[Event]Oslo, Norway 2006/07, Long distance 30 km and 50 km

The Saturday, the World Cup goes to Holmenkollen for the Classical Long Distance competitions. The women will race 30 km and the men 50 km.

Schedule
Saturday, March 17 - Women's 30 km Classic
Saturday, March 17 - Men's 50 km Classic

Last 2 Seasons
Last season, the race was in Freestyle technique. Julia Tchepalova won the women's race ahead of Katerina Neumannova and Evi Sachenbacher Stehle. The men's victory went to Anders Soedergren, with Giorgio de Centa in 2nd and Tom Reichelt of Germany in 3rd.
The 2004/05 event was contested in Classic style. Marit Bjoergen won the Ladies race ahead of Neumannova and Virpi Kuitunen. In the men's race, the victory went to Andrus Veerpalu, relegating Jens Filbrich to 2nd and Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset to 3rd.

World Cup Standings
Women
1 KUITUNEN Virpi FIN 1397
2 BJOERGEN Marit NOR 803
3 NEUMANNOVA Katerina CZE 778
4 MAJDIC Petra SLO 705
5 SAARINEN Aino Kaisa FIN 677
6 SHEVCHENKO Valentina UKR 495
7 ROPONEN Riitta Liisa FIN 488
8 KOWALCZYK Justyna POL 434
9 FOLLIS Arianna ITA 387
10 SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi GER 373

Men
1 ANGERER Tobias GER 951
2 LEGKOV Alexander RUS 573
3 ROENNING Eldar NOR 556
4 HETLAND Tor Arne NOR 522
5 VITTOZ Vincent FRA 418
6 NORTHUG Petter NOR 412
7 SVARTEDAL Jens Arne NOR 377
8 HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern NOR 365
9 OESTENSEN Simen NOR 361
10 JAUHOJAERVI Sami FIN 337

Pit Stop in Holmenkollen Races On Saturday

The traditional Holmenkollen races of 30 km and 50 km at Oslo (NOR) will take place on Saturday, 17th March 2007. This year, the Holmenkollen will serve as the first trial for a pit stop in a World Cup race. The pit stop will occur in the stadium area, giving the racers an opportunity to change skis.

Here is some information on the procedure/rules:

* Each Pit Stop is min. 2 m wide – bigger nations have more pit stop boxes

* Not more than one service staff with waxing equipment is allowed to be in the pit stop – he can’t leave the pit area but he can hand over the skis to another service staff so that the skis can be re-prepared in the Waxing Cabin.

* For the ladies race: one additional pairs of skis can be used
* For the men’s race: two additional pairs of skis can be used

* Changing of skis is only allowed in the pit stop area in the stadium

* No electricity will be available in the pit stop

Source: Fasterskier.com

WOMEN'S 30 KM CLASSIC

AINO KAISA SAARINEN

Rank Bib Name Nation 12.5km Rk 22.5km Rk Finish Behind
1 45 SAARINEN Aino Kaisa FIN 34:37.2 1 1:05:12.4 1 1:23:55.7 0.0
2 49 KUITUNEN Virpi FIN 35:30.4 4 1:06:07.6 2 1:24:26.3 +30.6
3 42 MAJDIC Petra SLO 35:36.4 6 1:06:19.7 4 1:24:44.3 +48.6
4 34 KUENZEL-NYSTAD Claudia GER 34:44.6 2 1:06:14.8 3 1:25:22.5 +1:26.8
5 46 ROPONEN Riitta Liisa FIN 35:18.5 3 1:06:41.9 5 1:25:27.9 +1:32.2
6 37 LONGA Marianna ITA 35:45.0 9 1:06:48.6 6 1:25:54.6 +1:58.9
7 48 NEUMANNOVA Katerina CZE 35:33.2 5 1:06:55.6 7 1:26:04.1 +2:08.4
8 47 SMIGUN Kristina EST 35:42.5 8 1:07:10.8 8 1:26:12.7 +2:17.0
9 43 SAVIALOVA Olga RUS 35:42.2 7 1:07:17.5 9 1:26:22.4 +2:26.7
10 44 BJOERGEN Marit NOR 35:45.4 11 1:07:43.8 11 1:26:41.5 +2:45.8
11 38 STEIRA Kristin Stoermer NOR 36:03.2 12 1:07:53.3 12 1:26:53.7 +2:58.0
12 41 SHEVCHENKO Valentina UKR 36:20.0 17 1:07:39.6 10 1:26:59.9 +3:04.2
13 39 SKOFTERUD Vibeke W. NOR 35:45.1 10 1:08:03.5 13 1:27:21.4 +3:25.7
14 25 RAJDLOVA Kamila CZE 36:20.1 18 1:08:21.0 14 1:27:37.9 +3:42.2
15 19 ISHIDA Masako JPN 36:26.4 19 1:08:43.8 15 1:27:54.4 +3:58.7
16 36 SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi GER 36:16.2 16 1:08:46.7 16 1:27:57.1 +4:01.4
17 26 MUERER STEMLAND Kristin NOR 36:35.3 21 1:08:47.8 17 1:28:30.4 +4:34.7
18 33 KOROSTELEVA Natalia RUS 36:07.8 13 1:08:48.1 18 1:28:32.9 +4:37.2
19 29 VALBUSA Sabina ITA 37:07.5 27 1:08:57.8 19 1:28:48.5 +4:52.8
20 35 BAUER Viola GER 36:15.1 14 1:09:07.5 20 1:28:57.1 +5:01.4
21 28 BOEHLER Stefanie GER 36:35.4 22 1:09:22.8 22 1:29:02.0 +5:06.3
22 31 ZELLER Katrin GER 36:15.3 15 1:09:17.0 21 1:29:21.8 +5:26.1
23 27 SIDKO Alena RUS 36:30.7 20 1:09:45.0 23 1:29:30.5 +5:34.8
24 24 CONFORTOLA Antonella ITA 37:18.6 29 1:29:42.1 +5:46.4
25 22 LINDBORG Sara SWE 37:13.9 28 1:09:51.9 24 1:29:50.1 +5:54.4
26 13 AAS Sigrid NOR 36:40.2 23 1:09:54.4 25 1:29:53.2 +5:57.5
27 21 GJOEMLE Ella NOR 36:48.9 25 1:10:05.2 26 1:30:12.8 +6:17.1
28 14 MANNIMA Tatjana EST 37:37.3 33 1:10:27.9 27 1:30:17.3 +6:21.6
29 23 MANNINEN Pirjo FIN 37:36.4 32 1:10:36.2 28 1:30:27.7 +6:32.0
30 32 MEDVEDEVA Evgenia RUS 36:40.6 24 1:10:38.1 29 1:31:14.5 +7:18.8
31 11 IVANOVA Julia RUS 39:04.9 40 1:12:01.4 33 1:31:55.1 +7:59.4
32 17 MORODER Karin ITA 37:44.1 34 1:11:36.0 31 1:32:00.3 +8:04.6
33 18 SANTER Stephanie ITA 36:53.8 26 1:11:06.0 30 1:32:17.7 +8:22.0
34 7 AASHEIM Agneta NOR 37:22.2 30 1:11:48.9 32 1:32:53.1 +8:57.4
35 20 RYDQVIST Maria SWE 38:21.4 37 1:12:49.5 35 1:33:09.1 +9:13.4
36 10 OEYE Jorunn NOR 37:33.7 31 1:12:01.6 34 1:33:16.1 +9:20.4
37 16 NYSTROEM Susanne SWE 38:55.8 38 1:13:07.9 36 1:33:54.8 +9:59.1
38 12 RANDALL Kikkan USA 39:02.0 39 1:13:12.6 38 1:34:09.7 +10:14.0
39 9 SANDBAKKEN Ellen NOR 38:20.5 36 1:13:08.2 37 1:34:23.2 +10:27.5
40 5 JENSEN Lena NOR 37:57.8 35 1:14:03.8 39 1:35:55.3 +11:59.6
41 2 SKEI Kristin NOR 39:48.9 42 1:16:01.9 40 1:37:28.9 +13:33.2
42 3 FREDRIKSEN Marit Liland NOR 39:15.4 41 1:16:10.5 41 1:38:27.7 +14:32.0
43 4 HAUGEN Stine NOR 40:02.7 43 1:16:49.1 42 1:39:28.5 +15:32.8
44 1 TYLDUM Elise Aunet NOR 41:28.1 44 1:20:51.6 43 1:43:48.3 +19:52.6

Did Not Finish
6 BRAATHEN Solfrid NOR
30 ARTEMOVA Irina RUS
40 KOWALCZYK Justyna POL
Did Not Start
8 SVENDSEN Sara NOR
15 TYLDUM Ingrid Aunet NOR

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen from Finland Wins Holmenkollen 30K

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen from Finland took the victory in the traditional individual start races in classic technique over 30 km at the Holmenkollen (NOR).

Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) was 38th in the women's race.

For the 28-year-old Saarinen it was the first World Cup victory ever. She finished clearly 30.6 seconds ahead of her team mate and overall World Cup winner Virpi Kuitunen. Third place finisher from Slovenia Petra Majdic, was 48.6 seconds behind the winner.

The first ‘pit stop’ trial with the possibility to change the skis during the competition in the stadium worked well. All athletes on the podium changed skis after 12.5 km. Only Claudia Kuenzel-Nystad who finished fourth didn’t change her skis from the top six athletes.

The overall World Cup is already won by Virpi Kuitunen. She is in the lead with 1477 points. On second place is still Marit Bjoergen, who finished today on the 10th place, with 829 points and on third follows Katerina Neumannova, just 15 points behind Bjoergen

Virpi Kuitenen has now also won, beside the overall and sprint World Cup, the distance World Cup. She is 100 points in the lead ahead of Katerina Neumannova and she has already more victories than Neumannova. On third place follows Aino Kaisa Saarinen with 146 points behind Neumannova.

Number of participants/ participating nations: 49 ladies/ 12 nations

Weather: sunny, +5°C

Snow Conditions: Spring conditions

Special remarks:
Courses ladies: Height Differences (HD): 126m; Maximum Climb (MC): 79, Total Climb (TC): 1047m; Length of Lap: 12.5 km + 16.7 km

Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN): “It was a dream to win the 30 km at Holmenkollen. I felt good during the race but after 20 km I got a little bit tired. The great audience here helped me to al lot on the last 10 km. Thanks you very much! Today it was good for me to have the possibility to change the skis but in general I think we should keep this traditional 30km race like it was.”

Virpi Kuitunen (FIN): ”I took on the first lap my second best skis and changed after the first 12.5km to my best skis. The pit stop possibility during the race help a lot when we have wet conditions like today but not at each conditions. I’m happy about my result and this help us a lot to fix our goal ‘winning of the ladies nation cup’.

Petra Majdic (SLO): “To reach the podium at the traditional Holmenkollen race that is a dream. I had today a good race and good ski’s. But I also lost at least 15 seconds when I choose the wrong track at the junction to the 16.7 km in the first loop – so I have to skied back to the right course.”

Source: FIS

MEN'S 50 KM CLASSIC

ODD-BJOERN HJELMESET

Rank Bib Name Nation 16.7km Rk 40.4km Rk Finish Behind
1 51 HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern NOR 45:17.1 1 1:50:45.4 2 2:17:22.0 0.0
2 54 ANGERER Tobias GER 45:58.9 7 1:50:37.4 1 2:17:31.8 +9.8
3 50 ESTIL Frode NOR 45:47.6 3 1:51:14.0 4 2:17:53.8 +31.8
4 47 SOMMERFELDT Rene GER 45:25.7 2 1:51:06.3 3 2:18:54.9 +1:32.9
5 44 JAUHOJAERVI Sami FIN 46:21.8 10 1:51:38.4 6 2:19:01.6 +1:39.6
6 46 MAE Jaak EST 45:56.9 6 1:51:33.4 5 2:19:10.1 +1:48.1
7 20 VYLEGZHANIN Maxim RUS 45:52.5 4 1:51:54.8 7 2:19:22.5 +2:00.5
8 37 DI CENTA Giorgio ITA 46:06.0 8 1:52:23.6 9 2:19:36.7 +2:14.7
9 30 NOUSIAINEN Ville FIN 46:21.1 9 1:52:18.8 8 2:19:47.7 +2:25.7
10 29 GJERDALEN Tord Asle NOR 46:51.3 17 1:52:59.6 13 2:20:06.7 +2:44.7
11 36 BAJCICAK Martin SVK 46:36.8 13 1:52:53.1 12 2:20:12.0 +2:50.0
12 41 NORTHUG Petter NOR 47:53.6 32 1:53:10.4 14 2:20:29.6 +3:07.6
13 40 PILLER COTTRER Pietro ITA 45:54.3 5 1:52:48.8 10 2:20:30.8 +3:08.8
14 5 BJERKE Espen Harald NOR 46:33.6 12 1:52:52.2 11 2:21:09.1 +3:47.1
15 34 CLARA Roland ITA 47:11.1 22 1:53:54.6 17 2:21:26.2 +4:04.2
16 7 SKJELDAL Kristen NOR 46:25.0 11 1:53:31.6 15 2:21:55.2 +4:33.2
17 49 FREDRIKSSON Mathias SWE 46:48.1 15 1:53:51.8 16 2:22:00.7 +4:38.7
18 38 MAGAL Jiri CZE 47:07.2 19 1:54:40.2 18 2:22:14.0 +4:52.0
19 9 AASEN Geir Ludvig NOR 47:47.4 28 1:55:37.3 23 2:23:08.1 +5:46.1
20 19 KOKK Kaspar EST 46:49.7 16 1:54:43.3 20 2:23:26.5 +6:04.5
21 25 FREEMAN Kris USA 47:23.6 23 1:54:41.3 19 2:23:26.9 +6:04.9
22 28 SIMILAE Tero FIN 47:07.8 20 1:54:52.2 21 2:23:35.6 +6:13.6
23 8 DJUPVIK Roger Aa NOR 47:41.7 25 1:55:38.4 24 2:23:39.4 +6:17.4
24 26 OLSSON Johan SWE 47:46.1 27 1:55:39.8 25 2:23:42.9 +6:20.9
25 24 SEIFERT Benjamin GER 47:49.3 29 1:55:11.4 22 2:24:16.9 +6:54.9
26 32 CHECCHI Valerio ITA 47:51.7 31 1:55:58.7 26 2:24:30.9 +7:08.9
27 22 TRONDSEN Krister NOR 48:30.1 35 1:56:52.4 31 2:24:35.3 +7:13.3
28 42 BATORY Ivan SVK 47:49.9 30 1:56:02.6 27 2:24:54.1 +7:32.1
29 13 KANAMARU Tomio JPN 49:04.4 40 1:57:36.8 33 2:25:24.8 +8:02.8
30 43 KOUKAL Martin CZE 47:08.6 21 1:56:45.6 29 2:26:20.5 +8:58.5
31 21 SCOLA Fulvio ITA 49:00.7 39 1:57:55.1 34 2:26:58.5 +9:36.5
32 3 POST Arne NOR 48:10.2 33 1:57:26.7 32 2:27:58.4 +10:36.4
33 33 NOVIKOV Serguei RUS 47:05.1 18 1:56:40.1 28 2:28:00.5 +10:38.5
34 15 KOZU Masaaki JPN 49:13.9 41 1:59:42.4 37 2:28:06.0 +10:44.0
35 18 ARTEEV Ivan RUS 48:30.6 36 1:58:38.2 35 2:28:58.8 +11:36.8
36 35 OESTENSEN Simen NOR 46:37.7 14 1:56:45.9 30 2:29:47.6 +12:25.6
37 4 SCHJELLERUD Tor Erik NOR 48:20.3 34 1:59:49.3 38 2:29:57.1 +12:35.1
38 10 ANDERSSON Rickard SWE 47:43.6 26 1:58:47.5 36 2:30:16.5 +12:54.5
39 6 KVEEN Stig Rune NOR 51:10.3 44 2:01:51.4 42 2:30:44.0 +13:22.0
40 12 MCKEEVER Brian CAN 49:36.2 42 2:01:18.5 41 2:31:14.3 +13:52.3
41 2 GRANMO Jan Gisle NOR 48:43.6 38 2:00:51.0 39 2:31:22.5 +14:00.5
42 48 GOERING Franz GER 47:33.3 24 2:00:54.0 40 2:32:44.9 +15:22.9
43 1 ELVESTAD Glenn NOR 50:28.7 43 2:04:26.4 43 2:35:25.1 +18:03.1
44 11 THOR OLSEN Jonas DAN 53:18.2 45 2:12:41.6 44 2:48:23.5 +31:01.5

Disqualified
27 SANTUS Fabio ITA 48:06.6 1:56:38.0 ICR 314.1.1
39 PANKRATOV Nikolai RUS 47:38.7 ----------- ICR 314.1.1
Did Not Finish
16 BRINK Joergen SWE 48:39.8 37
53 ROENNING Eldar NOR
Did Not Start
14 FLORA Lars USA
17 HEIKKINEN Matti FIN
23 DAHL Jon Kristian NOR
31 AUKLAND Anders NOR
45 FILBRICH Jens GER
52 LEGKOV Alexander RUS

Hjelmeset Wins Holmenkollen 50K

Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset from Norway took the victory in the traditional individual start races in classic technique over 50 km at the Holmenkollen (NOR).

Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) finished 21st in the sunny, 45-degree weather. Brian McKeever of Canada finished 40th. They were the only two North Americans racing.

The 35-year-old Hjelmeset won this traditional World Cup race for the first time just 9.8 seconds ahead of the overall World Cup winner Tobias Angerer (GER). Third place was Hjelmeset’s team mate Frode Estil (NOR, +31.8 seconds). Hjelmeset started only 30 seconds behind Estil in the individual start race, and overtook him after the first few kilometers. The two Norwegian were skiing nearly the whole race together and could help each other.

Hjelmeset has been on quite a roll recently. He also won the 50km mass start race at the World Championships in Sapporo, and today was his second victory in one week after the success in Lahti over the 15km in classical style. The 34-year-old Estil managed third place, the second podium in his last season of his career.

The overall World Cup is already won by Tobias Angerer. He is in the lead with 1031 points. Second place is still Alexander Legkov (RUS, 573), who didn’t compete today because he was ill. On third place follows Eldar Roenning, just 19 points behind Legkov.

Tobias Angerer, with his second place today, also won the distance World Cup with a total of 492 points. Second place is Frenchman Vincent Vittoz, wo didn’t compete in today’s race, with 370 points. Third place is now Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset with 334 points.

Spectators: 9.500

Weather: sunny, +5°C

Snow Conditions: Spring conditions

Special remarks:
Courses men: Height Differences (HD): 126m; Maximum Climb (MC): 79, Total Climb (TC): 1776m; Length of Lap: 16.7 km

Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (NOR): “It was an amazing race today. It is great to win here in front of the audience from Holmenkollen. At the end of my race I was really tired but Frode (Estil) helped me a lot and so I could manage the victory. Thanks to Frode – I think without his help Tobias would be the winner. But I must also say that Tobias (Angerer) is a great skier, he compete in nearly all races this season and was from the beginning to the end in a fabulous shape.”

Tobias Angerer (GER): ”It was a perfect race for me. In the first part my skis were a little bit slippery but than I change the skis and that was good. I felt good during the race but at the end I had not enough power to push harder and maybe win the race. It is amazing to ski on this course with this great audience. I’m happy that I could defend my overall World Cup and also the distance World Cup.”

Frode Estil (NOR): “To finish on a podium place in my last 50 km that is great. The race was hard but I could skied together with Odd-Bjoern (Hjelmeset) and that helped me a lot. We understand each other without any words. When I realized that Odd-Bjoern is fighting for the victory I try to help me and pushed as much as I could. Now I maybe should teach Odd-Bjoern in skating that he will be prepared for the 50km in free technique in Liberec 2009. Next weekend, in my last World Cup race, I will give my best. The track in Falun fits me well.”

Source: FIS

WORLD CUP Standings
WOMEN
1 KUITUNEN Virpi FIN 1477
2 BJOERGEN Marit NOR 829
3 NEUMANNOVA Katerina CZE 814
4 SAARINEN Aino Kaisa FIN 777
5 MAJDIC Petra SLO 765
6 ROPONEN Riitta Liisa FIN 533
7 SHEVCHENKO Valentina UKR 517
8 KOWALCZYK Justyna POL 434
9 SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi GER 388
10 FOLLIS Arianna ITA 387
11 SAVIALOVA Olga RUS 362
12 SMIGUN Kristina EST 360
13 KUENZEL-NYSTAD Claudia GER 349
14 SKOFTERUD Vibeke W. NOR 348
15 STEIRA Kristin Stoermer NOR 341
16 MATVEEVA Natalia RUS 295
17 BAUER Viola GER 294
18 PHILIPPOT Karine FRA 275
19 ANDERSSON Lina SWE 272
20 LONGA Marianna ITA 252

MEN
1 ANGERER Tobias GER 1031
2 LEGKOV Alexander RUS 573
3 ROENNING Eldar NOR 556
4 HETLAND Tor Arne NOR 522
5 HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern NOR 465
6 NORTHUG Petter NOR 434
7 VITTOZ Vincent FRA 418
8 JAUHOJAERVI Sami FIN 382
9 SVARTEDAL Jens Arne NOR 377
10 OESTENSEN Simen NOR 361
11 ESTIL Frode NOR 341
12 GOERING Franz GER 317
13 DEMENTIEV Eugeni RUS 315
14 PANKRATOV Nikolai RUS 274
15 SOMMERFELDT Rene GER 269
16 TEICHMANN Axel GER 262
17 FILBRICH Jens GER 250
18 SOEDERGREN Anders SWE 247
19 FREDRIKSSON Mathias SWE 244
20 IVERSEN Trond NOR 215

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