“It’s my best World Cup warm up – yesterday I was given some splits but not during today’s race. I love a 10km course and today felt smooth. It’s also great to see a larger group of American skiers here and skiing well – I hope it’s a sign of things to come,” added Freeman.
American Noah Hoffman (USST) also had a strong day finishing in 25th just ahead of Leif Orin Zimmermann in 27th and Glenn Randall in 36th both with the Bridger Ski Foundation. According to coach Will Sweetser from Maine Winter Sports Center Randall may well have had his “…best fast course skate race ever today. Just ahead of Italy’s Giorgio DiCenta!”While the course was not up to World Cup standards still it was a great day for Team USA. “The American men, in general, seemed to be awake,” added Sweetser. “The intensity that our top four or five guys brought to the course was visible. It was really great to see the U.S. moving up through what is essentially, a near World Cup field.”
In the women’s 10km Italy’s Arianna Follis topped the field with Olga Mikhailova (RUS) in second and Finland’s Riitta-Liisa Roponen taking third on the podium. Liz Stephen led the American women in 22nd followed soon after by Morgan Arritola in 29th. According to Sweetse both Stephen and Arritola said that today felt a lot better than yesterday. “They seem on the upswing and pleased to be feeling closer to “normal” already,” said Sweetser.
Kikkan Randall was not on the start line saying, “Didn’t race today – two starts was enough for an opening weekend!” Hannah Dreissigacker with the Craftsbury Green Racing Project placed 60th leading the non-USST skiers.“Kris is obviously fit at the outset of this season. Of course, those of us from New England knew that a few weeks ago when he set a new Moosilauke Hill Climb record,” continued Sweetser. “But Kris is not alone, the talk in the dining hall is all ‘America’. Kikkan, Kris, Andy, Ida – they’re all making us proud.”
Tomorrow is a well-earned day off for Freeman – his first in awhile he says – as the US World Cup skiers then prepare for next weekend’s WCup kick off in Gallivare, Sweden while the rest of the US crew will race at the Finnish Cups in Rovaniemi.
Full results HERE.Results (brief)
Women
1. Arianna Follis (ITA) 25:57.1
2. Olga Mikhailova (RUS) 26:06.1
3. Riitta-Liisa Roponen (FIN) 26:10.4
4. Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle (GER) 26:22.5
5. Krista Lahteenmaki (FIN) 26:25.9
22. Elizabeth Stephen (USA) 27:10.5
29. Morgan Arritola (USA) 27:23.9
60. Hannah Dreissigacker (USA) 28:33.6
80. Liza Goodwin (USA) 29:25.1
89. Chelsea Little (USA) 30:14.0
100. Lauren Jacobs (USA) 31:30.8
103. Adele Espy (USA) 31:52.3
Men
1. Sergey Shiriaev (RUS) 22:37.9
2. Kris Freeman (USA) 22:45.1
3. Tim Tscharnke (GER) 22:47.6
4. Alexey Slepov (RUS) 22:47.8
5. Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA) 22:57.7
25. Noah Hoffman (USA) 23:26.4
27. Leif Orin Zimmermann (USA) 23:26.8
36. Glenn Randall (USA) 23:41.4
79. Tim Reynolds (USA) 24:32.1
117. Dylan Mcguffin (USA) 25:06.1
122. Patrick O’Brien (USA) 25:11.5
124. Matthew Briggs (USA) 25:12.7
147. Oliver Burruss (USA) 25:39.2
159. Fred Bailey (USA) 25:50.9
181. Michael Lessard (USA) 26:26.6