Madshus skiers collect WC podiums on the Nordic Combined, biathlon, cross-country and long-distance circuits.
Jarl Riiber (NOR) opened the World Cup racing this week with a third place in the Nordic Combined World Cup in Trondheim on Tuesday.
Then the FIS Cross-country World Cup action started the weekend racing early with classic sprints in Stockholm (SWE) on Thursday, where Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (NOR) cruised into yet another strong second place.
Still feeling the effects of the brutal 30km classic race in Holmenkollen (NOR) last weekend, Østberg was excited to net podium in the sprint race.
“I can say that this is the first time that I have felt some fatigue from previous racing. The 30km was tough last weekend, and I think I felt it in the finals. I am happy for Maiken (Caspersen Falla). She was better than I was today, but I can’t believe that it’s another podium for me this season” Østberg said after the sprint race.
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After the Stockholm sprints on Thursday, the World Cup continued in Falun (SWE), where Heidi Weng (NOR) skied into second place in the women’s 5km classic on Saturday, with Østberg in third place.
“I had to fight against myself today to keep pushing. In the end I had nothing left. It’s another podium for me, which is incredible, and I am very satisfied with that – and also a little tired,” said Østberg.
Later on Saturday, Alexander Bessmertnykh (RUS) was second in the men’s 10km classic. This was his second World Cup podium finish for the season.
“I am happy to be back on the podium, as in Toblach. I prefer the interval start classic competitions. It is the best for me,” he said.
Bessmertnykh sat out Sunday’s 15km mass start event in order to prepare for the Lahti World Cup next weekend, and Ski Tour Canada from March 1 to 12.
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On Sunday, Weng stepped up again and hauled in to second place again, just 8.8 seconds from winning the 10km skate race in Falun.
“I was nervous for the mass start with all the others, but Therese (Johaug) started like it was a sprint, so there weren’t many of us from the beginning. I tried to stay with her as long as I could, but my legs started to get stiff, and I just focused on my technique to make sure that I still got to the finish in second place,” Weng said after the race.
Next weekend, the FIS cross-country World Cup moves to Lahti (FIN), which is where Weng earned her first World Cup podium finish and one of her favorite venues.
Østberg is now in second place in the overall 2016 World Cup with weng in third place, while Weng is in second place in the overall distance World Cup with Østberg in third place.
First and third in the IBU World Cup
The IBU World Cup continued with races in North America, moving from Canada to Presque Isle, Maine (USA). On Sunday, Erlend Bjøntegaard helped Norway to first place in the men’s relay on Saturday, while Miriam Gössner helped Germany to third place in the women’s relay.
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Dahl back on the Ski Classics podium
Also on Saturday, Madshus marathon racer John Kristian Dahl (NOR) of Team United Bakeries finished third in the Toblach-Cortina in Tirol. The 50km event, which is new on the Ski Classics long-distance cup schedule this season, was cut down to 32km due to lack of snow.
Fellow Madshus marathon racer Johan Kjølstad, who was second in the Kaiser Maximilian Lauf in Austria last weekend, was in contention for the podium for much of the race, but ended in eighth place. However, Kjølstad still remains in third place in the overall Ski Classics Champion standings. Also, Stian Hoelgaard (NOR) and Emilia Lindstedt (SWE) continue to lead the overall Youth competition.
The Ski Classics now takes a 3-week break before the final three races in Scandinavia: Vasaloppet on March 6, Birkbeinerrennet on March 19 and Årefjällsloppet (the Ski Classics final) on April 2.