Sprint victory for Majdic and Roenning

World Cup

Mon, Feb  11, 2008 - By FIS

Sprint victory for Majdic and Roenning

Petra Majdic from Slovenia and the Norwegian Eldar Roenning are the winner of the classical sprint in Otepää (EST).

The 28-year-old Petra Majdic claimed victory on the 1,2 km course in Otepää ahead of the Sprint World Cup leader Astrid Jacobsen (NOR). Third ranked was Virpi Kuitunen (FIN). First, who edged out from the podium, was Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN). The fifth place took Seraina Mischol (SUI) and Pirjo Muranen, took the sixth position. The race was taking place under poor and wet conditions.

For Majdic it was the sixth World Cup victory ever and the third victory in this season – all in classical sprint. Astrid Jacobsen managed her sixth podium place in this season. The skier from Switzerland, Seraina Mischol, repeat for the second time the 5th position in a sprint race after being 5th at the start of the season in Duesseldorf (GER).

In the World Cup ranking, Virpi Kuitunen is clearly in the lead with 979 points. On second place follows Charlotte Kalla, who finished the today's race on 13th place, with 830 points and on third position is Astrid Jacobsen with 770 points.

Astrid Jacobsen is still the leader in the sprint World Cup ranking with 378 points ahead of Petra Majdic (354 points) and Pirjo Muranen ( 303 points).

In the exciting men's race, Eldar Roenning was able to take his first World Cup victory in this season. He finished on this 1,4 km course just ahead of his team mates John Kristian Dahl and Ola Vigen Hattestad. Also in the final competed Emil Joensson (SWE, 4th place), Peteer Kummel (EST, 5th place) and Anders Gloerson (NOR, 6th place)

For John Kristian Dahl it was the 5th podium place ever in his career and the second in this season. Ola Vigen Hattestad could celebrate today his third podium place in this season after being on the podium in the sprint races in Rybinsk (RUS) and Canmore (CAN)

Peteer Kummel made his best result in his career with the 5th place in front of this home crowd. He profit from a jury decision which took Devon Kershaw on the last position in the semi final due to an obstruction to Axel Teichmann (GER).

Lukas Bauer (CZE) is still the leader of the World Cup ranking with 916 points. Followed by René Sommerfeldt (GER, 621 points) and Tor Arne Hetland (NOR, 576 points).

In the sprint World Cup Emil Joensson from Sweden is in the lead with 320 points. Second is Ola Vigen Hattestad with 261 points and on third position is John Kristian Dahl with 216 points.

The next competition will be on Saturday, 16th of February in Liberec – 10 km (ladies) and 15 km (men).

Special remark: The conditions were wet, the track had in some places a little bit water and the corridors for the final meters were taken away due to this water in the track.

Quotes:

Petra Majdic (SLO)
It was not such a tough victory, but surely was not very easy. It's really hard to win both Jacobsen and Kuitunen, but today it was my day. My skis were amazing in the final, my qualification skis were not so good. It's my third victory this season, so I'm really happy.

Astrid Jacobsen (NOR)
I saved the best for last. I tried to stay as close as possible, but Petra was too good today. I didn't push very hard from the beginning, so I tried really hard at the end. I'm still leading the sprint world cup, so my main goal is to be on the podium of the sprint world cup.

Virpi Kuitunen (FIN)
I had a good day today, unfortunately my skis were not so fast. I had no chance in the final, because I was too behind already.

Eldar Roenning (NOR)
I changed the wax during the race. It's amazing to get a victory, it's first victory of the season. The rainfall was too heavy. I had more power than Dahl today.

John Kristian Dahl (NOR)
I have never been so close to victory, but I'm very happy for the second place as well, My skis were quite good and I tried to be offensive. I followed the leader, but he was too strong today.

Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR)
My primary goal was to get through the quarterfinal. I was a little bit sick last week, so I'm really lucky to get on the podium.