Nilsson and Harvey win final sprints of the season

(Quebec City, Canada) - Stina Nilsson of Sweden and Canada's Alex Harvey won the final sprint competition of the season as part of the first day of the World Cup finals in Quebec City, Canada.   Nilsson continued her season long battle with Norway's Maiken Caspersen Falla.  The two athletes were clear again of the field and this time by 2.58 seconds ahead of third place finisher Hanna Falk of Sweden.

As a consolation for the second place finish by Falla, she had earlier in the sprint heats clinched her second consecutive overall World Cup sprint crystal globe.  Nilsson took second in the overall sprint standings followed by her teammate Falk.

On the men's side Harvey won his first World Cup on home soil much to the excitement of the home crowd.  Harvey was followed to the finish line by Norway's Finn Haagen Krogh +0.31 behind.  France's Richard Jouve took third +0.94 for his second sprint podium in Canada in the last two seasons.

The battle for the men's sprint globe was decided in the mens' semi final when both Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway and Italy's Federico Pellegrino didn't advance to the final.  Pellegrino needed 38 points to overtake Klaebo and only managed to pull by 6 points making Klaebo the youngest ever sprint crystal globe winner.  Pellegrino took second in the sprint overall and Norway's Sindre Bjoernestad Skar took third in the overall standings.  The top 5 men were all separated by just 77 points.

Competitions continue tomorrow with the 10/15 km mass start classic competitions.  During today's sprint competition Norway's Heidi Weng won her first ever Overall World Cup crystal globe.

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ATHLETE QUOTES

Stina Nilsson (SWE)
I’ve had a fantastics season and I am really happy today. I feel I have a completely different physical capacity this season. I had a good feeling before the finals. I felt rested and I had good energy.

Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR)
I was very nervous before today. I was afraid I could lose the globe if I had a similar performance like in Drammen. It is amazing to win the sprint globe in two consecutive seasons. It’s little bit unreal.

Alex Harvey (CAN)
I had amazing skis today again. I was fast in the downhill and I could pass Finn and I was ready for the final sprint. I had a lot of energy today. It’s a dream come true win in front of the home crowd.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR)
It has been a very good season. Winning the World Cup is completely unreal. It's a big dream come true. I did not realize this before the season.

Finn Haagen Krogh (NOR)
To be beaten by the 50 km World Champion on the home stretch is tough. I was simply not good enough.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS - 1.5 km Sprint Free

LADIES

1. NILSSON Stina SWE 3:01.87
2. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR +0.42
3. FALK Hanna SWE +2.58
4. INGEMARSDOTTER Ida SWE +3.02
5. FAEHNDRICH Nadine SUI +3.41
6. WENG Heidi NOR +32.36

Ladies'

MEN

1. HARVEY Alex CAN 2:44.92
2. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR +0.31
3. JOUVE Richard FRA +0.94
4. HAMILTON Simeon USA +1.01
5. SKAR Sindre Bjoernestad NOR +1.51
6. CHANAVAT Lucas FRA +1.72

Men's

OVERALL WORLD CUP SPRINT STANDINGS

LADIES

1. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR 558 pts
2. NILSSON Stina SWE 520
3. FALK Hanna SWE 359
4. WENG Heidi NOR 321
5. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 306

Ladies'

MEN

1. KLAEBO Johannes Hoesflot NOR 399 pts 
2. PELLEGRINO Federico ITA 363
3. SKAR Sindre Bjoernestad NOR 338
4. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR 323
5. USTIUGOV Sergey RUS 322

Men's