February 22, 2015 (Falun, Sweden) – Norway out-classed the field today crushing all opposition in the Women’s 6×1.2km FR Team Sprint, as anchor Maiken Caspersen Falla crossed the finish line more than eight seconds ahead of the nearest rival. The real battle was for silver and Stina Nilsson (SWE) delivered for the hometown fans as she pulled ahead of Poland’s Sylwia Jaskowiec in the finishing lanes to claim second.

Norway's Falla (l) and Oestberg © Nordic Focus

The defending champs from Val di Fiemme in 2013, Team USA, finished eighth overall. Sophie Caldwell and Jessie Diggins placed a strong second in the second Semi final, but when the pace picked up in the final they could not respond.

While Diggins and Kikkan Randall had won gold two year’s earlier the switch to Caldwell was made by Head Coach Chris Grover noting, “The team sprint is an important medal opportunity for us and we’re putting our best sprinters on the starting line. While Kikkan and Jessie are the world champions, we need to go with the athletes who are skiing the best right now. Kikkan understands that and also knows that she’s helped our team get to the point where we have options.”

Stina Nilsson (SWE) © Nordic Focus

In the final Norway’s Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and Falla dominated from the start with Østberg creating a gap and Falla extending it. Germany, Poland and Sweden formed the lead chase group with the other teams further back.

By mid-race Norway’s lead was massive as Germany’s Nicole Fessel battled with Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk for second with Sweden’s Ida Ingemarsdotter behind in fourth.

On the final exchange Falla surged to victory as Nilsson almost collided with Germany’s Denise Herrmann in a tight corner close to the stadium. Soon after Nilsson dropped her as Hermann faltered and now the duel for silver was with Poland’s Jaskowiec who could not contain the fiery Swede and settled for the bronze.

Sophie Caldwell © Nordic Focus

Team USA crossed the line in eighth behind Switzerland. ”That was a tough one as it’s a combination of sprinting and distance skiing. When you’re feeling perfect it can be amazing but when you’re feeling a little less than that it’s a hard race,” commented Caldwell.

“I was really excited, but also extremely nervous going into today. I’ve never felt nerves like that before. I was not super happy with how I felt today, but I was really impressed with Jessie and was honored to be on a team with her. Everyone did a good job of reminding me that this was a new team with no expectations, but I still put a lot of pressure on myself and need to learn how to fix that.

“I wish I could have had a better day, but I couldn’t have asked for a better teammate and friend. I think on a perfect day we could be great, but we gave it our all today and I’m proud of that,” Caldwell told Trax.

Jessica Diggins (USA) © Nordic Focus

For Diggins it was great to reach the final, knowing they weren’t the favourites, which helped with the pressure.

”You never know how the other team’s are going be. The goal was to stay as close to the pack as possible and expend as little energy as possible early on, then start picking people off. I feel like my shape is good and the skis were amazing but I blew up a little in the end. It was a shame to be passed in the finish by Switzerland but that’s how it is sometimes.”

”It’s definitely a disadvantage to be i the second semifinal,” she continued. “To be in that first semi would have been awesome as  you get another half hour to rest – that would have been sweet. We made our goal to reach the final. That so cool.”

”We were defending world champions but we didn´t come here as favorites – that took some pressure off. We had the potential to do something amazing… if you’re lucky and everything falls in place we can maybe take a medal again.”

Final podium © Nordic Focus

For Nilsson it was a special day and she left everything on the tracks. ”I was very inspired by Ida’s amazing last lap. I felt that the medals were really close. I gave everything I had on the last lap and I’m very happy that it worked so well.”

Accorinding to Østberg things unfolded as they hoped. “Our plan was to start a little easy in the first round and speed up in the second and then give it all in the final lap.”

Final results here.