March 2, 2008 (Lahti, Finland) – Virpi Kuitunen (Fin) took the women’s 10km classic individual race on Sunday in Lahti, Finland over Valentina Shevchenko (Ukr) in second and Katrin Zeller (Ger) in 3rd. Canada’s Sara Renner continues her solid performances finishing in 22nd while fellow Canuck Perianne Jones placed 50th. No US women took part. Kuitunen extended her lead in the World Cup standings over Norway’s Astrid Jacobsen in second.

Lukas Bauer (Cze) took the men’s 15km classic individual race in 36:35.0 over Rene Sommerfeldt of Germany in second with a a time of 36:55.6. Canada’s Devon Kershaw was the top North American man in 16th with George Grey (Can) in 28th, Stefan Kuhn (Can) in 35th, Kris Freeman (USA) in 51st, Drew Goldsack (Can) in 61st, Garrott Kuzzy (USA) in 73rd and Leif Zimmermann (USA) DNF’d. Bauer holds on to his lead in the World Cup over Sommerfeldt who is in 2nd.

“It was a very good day for the entire team on a really tough course,” said Eric de Nys, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team coach in a CCC release. “To have three in the points is a good showing, but the others all had solid races even if the numbers don’t indicate that.”

While Kershaw continues to hold his own with top-20 results, it was Grey in 28th who surged back in the standings. Kuhn, of Canmore, Alta., also posted his best World Cup classic result ever in 35th with a time of 38:02.3.

“Canmore was a big confidence booster for me heading into the rest of the season,” said Grey. “I have been quite tired lately and we changed my training with little intensity this week. I took an easier training schedule to get some rest and bam you’re back in it with a good result.”

“It’s nice to be back in the points. I knew within the first kilometre that that our techs gave us great skis and I am happy as Lahti is one of the toughest fields of the year,” added Grey, who admitted the team is building confidence with the strong results in the second half of the season. “We celebrate a victory and strong results as a team. When you see our teammates on the podium or close to it, it gives you the feeling that anything is possible and I can do it to because I train with them every day.”

American Freeman from Andover, NH had a tough day as he led the two other U.S. skiers in the race. “It was a hard course. There were lots of climbs and the conditions were really soft,” said Sprint Head Coach Chris Grover in a US Ski Team release. “The snow was sugary and if you’re having an off day and your skis aren’t 100 percent it makes things hard.

“Leif (Zimmermann; Bozeman, MT) was feeling tired from the get go so he dropped out right away. We had Garrott (Kuzzy; Hayward, WI), who is a stronger skater than he is a classic skier. Kris didn’t have the best day. He felt like his skis were a little slick. He felt like he needed a little more kick.”

Results

Women

1. Virpi Kuitunen (Fin) 28:06.3
2. Valentina Shevchenko (Ukr) 28:11.0
3. Katrin Zeller (Ger) 28:11.9
4. Aino- Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 28:12.3
5. Marianna Longa (Ita) 28:15.1

22. Sara Renner (Can) 29:08.5
50. Perianne Jones (Can) 30:59.1

Men

1. Lukas Bauer (Cze) 36:35.0
2. Rene Sommerfeldt (Ger) 36:55.6
3. Sergey Cherepanov (Kaz) 37:01.5
4. Sami Jauhojaervi (Fin) 37:07.1
5. Odd-Bjoern Hjelmset (Nor) 37:08.1

16. Devon Kershaw (Can) 37:31.4
28. George Grey (Can) 37:50.7
35. Stefan Kuhn (Can) 38:02.3
51. Kris Freeman (USA) 38:52.2
61. Drew Goldsack (Can) 39:26.5
73. Garrott Kuzzy (USA) 41:28.0
DNF Leif Zimmermann (USA)

Women’s full results

Men’s full results

Women’s World Cup Overall standings.

Men’s World Cup Overall standings.