Swiss take Men's and Women's sprint

Newcomer Hanna Falk took her second World Cup victory in a tight finish with Petra Majdic from Slowenia. The third place took Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN). Just edged out of the podium finished Ida Ingemardsdotter on the fourth place. Kirsi Peraelae and Pirjo Muranen from Finland took the fifth and the sixth rank.

Justyna Kowalczyk (POL), who finished in the today's competition on 7th place, is still leading the overall World Cup ranking 78 points ahead Petra Majdic. Aino Kaisa Saainen is ranked third.

In the sprint World Cup ranking, Petra Majdic is in a comfortable lead with 422 points in total ahead of Aino Kaisa Saarinen who has currently 295 points.

In the men's race, Emil Joensson completed the Swedish success. He won the race and took his first season victory as well in a tight final ahead of Ola Vigen Hattestad from Norway. The third place took Nikita Kriukov from Russia. Also in the final skied Jesse Vaeaenaenen from Finland (4th place), Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS, 5th place) and Bjoern Lind (SWE, 6th place).

In the World Cup overall ranking, there was no change today. Still Petter Northug (NOR) is leading ahead of Lukas Bauer (CZE) and Marcus Hellner (SWE).

In the men's Sprint Cup it is quite tight. Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR) is leading 23 points ahead of Emil Joensson (SWE). Just one point behind Joensson is Petter Northug (NOR), who was not at the start at this weekend.

Hanna Falk (SWE)

I'm very happy, I feel strong. Petra is really good skier, but I really felt strong and I'm good in the last part. I didn't expect I'll have a World cup win in this season, my main goal was to start at World cup.
On Olympics I want to be in good shape and then be in top. I haven't been in Vancouver yet, but I saw it on computer, it's flat at the end like in Otepää and I think it's nice. Now I'm going to Swedish Championships and then to Canada for few weeks before Olympics.

Petra Majdic (SLO)

I'm very satisfied. I came to Otepää to pick up as many points as possible and after yesterday's 5th position in long distance I was feeling good, but I had some problems this weekend. Yesterday I was a little bit slow-motion, so I was very glad I could sprint today.
I'm very glad for the 2nd place, I felt stronger and stronger after every lap. But when I saw Joensson, how fast skis he had, I knew I'll have a problem, because here are long downhills and long flat parts.
Hanna is really a fighter and beat me in the finish. Now I'm going to Rogla to sleep in high altitude for 10 days. Then we'll move to Toblach.

Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN)

This was a fighting day for me. I had a little bit stomach problems in the morning so I'm very glad I can be today on the podium. In last two heats I had a little bit cramps in my hands, so I'm happy for today's result. Today I was good in uphills, it was the keypoint, but at the end you have to have power as well, because here is a long finish. On Saturday I'm going to Italy to pre-camp and then directly to Canada. My main goals on Olympics will be both classic races.

Emil Joensson (SWE)

Today it was really fun, good race, tough race, perfect conditions. I'm on the plan when I want to be before Olympics, so I feel happy. The key point was on the last 200-300 metres, you have to be on the top but still have some more power to finish. The course a little bit similar like on the Olympics. Now I'll train and train and train. Next week we have Swedish championships, then I'll go to precamp and then we have already Olympics, where I want to be in the top and in the good shape.

Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR)

Before finish I was pretty sure I can win today, but finally I didn't have enough power. It's hard course, it's quite important to be in top 3 all the time, because there are dangoreous corners when is usually made some gap. It looks that Swedish and Russian team had really good skis today, but my skis vere also okay. Emil was the best today, I hope I will beat him next time, it means on the Olympics.

Nikita Kriukov (RUS)

In prolog my skis weren't good, but then I felt my skis worked very good. Today I'm happy, but I want to win, so next time if I win, I'll be more happy. I had great start of this season, next week we have world cup in Russia and then I'm flying to Canada.