March 14, 2013 (Falun, Sweden) – It was a day of showmanship in the women’s 1.2km Sprint CL in Falun as Kikkan Randall and Sophie Caldwell made the final for an American first – in classic sprint race – facing off against Norway’s Marit Bjoergen and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg. Joining them on the start line were Sweden’s Stina Nilsson and Finland’s Krista Lahteenmaki.

When the dust settled it was Bjoergen’s day to shine again as she out-muscled and out-manoeuvred the up-and-coming Oestberg for the win with Nilsson taking the bronze. Both Randall and Caldwell had a tough start and got caught behind as Oestberg jumped quickly into the lead forcing a frantic pace. Randall recovered to claim 4th with a tired Caldwell taking 6th.

Kikkan Randall (USA) with teammates celebrating her 3rd Sprint Cup globe © Nordic Focus

The race also marked the final sprint of the 2013-14 World Cup season as Randall, who had already secured her third consecutive title in Drammen on March 5, was awarded the Sprint Cup globe while her teammates rallied around hoisting her up in celebration as only two other women have achieved the hat-trick accolade – Bjoergen and Bente Skari both Norwegians.

“We received the sprint globes today and it’s still a very special feeling to feel the weight of that crystal in your hand.  A bunch of my teammates and all the staff were out there to celebrate the ceremony with me and the support I feel from everyone has made every globe so special.  The US program is definitely coming up and up and I am confident that there are many more globes possible for this team,” she told Trax.

We wondered about the historic first Classic sprint final with Caldwell. Randall also landed her first CL sprint podium in Kuusamo at the beginning of the season.

“Really fun to be back in the final with Sophie!  It was a really good feeling to see two American flags on the scoreboard as we headed to the start. It was really fun to test out the brand new sprint course here in Falun, which will be used for the World Championships next year,” Randall told Trax post-race.

Sophie Caldwell (USA) another breakthrough performance... © Nordic Focus

“Neither Sophie or I got a very fast start in the final and were chasing the pack right off the bat – something we need to work on for sure.  But once we got onto the climb we worked our way solidly into the chase pack behind the top three.

“Each time up the steep climb I felt like I wasn’t able to nail the technique well enough to use all my power. I was able to carry my speed off the downhill well but there was too much of a gap up to the top three for any draft.  I just hammered as hard as I could the rest of the way.

“Energy was really good today.  There are a few technical adjustments that I need to make for next year and I think I can be up with the top three.  I was really happy with my double-pole in the finish each time.  This was a really fun course to race.  Definitely hard with the big climb but I think it will be a good course for the World Championships,” she added.

Earlier in the day the three US qualifiers Randall, Caldwell and Sadie Bjornsen, found themselves in the same quarterfinal but not of their choosing.

Sadie Bjornsen (USA) © Nordic Focus

“We usually hope to spread out our chances of advancing a little bit more but sometimes you just all end up together. We did talk strategy before the heats and decided we would try to race as fast as we could so that there might be chances for Lucky Losers. I have to say it was a really cool feeling to be in the heat with three of us. We all had decent starts.  Sadie was really strong up the climb with me following on the outside and Sophie right behind on the inside. We all skied the downhill well and we headed into the stadium with Sadie leading, Sophie next and me in third,” explained Randall.

“I got a little bit of a draft so I pulled up next to Sadie up the last small climb and we call came off the final turn pretty close.  I swung wide and double-poled hard and kept the lead down the homestretch, but it was really close between all of us.  Unfortunately our heat wasn’t quite fast enough to get Sadie through as LL,” said Randall.

Caldwell concurred adding, “It was unfortunate that we were all in the same quarter because usually only two move on, but we wanted to be top three and hope that it was a fast enough heat that one of us would be lucky loser. We were top 3, but unfortunately it wasn’t fast enough and Sadie didn’t move on. I have to say, it was a pretty cool feeling coming into the stadium with the three of us in the lead. I hope someone got a photo.”

(l-r) Bjornsen, Caldwell, Kylloenen, Weng, Randall, Boehler © Nordic Focus

Ida Sargent, who qualified in 24th, placed 5th in her quarterfinal and did not advance to the semis. Jessie Diggins (USA) was 36th, Liz Stephen (USA) placed 44th and Caitlin Gregg was 48th as only the top 30 advance. The lone Canadian woman to hit the start line, Andrea Dupont, who earned a spot with the top-50 at the World Cup Finals after leading the Haywood NorAm series, finished 46th and did not qualify for the heats as well.

Caldwell aced her semi final with smart fast skiing placing second behind Oestberg while Randall was third in her heat behind Bjoergen and Nilsson but advanced to the final as a Lucky Loser setting the stage for the historic sprint classic final of the American team.

Marit Bjoergen (NOR) wins... © Nordic Focus

“I was in fourth at the top of the hill but moved up to third in the stadium.  I kept punching it all the way to the line and made it through to the final as the LL,” said Randall.

Caldwell was stoked as well telling us, “Yeah that was pretty cool. Lahti was my first time ever being in a final with a teammate and it definitely makes it more special,” commented Caldwell. “Instead of you vs. the 5 other skiers, there’s some more team pride and it feels like 2 of you vs. 4 other skiers. I didn’t have a great start but I was mostly just exhausted. I like the hillier classic courses, but they’re really demanding and as a result, I get pretty tired. My fitness feels really good through the semis, but that extra heat leaves me pretty exhausted. Something to work on!”

With her victory Bjoergen moved within three points of Therese Johaug in the overall World Cup standings and secured third in the overall World Cup sprint standings. Meanwhile Randall is now neck and neck with Heidi Weng (NOR) for 4th overall.

“I’m really happy to still be feeling strong and able to put up a good fight to stay high in the overall.  There are still two more tough races to go but I will do my best to keep gaining points,” she concluded

Results here.
Sprint Cup final here.
Overall WCup here.

Sprint Cup final podium (l-r) Herrmann 2nd, Randall 1st, Bjoergen 3rd © Nordic Focus