To the delight of the home crowd the Norwegian team dominated the team relay events today in Lillehammer, Norway. The entire men's podium was swept by Norwegian teams, while on the ladies' podium the Norwegian ladies won by almost two minutes ahead of the next nation. It was a repeat of the ladies podium from Lillehammer 2013.

Joining the Norwegian ladies (Falla, Oestberg, Johaug, Weng) on the podium was the team from Finland (Parmakoski, Niskanen, Mononen, Kylloenen) +1:59.1 in second place and in third the USA (Brennan, Bjornsen, Stephen, Diggins) +2:07.1. Last leg skier for the USA Jessica Diggins caught the Norwegian II team anchor Ragnild Haga and overtook her in the final kilometres to move the USA into third.

In the men's competition it was pure Norwegian dominance sweeping the podium. At times it looked like Italy or Russia might be able to fight for a podium spot but in the end it was all Norway. The victory went to Norway I (Dyrhaug, Holund, Sundby, Northug Jr.). In second was Norway III (Nyenget, Rundgreen, Sveen, Krogh) +2.8, and in third was Norway II (Iversen, Toenseth, Roethe, Gloeersen) +14.8.

ATHLETE QUOTES

Heidi Weng, NOR I
It's my first ever time to be the anchor of a relay at any level. So this was an exciting day for me and I am very happy that we won. I was nervous in the morning before the race.

Kerttu Niskanen, FIN
I am very happy for the second place for Finland. All the girls did a great job. I was not so happy with my performance but it feels great to be part of such a good team.

Liz Stephen, USA
We are really happy to be 3rd today. It feels especially good for me to be on the podium. I like the ups on this course. I combated some fears in the downhills. I was pretty confident about Jessie.

Hans Christer Holund, NOR I

This is quite a weekend for me, my first podium yesterday and now another podium with the team. It's just perfect and I am happy that I am able to ski this well.

Finn Haagen Krogh, NOR III

It was difficult and icy conditions. I had to be focused all the time on my technique. My teammates did a great job in their legs. I did not have the best feeling today. the plan was to ski an even 7.5 km not to blow it up in the end.

Sjur Røthe, NOR II
I gave everything I had in first 2 km and tried to chase Martin and Simen. I had a hard pace but it was impossible to chase Martin. When Legkov came I was pretty confident.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

LADIES 4 x 5 km relay

1. NORWAY I 53:33.1
FALLA Maiken Caspersen
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad
JOHAUG Therese
WENG Heidi

2. FINLAND +1:59.1
PARMAKOSKI Krista
NISKANEN Kerttu
MONONEN Laura
KYLLOENEN Anne

3. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA +2:07.1
BRENNAN Rosie
BJORNSEN Sadie
STEPHEN Elizabeth
DIGGINS Jessica

Complete ladies' relay results are available HERE.

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MEN 4 x 7.5 km relay

1. NORWAY I 1:13:25.7
DYRHAUG Niklas
HOLUND Hans Christer
SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud
NORTHUG Petter Jr.

2. NORWAY III +2.8
NYENGET Martin Loewstroem
RUNDGREEN Mathias
SVEEN Simen Andreas
KROGH Finn Haagen

3. NORWAY II +14.8
IVERSEN Emil
TOENSETH Didrik
ROETHE Sjur
GLOEERSEN Anders

Complete men's relay results available HERE.

Source: fis-ski.com