February 1, 2009 (Rybinsk, Russia) – According the FIS web site both the women’s and men’s 15/30km Pursuit races scheduled for Sunday at the FIS Veissmann XC World Cup #8 in Rybinsk, Russia, have been cancelled due to cold weather and have not been rescheduled.

USSA Release

Cold weather in Rybinsk, which lies 300km north of Moscow, forced cancelation of a men’s and women’s pursuit scheduled for Sunday on the FIS Cross Country World Cup.

American sprinters Kikkan Randall (Anchorage), Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) and Chris Cook (Sun Valley, ID) were on the start list, ready to ski the 30K and 15K races.

Head Cross Country Coach Peter Vordenberg said the race would not be rescheduled. “The cold just shut it down today,” Vordenberg said. Newell had been fifth in Saturday’s freestyle sprint.

The World Cup takes a break before resuming Feb. 13-14 in Valdidentro, Italy in a prelude to the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic.