February 10, 2012 (Nove Mesto, Czech Republic) – The US Team arrived in Nove Mesto yesterday after an 8-hr van trip from Ramsau, Austria. Following a test run on the race courses today Kikkan Randall has decided to sit out the 15km Classic race on Saturday and rest up for the team relay on Sunday. She is still getting back to being a full 100% race-ready after being sick recently.

“Decided to skip tomorrow’s 15km and just do the relay this weekend. Excited to cheer on my teammates tomorrow.” writes Randall in her Daily Training Rap. It’s her first trip to Nove Mesto and according to Randall it…”seems like a cool place so far.”

No stranger to xc ski and biathlon competitions, the fabled site of the 2013 Biathlon Worlds also hosted its first MTB World Cup last year won by reigning MTB World Champ Catharine Pendrel from Canada. Pendrel is an active xc skier and snowshoer and won her age class at the 2011 Masters World Cup in Sovereign Lake in the 15km and 30km freestyle races.  Local Czech star, and men’s MTB World Champ and overall series winner, Jaroslav Khulhavy, won the men’s title.

With Jessie Diggins on board the US women are looking for bigger results than their impressive 9th in Sjusjoen, Norway, back in November – see photo of the relay team there below Randall, Holly Brooks, Ida Sargent and Liz Stephen. Final decisions on who will race for both the women and men are pending following tomorrow’s classic races.

The Canadians are not racing the relays but have Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey, Ivan Babikov and Len Valjas racing the 30km classic with Perianne Jones on the women’s 15km startline. The US men racing include Kris Freeman, Andy Newell, Noah Hoffman Simi Hamilton and Sylvan Ellefson.