Australian Ben Sim is a favorite for the podium and hoping to make this his fifth Hoppet win after taking two wins at the National Championships at Falls Creek last weekend. The biggest obstacles in his way looks like being two fellow Vancouver Winter Olympians – Garrott Kuzzy from the USA and Valerio Leccardi from Switzerland.
In the ladies’ field Slovakian Anastasia Kuzmina, gold and silver medalist in biathlon at Vancouver and Swiss Lena Pichard lead the international list, up against a local field lead by current Australian champion Aimee Watson and last year’s Hoppet runner-up Esther Bottomley. Other skiers who could be in contention for a podium place include Swedish ski orienteer Johanna Edin and American Sarah Konrad.
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