Therese Johaug (NOR) on top of the world © Nordic Focus

March 16, 2014 (Falun, Sweden) – There was no stopping Norway’s Therese Johaug on her mission to win the Falun mini-tour and take home her first overall World Cup title. The dynamic skier put the hammer down as she doubled her 15-second margin to win the final race of the season, the women’s 10km pursuit start, a comfortable 29.2 seconds ahead of teammate and closest rival Marit Bjoergen, to claim her first-ever Crystal globe. Johaug won the distance title as well.

Therese Johaug (NOR) claimed the overall and distance globes. © Nordic Focus

“Winning the World Cup Overall has been a dream for me since I was little,” said Johaug post-race.”This was one of my best races of the season. Today I really felt like I was in perfect shape and I had absolutely great skis – everything worked out just fine.”

Heidi Weng completed a Norwegian sweep of the mini-tour podium as she overtook Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) near the end of the last loop to take third. This also moved her into fourth overall as Norway swarmed the final overall World Cup podium with Johaug first, Bjoergen second and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen 3rd despite her withdrawal from the mini-tour due to post-concussion symptoms.

Final mini tour podium (l-r) Bjoergen 2nd, Johaug 1st, Weng 3rd. © Nordic Focus

According to FIS XC this is the first time any country has swept the overall standings since Russia did it at the end of the 1994-95 season.

The USA’s Kikkan Randall ended up 13th in the mini tour and settled for 6th overall as Niskanen’s efforts pushed her into fifth behind Weng. Despite taking home her third Sprint Cup globe Randall told Trax after yesterday’s skiathlon, “Really pumped to be almost done with the world cup season. It’s been a lot of racing and a lot of emotional energy, especially in the last six weeks.

(l-r) Lahteenmaki, Randall, Hagen... © Nordic Focus

“Overall I was happy with my consistent sprint performance but felt I went backwards a step in my distance skiing.  And of course the Olympics was my biggest goal of the season and I didn’t reach my goals there. I am definitely ending this season wanting more.”

Following Randall was Liz Stephen in 17th on the day ending up 17th overall, very close to the top 15 she was shooting for and up over last year’s 20th. Jessie Diggins finished the mini tour in 36th and her season in 20th overall on the World Cup, way up over last year’s 36th place ranking as she continues her rise to stardom.

Stephen with Fessel behind and Bjornsen to her left... © Nordic Focus

New revelation, Sophie Caldwell is a huge talent making terrific strides as she finished 39th on the day to claim 23rd overall on the World Cup just behind Diggins. Also turning heads this season was Sadie Bjornsen delivering a mini tour final ranking of 22nd as she finished in 32nd on the World Cup with more to come from this Alaska skier.

The USA’s Caitlin Gregg placed 37th on the mini tour followed by Ida Sargent in 38th as she ended up 49th in the World Cup standings. Andrea Dupont, at her first Falun finale and the lone Canadian on the start line, finished 42nd.

Andrea Dupont (CAN) trails Schicho, Fabjan and Visnar... © Nordic Focus

Not racing this weekend were Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova who finished her season in 68th on the World Cup rankings, while fellow Canuck Perianne Jones was 78th and the USA’s Holly Brooks was 84th.

Falun is the site of the 2015 Nordic World Championships so as the athletes said their goodbyes for another year, look for more fireworks to come from this Swedish resort town in the near future…until then the entire World Cup caravan can enjoy an extended rest day.

Mini tour final standings here.
Final World Cup overall here.