NOR and RSF unstoppable in Relay, FIN and USA fight for bronze
Mar 04, 2021·Cross-Country
The Norwegian womens Relay team performed at a high and was untouchable throughout any of the legs. Tiril Udnes Weng started off for team Norway and had Yana Kirpichenko, RSF and Katerina Razymova, CZE on her heels. The field of successors was stretched already in this first round along the Burgstall uphill. Especially the defending World Champions team Sweden struggled in the uphill and fell back.
In the first exchange, the leading trio had raced out a 20 second margin to the following teams of USA and Germany. In the front, Heidi Weng (NOR) and Yulia Stupak (RSF) set out and were not to be caught, despite strong effort of a high paced chasing group. With high intense “Klæbo steps” up the final Egli hill, Weng managed to claim a small gap to Stupak before the last exchange.
It was Therese Johaug’s turn to enlarge the margin and efforts taken by her colleagues. The World Champion of course knew every stride by now and did not let Tatiana Sorina catch up who had taken over for team RSF.
In the chasing group, Rosie Brennan for Team USA tried to get ahead of Pia Fink of Team Germany who had shown a fantastic performance in this womens Relay. Since the exchange to Free technique, Riita-Liisa Roponen from Team Finland had taken over and approached the Brennan and Fink from behind.
At the final exchange, Therese Johaug passed on to Helene Marie Fossesholm (NOR) who started out with a 20 second margin to Natalia Nepryaeva (RSF). The leading duo remained untouchable until the finish line and was welcomed by their cheering team colleagues as the new World Champion (Norway) and vice World Champion (RSF).
All cards were open for the remaining spot on the podium. The anchors were Krista Pärmäkoski for Team Finland and Jessie Diggins for Team USA. Both skiers raced the fastest times in their first lap but had to give in a little bit on their second and final round. In a thrilling sprint towards the finish line, Diggins could not catch up the 0.8 seconds to Pärmäkoski. Team Finland therefore reports back on the Relay podium and get rewarded with the bronze medal.
“It feels like a gold medal,” said Riita-Liisa Roponen after the race and Krista Pärmäkoski adds, “we knew that we could fight for a 4th or 5th rank today but that we get to be on the podium is amazing. I don’t know where I found my power today and I could not believe how well everything worked, so it’s a super feeling.”
