Womens Relays dashing through the snow at the World Cup Lillehammer
Dec 08, 2019·Cross-Country
Fresh snow along the Birkebeineren skistadium course set additional challenges for todays Relay. Right from the start of the womens competition, Team Norway I took the lead with Maiken Caspersen Falla who worked hard through the Classic tracks. Falla was chased by Johanna Matintalo from Team Finland and 22 year-young Emma Ribom from Team Sweden. After the first exchange Team Finland's Kerttu Niskanen took over the work on the head of the leading group before Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (Team Norway I) and Elina Roennlund (Team Sweden).
Game changer was once again Therese Johaug (Team Norway I) who took off in the 3rd leg into her 5km in Freestyle technique. Johaug left Team Finland's Anne Kylloenen behind who was caught up by Team Swedens Charlotte Kalla. In the meantime, Team USA I cleared some space towards top results by Rosie Brennan who held the gap to the leaders constant - as well as her team mates Sadie Maubet Bjornsen and Sophie Caldwell did before her.
The final exchange was first reached by Team Norway I before Sweden (+48.9 sec) and USA I (+57.6 sec). Jessica Diggins (USA) managed to catch up to team Sweden's Moa Lundgren in the first lap or their final leg but neither managed to close the gap to the head of the race, now led by Heidi Weng (NOR). Team Norway I celebrates their victory on home ground +48.9 seconds before Team USA I and Sweden (+1:19.7).
