January 11, 2014 (Nova Mesto, CZE) – The USA’s Kikkan Randall dominated the women’s 1.5km Sprint today under the lights in Nova Mesto dispensing with all rivals as she quickly established herself in each heat taking the lead and holding it until the finish.

Kikkan Randall (USA) in charge © Nordic Focus

In second place today was Laurien Van Der Graaff of Switzerland who recorded her second ever World Cup podium with Norway’s Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg edging out Italy’s Gaia Vuerich for third.

The final was a decisive win for Randall as she powered away following the last climb as Italy’s young rising star Vuerich tried to hang in with the US star. But Randall is in a class of her own as she soloed in for the win with ease for her 9th career World Cup victory.

“It’s great to see my form is good. My 3-week training block was great following the first period but you never know where you’re at until you put a race bib on. I feel good and it’s nice to get my first win this season confirming that,” Randall told Trax.

“It was a tricky course to pass on so I knew being out front was the right strategy, plus I really wanted to test my capacity so going hard in each round was a way for me to see where my conditioning was at and I was glad to see the way it worked out today,” she added.

Final podium (l-r) Van der Graaf 2nd, Randall 1st, Oestberg 3rd © Nordic Focus

Check out our full interview with Randall and find out how she feels racing under the lights and being interviewed by her husband Jeff Ellis who is part of the FIS XC World Cup team.

Interview with Randall

Qualifying a strong 12th was Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova who looked strong in her quarter final leading for the first half, but up the final climb two Swedes caught and passed her and she ended up 4th in the heat and 13th on the day.

“It was my best result of the season today in a skate sprint. I’m feeling fitter and faster than I had at the start of the season,” said Gaiazova. Her teammate Perianne Jones was 39th and did not advance.

The USA’s Sophie Caldwell also made the heats qualifying 23rd but got boxed out in her quarter final yet still finished 3rd but did not advance as a Lucky Loser.

Sophie Caldwell (USA) © Nordic Focus

“The women’s course today was very flat and quick. I only V1’ed one section, over the top of the 2nd hill and the rest of the race I V2’ed. Conditions were warm and soft, but it wasn’t deep. There was a pretty sugary layer over harder packed snow underneath. I got into a pretty good position from the start and was able to hold that for most of the race. The girl in front of me started to fade on the last hill, so I went to make a move around her and got tangled up with her. This put us a few meters back and I was able to close some into the finish, but not quite enough,” explained Caldwell.

Oestberg continues her strong season and sits second overall in the sprint standings behind Germany’s Denise Herrmann who retained her lead with a 5th place finish today. Randall has now moved into 3rd in the overall sprint standings.

Kikkan Randall (USA) in charge © Nordic Focus

Caldwell and Ida Sargent in 50th today will race the Team Sprint CL while Gaiazova and Jones will be on the start line for Canada.

Qualifications here.
Full results here.