December 02, 2018 (Lillehammer, Norway) – Sadie Bjornsen finished strong in 10th overall leading teammates Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan into the top 15 as the FIS World Cup Triple wrapped up on Sunday with the women’s 10km Pursuit CL in Lillehammer won by Norway’s Therese Johaug who claimed the overall victory. Diggins placed 12th overall followed by Brennan who finished a career-best 15th.

Ebba Andersson (Swe) confirmed her status among the top skiers finishing second while Norway’s Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg overtook Charlotte Kalla (Swe) to grab the final podium spot placing third, but could quite catch Andersson.

“I am really happy to finish the Lillehammer Tour weekend in a top 10 position. That was one of the tougher three days of racing I have had in a while. Between the excitement of a podium on day one, the emotional stress of a water damaged house back home from the earthquake, and a super wet weekend of racing…. I was really happy I was able to keep my head together enough to put some good races together,” said Bjornsen.

“Today was particularly tough because I was kind of in “no mans land” in the pursuit start. I didn’t have a group to ski with, and I was constantly yo-yo’ing back and forth with Haga in front of me. I was really struggling with not enough kick on my skis, so I had to really use some mental toughness to make it up the endless hills of the Lillehammer course. Early season races are good races to deal with this sort of stuff, because not only do you learn from ski waxing mistakes, but you also can take advantage of making your brain fight extra hard and get in good form along with your muscles.

“I am looking forward to a relatively short “travel” to our next weekend of World Cup races, some restful Beitestollen living, and another exciting weekend to come that includes a relay!! There is no doubt I gained some good fitness this weekend, and will come back stronger for the next to come! Lets hope we can get some more snow rather than rain next weekend,” she concluded.

Diggins was happy with her weekend as well. “I got to ski the race with Rosie, the Birthday Girl, today! It was super awesome to be skiing with a teammate and it helped keep me in the game. I felt better than yesterdays race so I was happy with the progress my body is making, and now I’m looking forward to a week to make sure my body is rested and recovered…because we have relays coming up.

“Also, I am beyond proud of Erik Bjornsen for his awesome, awesome race today! It’s not every day you get your first world cup podium, and he skied so smooth and strong to ski into third time of day,” said Diggins.

For Brennan it was a great weekend of World Cup racing as she celebrated her 30th birthday on Sunday. “Today was challenging with so many climbs and variable weather and snow, but I am very happy with the effort I put forth. It was really fun to get to ski with Jessie the whole way to have a strong group to ski with.

“It is still an exciting experience for me to be fighting in the top 15, but I hope to work more on my finishing sprints and final efforts for mass starts and pursuit races to make sure I’m not loosing places in the end. It’s been a truly fantastic weekend for me and I am unbelievably happy to be healthy and to have found the joy in racing again. Maybe 30 is the new 20…?”

Women’s 10k classic pursuit
Women’s overall Lillehammer Triple standings