"The perfect tie" at todays Sprint C in Falun (SWE)

After one competition-free weekend, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup gathered in Falun (SWE) for the second half of the 2019/20 season. Linn Svahn and Paal Golberg reported back in top shape and took the win in todays Sprint in Classic style.

There was quite some Sprint action going on in the Lugnet ski stadium today. The 1.4km lap included two short but steep uphills, horseshoe turns and a final stretch through the stadium along the cheering Swedish fans. A set up that is especially well known by the Swedish female team. Above all, Linn Svahn. The 20 year-old newcomer of the season took the race with a steady focus and determination to compete at her best in front of her home crowd. In the final heat, Svahn takes the victory in a photo finish amongst the top-3, a few millimeters before Russian Natalia Nepryaeva and Jonna Sundling, also from the Swedish team.

The womens final was one as most likely never seen before in the World Cup. With a so called "perfect tie" of Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen and Sophie Caldwell in the photo finish of the second semi-final, both athletes qualified for the finals. This resulted in seven athletes on the starting line of the final heat. As the starting positions are chosen in regard to the position in the semi final and then depending on the qualification time, Maiken Caspersen Falla had to chose a gate from the "second row".

Natalia Nepryaeva (RUS):
“Finally, I am really happy with the result today because racing in Falun so far was not so good for me like two years ago when I got disqualified, last year I was ill and could not compete so I am happy to finally prove myself on these legendary courses."

Jonna Sundling (SWE):
“I am super stoked to take another podium in the Classic Sprint. It's only my second one so I am glad my body and skis were in good shape. Of course I am happy to share the podium with Linn, she is incredible. Despite we are not training so much together in the team, we all have a good team spirit and that helps."

Also the men's heats tackled the Classic Sprint course in a spectacular way. Setting a high pace, Alexander Bolshunov really challenged his competitors from the quarter finals. Pulling the pace through the two steep uphills demanded strong legs and a clean technique. Federico Pellegrino as well as Haavard Solaas Taugboel both managed to keep up the pace but lost positions in the final stretch where Paal Golberg and Erik Valnes took out remaining strength and set out for the top spots.

Erik Valnes (NOR):
“I am really happy, it's my best result in the World Cup. I expected to be at least in the finals but after the semi finals I did not know what tactic to use for that because I knew Bolshunovs pace was really high and my legs did not like that. At least my technique in the two uphills was good I think but Paal was just stronger than me."

Alexander Bolshunov (RUS):
“I am not too happy with todays result as I was expecting more of myself. But something did not work out as I was not able to speed up more and go away from my opponents and therefore it would have been good for me if there would have been one more heat so that I could have pulled everything out or maybe if the course would have been longer, then I might have pulled it off."