January 12, 2014 (Nova Mesto, CZE) – It was all hands on deck for the men’s 1.6km x 6 Classic Team Sprint as Americans Andy Newell and Simi Hamilton delivered one of the USA’s best results while Russia (Nikita Kriukov and Maxim Vylegzhanin) once again proved to be the strongest relegating Norway I (Eldar Roenning and Eirik Brandsdal) to second and Norway II (Paal Golberg and Ola Vigen Hattestad) to third place for the second time this year (fans will remember their battle in Asiago, Italy).

Hamilton got off to a good start and jumped into the lead with Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia and France in hot pursuit. He kept his lead up the first long climb but was absorbed by the pack and tagged Newell in 7th as Norway soon established their authority. Newell kept them in contention tagging Hamilton in 6th as Sweden, France and Italy started to show their teeth.

Simi takes an early lead © Nordic Focus

But Hamilton got off to rough start in his second leg and was shuffled back a few places. Meanwhile Norway re-asserted itself at the front with Russia close behind as the USA fell to 9th at the tag.

“I got off to a good start in the final and just tried to ski comfortably and hold a good position. Starting my second leg, I got my pole stuck between Hattestad’s legs as he was skiing by in the tag zone going for his tag. It was all I could do to keep it from snapping and we for sure lost some valuable time and places there, though we stayed in good contact,” Hamilton explained post-race.

Newell went to work through his second lap and was soon back up in 4th as Kriukov almost crashed in close quarters with Norway while Sweden’s game plan began to unravel – they went from first to last. By the exchange Newell was in 3rd and it was game on again for the USA.

“Our skis were good but it wasn’t easy conditions to ski in. The one steeper climb on the course was ok to kick up but the second hill that was in the woods was much icier and harder to kick up. That’s why you saw a lot of guys slipping or doublepoling up that hill,” commented Newell. “So our skis worked well when they needed to and I think were pretty fast on the downhill.”

Andy Newell brought the US team back into contention © Nordic Focus file photo

“My strategy for the team sprints are usually to stay near the front and try and save as much energy as I can. I think I was able to pass when I wanted to and tag Simi in a good position each time. We’re were a little sketchy on my first tag to him, just barely got him. And then on the tag after that I broke Nikita’s pole but everyone stayed out of trouble for the most part.

“In that second lap Simi got stuck in the back a bit but moving up was easy enough. That’s what’s nice about classic sprits, when you want to pass you usually can. So I just tried to pass a bunch of people on the first hill,” he continued.

With Norway leading on the 5th leg Hamilton held his own as Russia and Switzerland kept pace as well. Up front Roenning and Maxim Vylegzhanin were soon battling for the lead with the final leg looming. At the exchange it was Norway, Russia, Norway, with the USA in 4th as the hammer would soon come down.

“Andy skied a great 4th lap and when he tagged me for my final leg I just tried to focus on staying in contact with the three guys in the lead pack. I lost a couple seconds to them on the final gradual climb but kept my focus on a good hard finish and I was happy to be able to tag off to Andy in 4th,” shared Hamilton.

The pace quickened on the final leg as Brandsdal, Kriukov and Hattestad soon dropped the rest of the field and the only question now was to the order of the final podium. Behind Newell battled with the Czech Republic’s Ales Razym and Germany’s Josef Wenzl.

Kriukov bided his time and over the final roller into the finishing straight deftly changed lanes taking the outside lane as he swung around Brandsdal with a final kick to the line for the win as Hattestad took third.

Final podium © Nordic Focus

At the finish Newell could not hold off Razym for fourth as the Czech skier was fired up racing at home, and he settled for fifth with Wenzl taking 6th.

“Unfortunately even just 20 meters is a lot to try to make up on the last lap… which is about how far back we were from the podiums. But it was a good fight between us and the Swiss, Germans, and Czechs. I tried to put on a hard move to drop them going up the last hill before the stadium, trying to lock up 4th. It strung out well but the Czech was able to hang on and sprint it out in the lanes. It was a fun day of relay racing and things are looking up for us going into the team sprint in Sochi,” added Newell.

For Hamilton it was a good day at the office. “I’m happy with today for sure. I think that every time I’m able to gain more team sprint experience, I figure more things out about the unique and extremely hard race format. I felt a bit fatigued this morning but I knew that if I used a good warm up and semifinal to wake my body up I’d probably feel fine going into the final.

“It was interesting conditions in the fact that some parts of the course were really hard to find good kick on, specifically the gradual climbs, while other parts were just very typical, good, fast klister skiing. Still, our team had great skis and our techs did a great job all day long,” he concluded. “It was great to see the women have a solid day as well and we’re all looking forward to a few more days training in Nove Mesto before we head up to Poland on Wednseday.”

Simeon Hamilton (USA) © Nordic Focus

The USA’s best team sprint (freestyle) result was 4th back in 2008 in Dusseldorff, GER with Newell and Torin Koos. The final word went to US Head Cross Country Coach Chris Grover. “Great skiing by the U.S. men and women today. I can’t remember the last time our men were as high as fifth in this event. But this has been a target event for them, so it’s nice to see it’s coming together. Next stop Sochi.

“Both Simi and Andy skied really strong legs all day and skied super heads-up to avoid some crashes. Simi twice dodged having his pole broken by another competitor. We have a little work to do to get to the podium level right now but we have the potential to get there.

“Great skiing by the ladies as well and especially by Sophie, who picked up a placing or two on every round. Both teams avoided the crashes and kept the USA in the mix until the very end of the finals,” said Grover.

Final results here.
Results with splits here.