March 11, 2018 (Holmenkollen, NOR) – The USA’s Jessie Diggins claimed a landmark podium finishing second in the women’s 30k freestyle race at the legendary Holmenkollen behind Norwegian superstar Marit Bjoergen who claimed a record 7th victory.

It was the first time an American woman had landed on the podium  in a World Cup 30k race. Ragnhild Haga (Nor) was third.

“I was feeling great today, and I’ve been in the best shape of my life these last few weeks! So I decided that whatever else happened, I was going to have a gusty race and be brave enough to push the pace even if that meant skiing in the front and doing a lot of the work, because I knew that was my best shot,” said Diggins. “I took my chances and kept hammering… I felt I was almost sprinting the whole 30k.”

It was a strong day for the USA with four in the points. Sadie Bjornsen had a career-best 12th. In her final visit to the Holmenkollen, Kikkan Randall was 19th for a top career 30k skate (she was 12th at Holmenkollen in 2014 in a 30k classic). Caitlin Patterson was 28th – a first-time long distance World Cup points finish. Rosie Frankowski just missed the points in 31st.

“It was one of my favorite races of the year out there today. I had a great start today, and was feeling really good. Jessie decided to explode the field pretty early on. I wanted to keep close, but I knew if I tried to chase, I was likely going to have an epic explosion a little too early. I had really great skis for the first 15 kilometers and hit the ski exchange with Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg. We hit a group of skiers and I lost her near the end but pushed super hard on that last kilometer to finish a career-best 12th,” shared Bjornsen.

“I was personally satisfied with my race today.  The last couple weeks have been very exciting and quite different than I would normally prepare for the final world cups,” said Randall. “The wave of energy I was riding from the Olympics and IOC announcement finally bottomed out this week and I’ve been climbing my way back out of it. So I was happy to have good energy today. I skied with a fun pack with lots of changing of position and found a good sprint gear in the end.”

The top Canadian was Cendrine Browne in 36th followed by teammates Emily Nishikawa in 44th, Zina Kocher in 47th and Dahria Beatty in 49th. The USA’s Liz Stephen finished 51st followed by fellow American Kaitlynn Miller in 53rd.

Diggins wasted no time, charging out of the start and battling with Finland’s Krista Parmakoski for the lead. By the 5k mark, Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla joined the fray. At 10k, Diggins, Kalla and Norway’s Ragnhild Haga formed a lead group with Bjoergen and Astrid Jacobsen a few seconds back.

In the latter stages of the race, the lead trio had put a 25-second gap on the chasing duo. Kalla and Diggins took turns pulling with Haga sitting in. Over the final five kilometers, Haga took over the lead as Bjoergen and Jacobsen were quickly closing the gap. Sensing the danger, Kalla took over the lead again, quickening the pace with Diggins right on her heels.

“For sure my early efforts came back to bite me when we didn’t change skis, but I made the best mid-race call that I could at the time and then stuck with it. Perhaps it would have been smart to switch skis, but I was just focusing on going,” said Diggins. “I was in front most of the time, so I did not know who was going to switch or not.”

With just a kilometer to go, the two groups melded with Bjoergen vaulting to the lead and quickly putting a gap on Kalla and Diggins. In the sprint to the finish, Diggins charged ahead to take second with Haga barely nipping Kalla at the finish for third.

“It was a really fun atmosphere out there and I was having fun today, just putting my head down and hammering as hard as I could,” added Diggins.

“It was a fun day of racing here in Holmenkollen. We didn’t get quite the crowds the men’s race had yesterday but it was still a festive atmosphere out there,” commented Randall. “Racing here in front of the big crowds is one of the most exciting venues we race at all year and today was as exciting as it always is.”

“It is amazing that I was able to win today. I thought I was fighting for the 4th place. When I was passing the stadium into the last lap it was around 20 seconds on the leading group,” said Bjoergen. “I was able to get some seconds back all the way. When they did not switch skis I knew I had to be pushing hard and that I would have an advantage from Frognerseteren. When I caught the leading group I had to give everything what I had.”

Results here