March 10, 2014 (Oslo, Norway) – We caught up with the USA’s Kikkan Randall and Sadie Bjornsen after the historic 30km CL at the Holmenkollen in Oslo for their take on the race and what it’s like to race at the temple of Nordic skiing… Randall nailed a career-best 12th while Bjornsen was stoked with 14th following bouts of sickness that have made for an up-and-down season – read more here.

Sadie Bjornsen (USA) – 14th
http://skitrax.com/audio/Sadie.Oslo30kmCL.mp3

Kikkan Randall (USA) – 12th (career-best)

How was your energy on the start line of this big race ?
KR: Energy was good coming into the race.  Being anxious always makes you feel a little tired but that was just nerves.

You’ve raced in the Holmenkolen a number of times – is it always special ?
KR: Holmenkollen is a super fun place to race.  Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, out on course knows your name, the cheering is super loud and you just get a sense that you’re racing on one of the most historic courses in ski racing.

Talk about the course and conditions today – and your skis…
KR: They seemed to have learned a few things from the men’s race yesterday and did a much more extensive job of salting for today.  Therefore the course was quite firm and all the downhills were pretty fast.  It was really nice to have such a firm track. A little tough to get strong kick in a few places but overall great conditions!  A very challenging course with some big climbs but also a fun course to race.

My skis were a little slick in the first half of the race, decent for the first 5km loop but I struggled a bit up the big climbs on the first 8km lap.  Changed skis at 13km and had better skis in the 2nd half of the race.  Thank goodness for the ski change today or those last two laps would have been brutal!

Did the race unfold as you expected ?
KR: The pace was really fast from the start as usual.  The pack strung out pretty quick.  I lost touch with a pack of skiers at the end of my 1st big lap as I was slipping up the hills and ended up skiing the next 10km trying to chase them down.  Finally got back in the pack with 5km to go and then was able to ski away from them for a bit in the last 2km.

You were 20th but moved up after changing skis at 13km and caught Sadie…tell us about this phase.
KR: See above 🙂

As the finish approached you found another gear to nail 12th – impressive.
KR: I actually had really good energy at the end of the race.  My arms were cramping in the last 10km so I was trying to keep a quick rhythm with my legs.  To me it felt like I had plenty of gas in the tank but the limitation was more technical.

Did you know you were close to a top-10 result ?
KR: No, I didn’t realize top 10 was so close.  I was definitely gaining on the two skiers just ahead of me but by the time I kicked in my last gear I ran out of room to catch them.  Fun to be so close to the top ten at least.

You earned your first CL sprint podium in Kuusamo at the start of the season – and now your best CL distance result as the season ends … that has to feel good.
KR: My classic skiing has been all over the place this season.  Some really good results and some tough ones.  It is still something I really need to work on but today’s result is encouraging.

What’s the plan going forward in Falun ?  
KR: We’re in the final stretch now, just 9 more days in Europe!!  Glad to have a few days to get set up in Falun and then RACE, RACE, RACE!!  It’s been a long winter on the road and I’m looking forward to a few more races and then heading HOME!!