November 22, 2008 (Gallivare, Sweden) – Sweden was on top today as local favourite and 2008 Tour de Ski Champ, Charlotte Kalla (Swe) took the win in the women’s 10km skate on Saturday at round #1 of the FIS XC World Cup #1 in Gallivare, Sweden while fellow Swede Marcus Hellner won the men’s 15km race. Top North American was the USA’s Kris Freeman in 20th with Canada’s Devon Kershaw in 28th. No North American women competed.

Sweden’s Kalla stopped the clock at 24:07.8 a full 24 seconds ahead of second place finisher Marit Bjoergen of Norway. In third, 32 seconds back was Finland’s Aino-Kaisa Saarinen.

On the men’s side Hellner won by just 1.4 seconds over World Cup veteran Pietro Piller Cottrer (Ita) in a time of 32:35.2. In third was Norway’s rising star, Petter Northug, just under seven seconds off the lead. Both Freeman and Kershaw finished under a minute off the lead. Freeman was 46.2 seconds back, while Kershaw ended up just under the minute mark at 58.1 seconds off.

“I thought the day was a good start. I felt like I skied strong and technically very smooth, but I didn’t have that last five percent to put me up into the really good numbers,” Freeman said. “I thought I had a chance for the top 10, and that would have been a perfect race. But a top 20 would have been a good day and that’s what I did. I’m satisfied with today’s race and I hope there are better things to come.” Freeman will team up with fellow American’s Chris Cook, and Andy Newell for the 4 x 10 km relay on Sunday. Torin Koos has come down with a cold and will not race the relay.

On Kershaw’s personal webpage he reports that, “I’m glad to be in the points in the first competition of the season of course, but I was hoping to “ski differently” than my normal way (as in going out slower and coming back stronger), but it didn’t workout that way. That said, it’s been three decent efforts so far this year and that’s what matters in November. Be “in it,” now and be closer to the top as the season progresses.”

Full women’s results here.
Full men’s results here.

Results (brief)

Women

1. Charlotte Kalla (Swe) 24:07.8
2. Marit Bjoergen (Nor) 24:32.2
3. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 24:39.8
4. Therese Johaug (Nor) 24:41.5
5. Arianna Follis (Ita) 24:43.4

Men

1. Marcus Hellner (Swe) 32:35.2
2. Pietro Piller Cottrer (Ita) 32:36.6
3. Petter Northug Jr. (Nor) 32:42.1
4. Tom Reichelt (Ger) 32:50.1
5. Tore Ruud Hofstad 32:50.2

20. Kris Freeman (USA) 33:21.0
28. Devon Kershaw (Can) 33:33.1
83. Stefan Kuhn (Can) 35:34.1