January 16, 2011 (Liberec, Czech Republic) – The Norway I team of Marit Bjoergen and Maiken Caspersen Falla dominated today’s FIS World Cup 6×1.3km classic team sprint in Liberec with a decisive victory over the Italy I team of Marianna Longa and Magda Genuin in second and Norway II (Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes and Celine Brun-Lie) in third.

Team Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova and Chandra Crawford had a strong showing, finishing fifth, but put up a valiant fight for the medals throughout the race. On the menu for the upcoming Nordic Worlds in Oslo today’s race in Liberec is the final time that teams will meet before the Worlds signaling that Norway is clearly the front runner as other countries tweak their strategies for the remaining podium spots.

According to a CCC release the Canadian duo, who won bronze in the same race format in Dusseldorf earlier this year, were ready to feed off “Lay it on the Line” by Triumph – and that they did.

Canada’s Gaiazova had a great first heat, putting Canada in second behind Falla. Norway I began to open up a gap by the second heat as Bjoergen turned on the jets with Italy’s Longa taking over second, Sweden’s Falk moving into 3rd and Canada’s Crawford holding on to fourth.

The hand-offs in the transition went smooth and when Gaiazova’s turn came again on the third heat, she attacked to regain second spot as Norway I was off the front and building a commanding the lead. The battle for the rest of the podium was in full swing as Longa (Italy I) overtook Crawford for second in the fourth heat, while the Canadian fought hard with Brun-Lie from Norway II for third spot. Falk trailed behind in fourth as Bjoergen kept the pressure up skiing alone at the front.

Bjoergen tagged Falla with a comfortable 20-second advantage for Norway I on heat five with Italy’s Genuin defending second while Gaiazova resumed the fight for bronze with Norway II as she and Brun-Lie began to close on the Italian. Gaiazova took over third up the climb but couldn’t catch Genuin as she handed off to Crawford for the final leg.

By now Bjoergen was powering away securing the win for Norway I, as Longa held a tight grip on second while Crawford tried in vain to maintain third but Brun-Lie was too strong. Behind Finland’s Pirjo Muranen had taken over fourth from Falk as Sweden faltered.

As the field charged to the finish Bjoergen slam-dunked the win for Norway with Longa taking second and Brun-Lie grabbing Norway another podium spot. Muranen passed Crawford to claim fourth as the stalwart skier delivered Canada to a respectable fifth place.

“We’re both in good shape and we attacked well,” said Bjoergen in a post-race interview. “My goal was to give Maiken a good advantage after the first exchange and she had an amazing race increasing the gap.”

Canada’s Gaiazova who took a leadership role in the race told us by email that she “had a blast out there today.”  On their way to Prague by bus as they head to Otepaa the 27-year-old said their skis were perfect.

“We had fantastic skis today and great weather. I felt really good racing around the course. And it was a thrill to tag off to Chandra in medal contention every time. She raced really strong too, we both laid it all on the line today,” wrote Gaiazova.

Crawford heaped praise on her team mate. “Daria gets all the credit today. It was awesome to have a teammate handing off to me in strong position,” she said in the CCC release. Crawford went on to say that she’s been focusing on classic over the last four years in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games sprint event and the work has paid off adding, “Devon’s (Kershaw) success lately has been really good for the whole team and we are all feeding off it. It was an exciting race today.”

“Although my skate sprint was not so hot it was very cool to watch Kikkan dominate the sprint and score a big victory,” said Crawford by email. “In the sprint relay I have come a long way to be able to ski with those world cup girls but still have work to do to have the fitness to keep that pace up. My skis were amazing today and it’s been fun racing with Daria – we are both zany nutcases who love life and live loud. When we are working together I’m at my best.”

Full results HERE.
Full results detail HERE.