Victory for Russia and Norway in Dusseldorf

Tue, Dec  23, 2008 - By FIS

The first team sprint event during the World Cup was won by Team Russia with Natalia Korosteleva and Natalia Matveeva and on the men's side by Team Norway with Ola Vigen Hattestad and Tor Arne Hetland.

Korosteleva and Matveeva won on the 6 x 800 m course 0,2 seconds ahead of Team Norway with Celine Brun-Lie and Maiken Caspersen Falla. The third place took Germany with Stefanie Böhler and Claudia Nystad, after the disqualification of Team Italy due to an too late exchange out of the marked exchange zone.

In the men's team sprint race over 6 x 1,5 km claimed victory in a tight photo finish the Team Norway I with the winner and the second of yesterday's race, Ola Vigen Hattestad and Tor Arne Hetland. The second place took Team Sweden I with Bjoern Lind and Thobias Fredriksson. As third crossed the finish line Russia I with Alexei Petukhov and Nikolay Morilov just 0,7 seconds behind the winner.

Fourth place was the US Ski Team's Andy Newell and Torin Koos.

The Nations cup is led by Norway with 3316 points ahead of Finland with 1882 points and Sweden with 1813 points.

The next World Cup will be in Oberhof with the start of the FIS Tour de Ski at 27th of December.

Quotes:

Natalia Korosteleva (RUS):

"I´m very glad that we won. The track here is not too difficult but it is very fast. No one was faster today than we were. We know each other very well and so the change was no problem. We just look at each other and know what to do. The race was very good."

Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR):

"It was a great weekend for me and I am really happy about my second place together with Celine. Now I will have a Christmas break and train a lot to be in top shape at the Junior World Championships."

Claudia Nystad (GER)):

"I´m so glad! And I think it´s fair, that we won third place after all. We went back because  of the change and lost some places due to that. The Italia team should have done that too! But the snow was very good and it´s getting better from year to year. It was very hard and the technicians here know exactly what to do. They know where to put a shovel of snow. And the atmosphere here is just amazing. The audience calls your name and cheers for you - it´s just great.

Tor Arne Hetland (NOR):

"We are really happy about the victory. Ola did a great job at the end of the race and was fighting hard for the victory. It is great to ski here in front of this spectators -  they are amazing. Merry Christmas to everybody!"

Nikolay Morilov (RUS):

"It was a great day - we took the second place and my sister together with Natalia won the women's race. It make fun's to ski here in Düsseldorf- it is a great course and a great crowd."

For complete results please visit www.fis-ski.com