Stephen 11th in Toblach 10k Classic
World Cup: Toblach
Sun, Feb 2, 2014 - By USSA
TOBLACH, Italy (Feb. 1) – Olympian Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) skied into the top spot for the USA in 11th during the warm and rainy FIS World Cup 10k classic race Saturday, less than a week before the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Norway’s Marit Bjoergen and Therese Johaug went one-two in the race, while World Cup sprint champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) finished 15th. The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team just returned from a weeklong training session in Seiser Alm, Italy, and is set to take on World Cup sprints on Sunday, the final event before the Sochi Games.
Olympian Liz Stephen, seen here racing at World Championships, skied into the top spot for the USA in 11th during the warm and rainy FIS World Cup 10k classic race Saturday. (Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Olympian Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) skied into the top spot for the USA in 11th during the warm and rainy FIS World Cup 10k classic race Saturday, less than a week before the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
- Four U.S. women finished in the top 20, including World Cup sprint champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) in 15th, Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) in 17th and Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) in 20th.
- Holly Brooks (Anchorage) finished 22nd, while Norway’s Marit Bjoergen and Therese Johaug went one-two in the classic race.
- In the men’s 15k, Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) skied to a career-best result and scored his first World Cup points in 18th behind Russia winner Alexander Legkov.
- Close to a meter of snow fell in Toblach in the last couple days and on Saturday the temperatures spiked and rain fell on the track, making for difficult racing conditions.
- The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team just returned from a weeklong training session in Seiser Alm, Italy, and is set to take on World Cup sprints on Sunday, the final event before the Sochi Games.
QUOTES
Kikkan Randall
It was great to get back to racing today after another training break. I haven't done so much distance racing since Christmas so it's taking a little bit to get the feeling back. I was really happy with the way I felt today and my skis worked great. It snowed a ton over the last two days and then turned to rain this morning, but the tracks were in surprisingly good condition.
Our training camp at high altitude over the last two weeks went exactly as we had planned and my form is sharpening more with each session. Today's race was a great effort to kick my body back into race gear and I'm looking forward to another skate sprint tomorrow.
It's great to be in the final stretch to Sochi. The energy and spirit on the team is high and we're really looking forward to the games!