January 14, 2017 (Toblach, ITA) – A fateful crash took out Kikkan Randall and Sophie Caldwell as they collided in the same semi final heat in the women’s 1.3km Sprint in Toblach, Italy, as the FIS World Cup schedule resumed following the Tour de Ski.

Natalia Matveeva (RUS) earned her second career individual sprint victory as she pipped overall sprint leader Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway at the line in thrilling finish. In third place was Sweden’s Hanna Falk for her third podium of the season.

Caldwell advanced to the semis finishing second in her heat while Randall advanced as a Lucky Loser. The duo drew the same heat which saw Randall was running directly behind Caldwell tucking a downhill into a left turn when Caldwell was pinched into the corner, spun around and Randall collided with her.

“Our skis were incredibly fast today and that was actually a little bit of the problem,” said Randall. “When our pack came down the hill that first time in the semi, everyone came together into the corner. The other girls went right so I could really only take the inside. I came up on Sophie faster than expected and tried to sneak by on the inside. But there wasn’t much space and I think I may have knocked her boot with my ski.”

“It was for sure a bummer of a way to end the day, but that is part of our sport,” said Caldwell, who had been down with a stomach ailment earlier in the week after winning a key Europa Cup sprint last weekend in Slovenia. “I felt like I skied the quarterfinal tactically well and had set myself up in a good position in that first half of the semi before falling.”

“I feel really bad because I think I caused the crash. It was a real bummer because both of us were feeling good and ready to mix it up. But luckily we are both okay and there was no broken bodies or equipment,” Randall added.

The World Cup sprint standings top 3 is shared by today’s top 3 ladies but with Falla with a big lead followed by Falk and Matveeva who are separated by just 2 points.

Results here.