino.  In third place with his third podium of the season was Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway.  Norway's Paal Golberg with his 7th place finish today took over the World Cup sprint lead ahead of Russia's Sergey Ustiugov.  Ustiugov coming off his Tour de Ski victory fell in qualification and finished in 70th place today.  Golberg leads over Ustiugov by just 8 points.

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ATHLETE QUOTES

Natalia Matveeva (RUS)
I am very happy for the win. I would like to thank my servicemen and my Coach Kramer. Thank you for this.

Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR)
I did not feel particularly good today, second place is nice but it is of course not so nice for me to be beaten on the home stretch.

Hanna Falk (SWE)
3rd place is great. I gave everything I had in the final. My legs were really tired towards the end.

Sindre Bjoernestad Star (NOR)
It’s a great feeling to win a World Cup. I was pretty sure I had won but had to wait for the photo finish to know for sure. It was a crazy race today. I had no idea if I could win coming down the final hill but I did my best and was able to get the win.

Simi Hamilton (USA)
It was a great race and fun to ski. I was in the lead before the home stretch but then Sindre passed me. It would have been nice to finish one spot better but second place is great.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR)
The course in Toblach is really cool. The speed in the final was high from the beginning. It is awesome to be on the podium again.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS

Ladies 1.3 km Sprint Free
1. MATVEEVA Natalia RUS 3:04.13(PF)
2. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR +0.08(PF)
3.FALK Hanna SWE +2.41
4. RINGWALD Sandra GER +3.46
5. INGEMARSDOTTER Ida SWE +5.88 
6. FABJAN Vesna SLO +19.39

Complete ladies' results are available .

Men 1.3 km Sprint Free
1. SKAR Sindre Bjoernestad NOR 2:47.91(PF)
2. HAMILTON Simeon USA +0.03(PF)
3. KLAEBO Johannes Hoesflot NOR +0.66
4. PELLEGRINO Federico ITA +1.27
5. HEDIGER Jovian SUI +1.84
6. TAUGBOEL Haavard Solaas NOR +3.77

Complete men's results are available HERE.

Sprint World Cup Standing Ladies
1. FALLA Maiken Caspersen 352pts
2. FALK Hanna SWE 192
3. MATVEEVA Natalia RUS 190

Complete standings for ladies are available HERE.

Sprint World Cup Standing Men
1. GOLBERG Paal NOR 190
2. USTIUGOV Sergey RUS 182
3. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR 165

Complete standings for men are available .