Men's Finish - Hattestad wins © flyingpointroad.com

February 03, 2014 (Toblach, Italy) – The final FIS World Cup event before the Sochi Games took place in Toblach, Italy on Sunday with Norway making a statement when Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR) and Eirik Brandsdal (NOR) swept the top two podium spots in the Men’s 1.3km FR Sprint.

Men's podium (l-r): Eirik Brandsdal (NOR), Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR), Josef Wenzl (GER) © Nordic Focus

Germany’s Joseph Wenzl (GER) finished third taking over the World Cup Sprint leader’s jersey ahead of Italy’s Federico Pellegrino (ITA).

USA’s Simeon Hamilton (USA) scored the top North American result with a 14th-place effort after qualifying ninth. Despite a rough start in his quarterfinal, he used fast skis to move up to the front with Emil Joensson (SWE).

“He [Joensson] had the better line at the top of the hill, so everyone else was essentially skiing right behind him. He made a great tactical move by throwing on the brakes at the top, leaving me with a split second decision to ski as hard as I could over the hill and try to take the lead into the stadium,” recounted Hamilton.

“Unfortunately, the other guys got a pretty good draft off of me and I got passed by Emil and Joeri Kindshi in the back straight away before the final turn into the finish. I didn’t quite have enough juice to get around Kindschi in the final 100 meters, which made for a tight finish. I’m feeling good about my form going into Sochi and am really excited to start this exciting chapter of the season!”

Andy Newell © flyingpointroad.com

USA teammate Andy Newell (USA) also had a solid day, finishing 17th after a strong eighth-place qualification.

“I was feeling good, but struggled with tactics. I tried to get a good slingshot going down the final hill into the lanes but just couldn’t get around people… perhaps it was my skis or that I need to improve my slingshotting,” explained Newell. “Either way it was a disappointing day… I feel like I should have skied more at the front instead of trying to pass guys in the end.”

“The course at Toblach is very different than what we will see at the Games and I’m feeling well and fit so I’m stoked to get over there and do some ski racing on Sochi’s hard courses,” added Newell.

In other North American results, Canada’s Alex Harvey (CAN) finished 20th also being eliminated in the quarterfinals as he finished 4th just behind Hamilton drawing the same heat.

American Torin Koos was 35th, Jesse Cockney (CAN) placed 47th and Devon Kershaw (CAN) was 60th. Fellow Canuck Len Valjas, back racing following his return to Canmore from the Tour de Ski in Dec. for knee rehabilitation, placed 64th.

Results here.