January 26, 2012 (Toronto, Canada) – While the Viesmann FIS World Cup 2011/12 series is taking a short break, many of the world’s top cross-country skiers are not. Instead, many are taking advantage of the two-week hiatus to compete in their respective national championships including Norway, Sweden, and Germany, among others.

At the Norwegian championships being held in Voss this week, the biggest story so far was Marit Bjoergen’s surprising 6th place finish in today’s women’s 10km freestyle race, which was won by Astrid Jacobsen. Jacobsen finished over 1 minute ahead of  Bjoergen.

“I had a strange feeling in my body the whole of Tuesday,” Bjoergen is reported as telling Norwegian broadcaster NRK, “It’s hard to say if it’s an illness or not. Nothing worked today and I had nothing to give,” she continued. Jacobsen was followed by Therese Johaug in second and Martine Ek Hagen in third.

The men’s 15km free style race was won by Martin Johnsrud Sundby, followed by the UK’s Andrew Musgrave, just over 1 minute behind. Musgrave did not qualify to receive the national championships silver medal, however, which was awarded to Ronny Ansnes instead. Thomas Alsgaard won the bronze.

At the Swedish national championships being held in Ostersund this week, Marcus Hellner topped compatriots Johan Olsson and Jens Erikssen in the men’s 30km skiathlon on Wednesday, while Charlotte Kalla won the women’s 15km event over Ida Ingemarsdotter and Sofia Bleckur.

In Germany, meanwhile, Hannes Dotzler and Hanna Kolb won their respective national sprint titles at the national championships today, which are being held in Oberwiesenthal. Dotzler was joined on the podium by Sebastian Eisenlauer and veteran Tom Reichelt. Kolb beat out Elisabeth Schicho and Sandra Ringwald.

With files from FIS Cross Country