November 30, 2014 (Oestersund, Sweden) – The Mixed Relay kicked off the IBU World Cup season with an exciting to-the-wire finish that saw France’s Martin Fourcade cut a 26s deficit to catch and outkick the two leaders in the finishing straight as Norway settled for silver and Germany the bronze.

Final sprint (l-r) Fourcade, Schempp, Birkeland © Nordic Focus

The USA’s Susan Dunklee, Annelies Cook, Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey were in contention as high as 4th at one point but anchor Bailey, who cleaned in prone but was stymied in the final standing session, needed three extra rounds as the team ended up 7th.

Rosanna Crawford © Jeff Stokoe

Team Canada’s Rosanna Cra wford was off to a fiery start as she cleaned in prone and needed only one extra round in standing putting the team in contention. But veteran Zina Kocher could not keep them there needing six rounds and suffered two penalty loops. Nathan Smith handed off to anchor Marc Andre Bedard who finished 17th.

Susan Dunklee (USA) just behind... © Nordic Focus

The lead changed several times with Finland, Czech Republic and Italy taking over at the start of the second leg with the USA 4th and Canada in 5th. Through the third leg Slovenia was on top with Germany behind the Czechs and Norway moving up with France chasing in 5th as the USA dropped to 7th while Canada fell out of contention.

Final podium © Nordic Focus

Bailey put the USA back in 4th as France with Fourcade were back in contention. The final standing was Slovenia’s undoing as Norway took the lead while France moved into third and the US dropped to 5th. Fourcade was the strongest skier and caught the leaders pouncing at the end for the win as Bailey was caught by some the chasing teams as Team USA ended up 7th.

Full results here.