Sport News
First World Cup victories for Oestberg and Krogh
Ingvild Flugstag Oestberg and Finn Haagen Krogh, both of Norway recorded their first ever World Cup victories with sprint wins today in Davos, Switzerland. The Norwegian team dominance continued with a sweep of both the men's and ladies' podiums.
Joining Oestberg on the ladies' podium was Maiken Casperson Falla in second +0.57 and Celine Brun-Lie in third +2.37. It was Oestberg's first ever World Cup victory. She has previously won a sprint stage in last year's Tour de Ski stop in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
Joining Oestberg on the ladies' podium was Maiken Casperson Falla in second +0.57 and Celine Brun-Lie in third +2.37. It was Oestberg's first ever World Cup victory. She has previously won a sprint stage in last year's Tour de Ski stop in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
Stina Nilsson of Sweden was the only non-Norwegian in the ladies' final and with her 6th place finish today she took over the Helvetia U23 Leader's Bib. Nilsson unluckily broke a pole in the final and could not close the ground lost after she received a new one. Brun-Lie, amazingly advanced to the final as a lucky loser after breaking her pole early in her semi-final.
In the men's competition Krogh won his first World Cup and like Oestberg has previously won a sprint stage in the Tour de Ski. His teammates joining him on the podium were Anders Gloeersen in second +0.62 and Eirik Brandsdal in third +1.07. Krogh led from start to finish and after about the first 100 meters only Calle Halfvarsson of Sweden was able to match his pace. Krogh held strong right to the finish line. Halfvarsson paid the price for the early pace and crossed the line in 5th place +2.06.
ATHLETE QUOTES
Flugstad Østberg (NOR)
I’m very happy for the victory. I have been working for this so long and it is a great feeling. I felt strong from the prologue and my plan was to ski in front and push hard from the beginning.
Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR)
I felt really good today. I knew Ingvild would push hard from the beginning and I tried to follow her but she was little bit better than me. I am proud of her. My goal this winter is to fight for the sprint World Cup and the beginning of the season has been great with three final appearances in three sprints.
Celine Brun-Lie (NOR)
I had a very good race today. I tried to stay mentally focused and concentrated. Usually my tactics is to ski in the front the whole time but today I decided to stay back and move forward in the second lap. It worked every time in the heat.
Finn Hågen Krogh (NOR)
It was a perfect race. I am in a great shape. My tactic was to ski in the front and control the race. It is amazing to win a World Cup.
Anders Gloeersen (NOR)
So many of our guys have skied well this year. I felt under pressure to do a good result today. I think I was lucky. I found a good rhythm and I am very satisfied with today.
Eirik Brandsdal (NOR)
I was angry about myself about how I skied the last curve. I wanted the victory so much that I lost my head. I am proud of my teammates, they did a great job. I felt strong but the finish did not work as I hoped.
LADIES' SPRINT FINAL
1. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 2:33.72
2. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR +0.57
3. BRUN-LIE Celine NOR +2.37
4. BJOERGEN Marit NOR +3.16
5. WENG Heidi NOR +3.79
6. NILSSON Stina SWE +11.00
MEN'S SPRINT FINAL
1. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR 2:18.16
2. GLOEERSEN Anders NOR +0.62
3. BRANDSDAL Eirik NOR +1.07
4. PETUKHOV Alexey RUS +1.35
5. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE +2.06
6. NORTHUG Tomas NOR +2.29
Sprint World Cup standing ladies
1. Marit Bjørgen NOR 200 pts
2. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg NOR 182 pts
3. Maiken Caspersen Falla NOR 180 pts
Overall World Cup standing ladies
1. Marit Bjørgen NOR 649 pts
2. Therese Johaug NOR 488 pts
3. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg NOR 404 pts
Helvetia U23 ranking ladies
1. Stina Nilsson SWE 74 pts
2. Petra Novakova CZE 61 pts
3. Sofia Henriksson SWE 51 pts
Sprint World Cup standing men
1. Finn Hågen Krogh NOR 193 pts
2. Eirik Brandsdal NOR 188 pts
3. Alexey Petukhov RUS 141 pts
Overall World Cup standing men
1. Martin Johnsrud Sundby NOR 491 pts
2. Finn Hågen Krogh NOR 409 pts
3. Calle Halfvarsson SWE 275 pts
Helvetia U23 ranking men
1. Iivo Niskanen FIN 105 pts
2. Sondre Turvoll Fossli NOR 74 pts
3. Francesco De Fabiani ITA 74 pts
In the men's competition Krogh won his first World Cup and like Oestberg has previously won a sprint stage in the Tour de Ski. His teammates joining him on the podium were Anders Gloeersen in second +0.62 and Eirik Brandsdal in third +1.07. Krogh led from start to finish and after about the first 100 meters only Calle Halfvarsson of Sweden was able to match his pace. Krogh held strong right to the finish line. Halfvarsson paid the price for the early pace and crossed the line in 5th place +2.06.
ATHLETE QUOTES
Flugstad Østberg (NOR)
I’m very happy for the victory. I have been working for this so long and it is a great feeling. I felt strong from the prologue and my plan was to ski in front and push hard from the beginning.
Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR)
I felt really good today. I knew Ingvild would push hard from the beginning and I tried to follow her but she was little bit better than me. I am proud of her. My goal this winter is to fight for the sprint World Cup and the beginning of the season has been great with three final appearances in three sprints.
Celine Brun-Lie (NOR)
I had a very good race today. I tried to stay mentally focused and concentrated. Usually my tactics is to ski in the front the whole time but today I decided to stay back and move forward in the second lap. It worked every time in the heat.
Finn Hågen Krogh (NOR)
It was a perfect race. I am in a great shape. My tactic was to ski in the front and control the race. It is amazing to win a World Cup.
Anders Gloeersen (NOR)
So many of our guys have skied well this year. I felt under pressure to do a good result today. I think I was lucky. I found a good rhythm and I am very satisfied with today.
Eirik Brandsdal (NOR)
I was angry about myself about how I skied the last curve. I wanted the victory so much that I lost my head. I am proud of my teammates, they did a great job. I felt strong but the finish did not work as I hoped.
LADIES' SPRINT FINAL
1. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 2:33.72
2. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR +0.57
3. BRUN-LIE Celine NOR +2.37
4. BJOERGEN Marit NOR +3.16
5. WENG Heidi NOR +3.79
6. NILSSON Stina SWE +11.00
MEN'S SPRINT FINAL
1. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR 2:18.16
2. GLOEERSEN Anders NOR +0.62
3. BRANDSDAL Eirik NOR +1.07
4. PETUKHOV Alexey RUS +1.35
5. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE +2.06
6. NORTHUG Tomas NOR +2.29
Sprint World Cup standing ladies
1. Marit Bjørgen NOR 200 pts
2. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg NOR 182 pts
3. Maiken Caspersen Falla NOR 180 pts
Overall World Cup standing ladies
1. Marit Bjørgen NOR 649 pts
2. Therese Johaug NOR 488 pts
3. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg NOR 404 pts
Helvetia U23 ranking ladies
1. Stina Nilsson SWE 74 pts
2. Petra Novakova CZE 61 pts
3. Sofia Henriksson SWE 51 pts
Sprint World Cup standing men
1. Finn Hågen Krogh NOR 193 pts
2. Eirik Brandsdal NOR 188 pts
3. Alexey Petukhov RUS 141 pts
Overall World Cup standing men
1. Martin Johnsrud Sundby NOR 491 pts
2. Finn Hågen Krogh NOR 409 pts
3. Calle Halfvarsson SWE 275 pts
Helvetia U23 ranking men
1. Iivo Niskanen FIN 105 pts
2. Sondre Turvoll Fossli NOR 74 pts
3. Francesco De Fabiani ITA 74 pts
Source: fis-ski.com
