March 24, 2019 (Quebec City, QC) – Sadie Bjornsen led the North Americans finishing 11th overall in the mini-tour as the season wrapped up in Quebec City with the final race of the season, the women’s 10km FR Pursuit where Bjornsen was 13th. Sweden’s Stina Nilsson won the Pursuit and the overall for a golden mini-tour sweep along with the Sprint Cup globe.

Norway’s Therese Johaug was second on the day and second overall also winning the distance globe, while fellow Norge Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg was third in the Pursuit third in the mini tour also taking home the overall series globe title for the first time in her career.

Jessie Diggins had the fourth fastest time in the final race to finish 14th in the mini tour. The top Canadian was Emily Nishikawa in 31st on the day and XXth overall in Quebec.

“I was really happy with today, I maybe started out a little aggressive just trying to close the gap and paid for it on lap two,” said Bjornsen. “On the last lap…I was able to hold off the group behind. It is nice to end the season with a good race and complete the season close to the top 10.”

“That was a really fun way to end the season,” said Diggins, who finished 14th overall in the three-day event. “Skating is always so fun because you can go as hard as you want to go and it was really fun to have the tools I needed to be able to use what energy my body had. Very satisfying.”

Veteran Nishikawa, a top Canadian who will carry the torch for the newly named Nordiq Canada high-performance program added, “I had a really good race. It was a ton of fun skiing today and I was really happy. I felt really strong and was skiing comfortably up near the front of our chase pack. It was definitely one of my best races of the season. Racing here in Quebec is incredible.”

Finishing her World Cup career at the Quebec City Finals was Ida Sargent from Craftsbury, Vermont. “Today was really special to have so many people cheering my name and to have all my teammates in the finish area was just so amazing,” said Sargent.

Oestberg was on cloud nine winning the overall, “The globe is heavy,” she laughed.”I really wanted to win and worked hard all season. It’s really satisfying to end the season this way and we really like the courses and atmosphere in Quebec and look forward to racing in the USA next year as well.”

Women’s Pursuit here.
Winner of the day here.
Mini Tour here.
Overall WCup here.