December 6, 2009 (Dusseldorf, GER) – Making it into the men’s Team Sprint 6×1.5km F final, the US sprint duo of Andy Newell and Torin Koos put in an awesome race to earn a 6th-place finish. Initial results had the US and Russia II tied in 5th, but when the final results were released it was Russia II claiming 5th and the USA in 6th (more on this to follow). Newell and Koos were 4th at Dusseldorf last year.

Taking top spot on the podium was the Russia I team including yesterday’s sprint winner, Alexey Petukhov, and partner Nikolai Morilov who had the acceleration at the end to keep Norway’s Eirik Brandsdal and Anders Gloersen in second place at 0.8sec and Sweden’s Bjoern Lind and Robin Bryntesson in 3rd at 1.2 seconds out. Taking 4th, the Swiss duo of Tambornino and Eigenmann showed that they are a team to be reckoned with going into the Olympics.

According to US Cross Country Coach Chris Grover, despite the rainy cold conditions in Germany, both Koos and Newell skied a hard fought semifinal in order to make it along to the final round. “They were good. They were third in their semifinal and the top three advance. They skied a really smart race there,” Grover said in a USSA release.

With a large field of athletes all vying for a spot in the final, Grover said that a crash nearly took Newell out of the running for his team. “It was a little touch and go there just to get into that final because of the crash,” Grover said. “They had to fight hard to get caught up, then they made their way back to second and third.”

After making up the time, Newell and Koos advanced to the final round to garner their sixth. “It was a really close final. It was a clean race and everyone was very close. The pack didn’t break up at all until that last lap,” Grover said. In the end, Grover was pleased with the way the U.S. men raced, saying that eventually it will be their time to make the podium.

“I’m really happy with both of those guys because they’re both in great shape,” Grover said. “When you’re at this level, there are maybe 20 other guys at the same level and sometimes it’s your day and other days you aren’t able to.”

Full men’s Team Sprint results here.
Full men’s Team Sprint results with times here – BUT the US Team is not listed (again) – we have contacted FIS.

Results (brief)

1. Russia I (Petukhov/Morilov) 17:34.7
2. Norway (Brandsdal/Gloersen) 17:35.5
3. Sweden II (Lind/Bryntesson) 17:35.9
4. Switzerland (Tambornino/Eigenmann) 17:37.8
5. Russia II (Devjatiarov/Kriukov) 17:38.5
6. United States (Koos/Newell)
7. France II (Gaillard/Darragon) 17:40.6
8. Finland II (Lassila/Strandvall) 17:44.8
9. Norway II (Dahl/Hattestad) 17:56.1
10. Czech Republic (Koukal/Kozisek) 18:18.1