Matveeva and Wenzl Win at Duesseldorf Sprint

World Cup

Sun, Oct  28, 2007 - By FIS

The winner of the World Cup kick off in the Sprint race in Duesseldorf (GER) were the two youngsters, the 21-year-old Natalia Matveeva (RUS) and the 22-year old Josef Wenzl (GER).

Natalia Matveeva, who finished 2005 third and 2006 second in Duesseldorf, could won the today's Sprint race in free technique ahead of Marit Bjoergen (NOR). The Swedish Anna Dahlberg finished third ahead of Arianna Follis (ITA, 4th place), Seraina Mischol (SUI, 5th place) and on 6th place Pirjo Muranen (FIN).

For Matveeva it was the first World Cup victory ever in her career and her 4th podium place since she starts to compete in the World Cup. Bjoergen reached with her second place for the 43 times the podium while Anna Dahlberg could celebrate her 11th podium place. Seraina Mischol had her best ever World cup rank with here 5th place.

The German Josef Wenzl were really strong today. He was trying to race all the final heats from the front – just one time from some seconds in the Final he was not in front of his competitors – and he succeed with this tactic. The current Olympic Champion from Torino 2006, Bjoern Lind (SWE) finished second and the third place took John Kristian Dahl from Norway. In the Final skied as well Petter Northug (NOR, 4th place), Marcus Hellner (SWE, 5th place) and the Russian Nikolay Morilov (6th place).

Like in the women's race Matveeva, Josef Wenzl won also his first World Cup competition. The best result until now was the sixth place in Duesseldorf last year. For Hellner and Morilov it was the first ever participation in the Final heat and the best World Cup place.

After the first World Cup victory the Nations cup is lead by Sweden with 321 points ahead of Norway with 296 point s and Germany 221 points.