Kikkan Randal takes 18th in 15K Davos Freestyle
World Cup: Davos
Sat, Dec 14, 2013 - By USSA
DAVOS, Switzerland (Dec. 14) – World Cup sprint champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) skied into 18th place in the FIS World Cup 15k freestyle race Saturday, securing the top spot for the USA. In one of her best races in the high-altitude venue, Randall headed up a solid day with four top 30 results for the U.S. Cross Country Team. Norwegian powerhouse Marit Bjoergen won the women’s race. Sunday, the men and women take on the freestyle sprints, an event World Cup sprint champion Randall won in Dec., 2011, setting the stage for her first World Cup sprint title that season.
World Cup sprint champion Kikkan Randall, seen here at World Championships, skied into 18th place in the FIS World Cup 15k freestyle race Saturday, securing the top spot for the USA. (Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team)
HIGHLIGHTS
- World Cup sprint champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) skied into 18th place in the FIS World Cup 15k freestyle race Saturday, securing the top spot for the USA.
- With one of her best results at the high-altitude venue, Randall headed up a solid day with four top 30 results for the U.S. Cross Country Team.
- Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT), Holly Brooks (Anchorage) and Jessica Diggins (Afton, MN) finished 20th, 25 and 30th respectively, while Norwegian powerhouse Marit Bjoergen won the women’s race and the 61st World Cup victory of her career.
- In the men’s 30k, Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO) skated into 25th while France’s Maurice Manificat took the victory.
- Davos is located 5,000 feet above sea level and features several hills on its 7.5k course, forcing all athletes had to push quite a bit harder.
- Sunday, the men and women take on the freestyle sprints, an event World Cup sprint champion Randall won in Dec., 2011, setting the stage for her first World Cup sprint title that season.
- Randall has won the last three World Cup freestyle sprints. She won four out of five World Cup freestyle sprints in 2012-13 and landed on 10 of the last 12 World Cup freestyle sprint podiums.
QUOTES
Kikkan Randall
Today was another solid race for me and definitely one of my best distance races here in Davos, where I've had some real tough races in the past. It was a two-lap race on a challenging 7.5km lap. My body felt good and our skis were fast. I had good energy in the last few kilometers. Many on our team are still building our way into race shape as the season goes on, myself included, so to have four girls in the top 30 was a solid day for the team.
Tomorrow we do our first World Cup skate sprint of the season and I'm really looking forward to it! The sprint course here in Davos has been good for me and I'm looking forward to testing out my sprint gears against the World Cup field!
Noah Hoffman
I wanted to go out really under control and focus on the downhill sections, which is where I’ve lost a lot of time in the past. I did okay. I probably went out a little harder than I wanted to. It felt okay, but not great.
I’m happy with where I am. Last week, my classic has been kind of rough, but I’ve decided to go back to basics with that, and I’m excited to classic race again. I feel like I’m in a good spot, and I have a little break before the tour.