January 19, 2014 (Szklarska Poreba, Poland) – The day belonged to Justyna Kowalczyk (POL), who lived up to her queenly status at home in the women’s 10km CL, but American Liz Stephen delivered a thrilling gutsy performance to claim a career-best 6th as she battled for the final podium spot behind Yulia Tchekaleva (RUS) in second.

Justyna Kowalczyk takes the win at home © Nordic Focus

In the end Tchekaleva’s teammate Julia Ivanova prevailed to grab the bronze and another podium spot for Russia signaling that with Sochi around the corner the host nation seems ready for business at hand.

Ivanova’s attack on the final climb was more than Stephen could handle after such dynamic skiing that was not enough to hold off Germany’s Denise Herrmann and Claudia Nystad in the end as she settled for 6th.

“I am really happy with my race today, and actually really happy with the weekend as a whole!  To be in my second sprint heats ever on the World Cup yesterday and to have a PR today as my first ever World Cup top 6 and in a classic race, I am really psyched,” Stephen told Trax.

Elizabeth Stephen battles © Nordic Focus file photo

“The snow conditions this weekend were certainly very thin, perhaps the thinnest I have ever skied on, but the Polish volunteers and FIS made it happen and given what snow there was to work with, they pulled it off pretty well, though it is a good thing that there is not another race on the schedule tomorrow, as we were down to the mud in many places today.”

Kowalczyk broke things open by the second lap and only Tchekaleva and Herrmann could respond. But as Kowalczyk droppe them both Herrmann couldn’t match Tchekaleva either as Stephen led the charge behind. Close by was her teammate Ida Sargent on her way to a personal best result as well as she finished 9th.

“Today was hard but fun!  The course was really hard with one big steep hill per lap and a couple other ones and also really slow dirty and slushy snow.  I was starting pretty far back in the pack so I just tried to ski smoothly and move up when I could but with that tough of a course it broke up quickly and I was able to move past people which was exciting.

Ida Sargent (USA) scores a personal best © Nordic Focus

“I was really hurting on the last lap and was just trying to hold on but I’m really excited with the result.  It was fun to see Liz up there the whole time and I was just trying to keep her in my sight as she flew up the big hills.  I had great skis today which makes a big difference.  Each race has felt better and better so I’m building confidence and feeling psyched.  It was a great weekend for the team so our stoke level is high as we go into a training week in Italy,” shared Sargent.

For team leader Kikkan Randall it was a mediocre day. The star who earned her first classic sprint podium this season was tired and had an early mishap that threw her off as she ended up 14th.

“It wasn’t a great race for me. I felt tired and sluggish on the first two laps and caught a discarded leg bib in my klister which I had to pull off the trail to remove in the first lap. I felt a little better on the last lap. While I was hoping to be stronger today this was still a good workout towards sharpening my race form.  It’s been over a month since my last distance race and I think a few good efforts like this will bring things around pretty quick,” confided Randall.

Kikkan Randall (USA) © Nordic Focus file photo

“A really solid day for the team in today’s distance races in Poland.  The course was definitely wet and dirty but it held up enough for some decent tracks through 2 races.  It was quite a challenging course with a big steep climb in the middle and slower snow on the flats that really made you work.  My skis were working well. It was really encouraging to see Liz and Ida ski so strongly today.  The depth on this team is so amazing and continues to get stronger every weekend,” Randall concluded.

Stephen was determined as she attacked at 7km mark moving up from 5th to threaten Herrmann in 3rd as Nystad and Stefanie Boehler tried to keep her in check. The E. Montpelier, VT skier took over third but by the 8.1km mark Herrmann regained control as Nystad attacked and pushed Stephen back into 5th.

Final podium (l-r) Tchekaleva 2nd, Kowalczyk 1st, Ivanova 3rd © Nordic Focus file photo

But Stephen wasn’t done yet as she attacked again but she now had a new challenger in Russia’s Ivanova who had plans of her own, as she took over third with Stephen reclaiming 4th. Meanwhile Nystad was close behind in 5th as Herrmann fell back into 6th.

Ivanova proved too strong and during the run into the finish Stephen could not hold off the two German chasers as she settled for a stellar 6th – her best-ever classic distance result.

“The skis were just what I needed today, as my wax tech Oleg nailed the kick again today for me.  I was able to kick up every hill, even the steep section at the top of the long climb and it made me able to conserve my energy and hold my technique together for most of the race.

“I was in 3rd going up the last climb, but Julia Ivanova passed me near the top and was too strong to stay with.  She skied away from me and as the downhill was ending coming into the stadium Claudia and Denise passed me and I just couldn’t hang through the stadium flats, but was able to hold off Stefi, which I was really happy about. Huge shoutout to our coaches and techs for making this weekend not only really successful but also really fun,”

We also caught up with US Women’s Head Coach Matt Whitcomb for his comments on the day and the solid weekend of racing by the US team.

Whitcomb Interview

Final results here.