Oberhofen, Mar 28, 2013: The FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann finished last weekend with the FIS World Cup Final, which consisted of four races; a sprint in Stockholm and three races in Falun (both SWE).
Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk conquered her fourth victory in the overall World Cup with an amazing margin of 514 points on Therese Johaug. Kikkan Randall became the first American woman in history to break into the top three overall in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup on Sunday. Randall finished seventh in the Falun 10 km free technique pursuit, the fourth stage of the mini-tour, cementing her into the number three spot with 1190 points.
With four large crystal globes Justyna Kowalczyk is the second most successful athlete of all times. Elena Vaelbe dominated the World Cup five times. Kowalczyk was superior in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Last winter the large crystal globe went to Norway thanks to Marit Bjoergen.
The distance globe went also to Justyna Kowalczyk, while the sprint globe was won by Kikkan Randall for the second time.
On the men’s side the battle was on until the last competition of the season. Dario Cologna already won the overall in the seasons 2008/09 and 2010/11 but this year it was Petter Northug Jr. who topped the ranking. Before World Cup Final 2013 there were three skiers fighting for the overall victory separated by only 15 points. After his sensational victory in 50 km Free on Holmenkollen, Alexander Legkov took over the lead ahead of Petter Northug Jr. and Dario Cologna. Northug’s victory in the Stage 1 of the Final, the Royal City Sprint in Stockholm, helped him find the winning momentum and keep the lead in the World Cup Final and for the second time in his career, celebrate victory in the Overall World Cup. Alexander Legkov finished second and Dario Cologna took third.
Russia’s powerhouse Alexander Legkov became the best distance skier of the season as the domination of Sweden’s sprinters continued. Emil Joensson took the sprint title for the third time in his career.
In the Nations’ Cup, Norway took the honors 5078 points ahead of Russia. Sweden finished third, 7856 points behind the winning team. Russians defended the team cup on the men’s side. The team including Alexander Legkov, Maxim Vylegzhanin, Nikolay Morilov and Ilia Chernousov claimed victory 199 points ahead of Norway. On the ladies side, the trophy went to Norway. All in all, 13 different nations made it onto the Cross-Country podium this season and ten of them even to the top spot.
Emil Joensson and Kikkan Randall best sprinters of the season
Emil Joensson (SWE) and Kikkan Randall (USA) both won the Sprint World Cup globes this season. For Joensson it was his 3rd in the past 4 years, having won in 2010, 2011, and 2013. For Randall it was her 2nd globe in a row.
Joensson had 3 sprint wins during the 2012/13 season. He won in Quebec City, Canmore and Lahti and was second in Liberec. In total he had 5 podiums this season. One of which was in the men’s 4 x 7.5 km relay in Gällivare, Sweden where he was the lead off skier. He was also second in Sochi with Teodor Peterson in the team sprint (they also took silver at the World Championships in Val di Fiemme in the same event). With his victory in Lahti he clinched the sprint globe and finished the season with 498 points, over 150 more points than second place finisher Petter Northug Jr. of Norway. “I am very happy to be the World Cup sprint champion again. I missed out on the globe last year after winning it the previous two years so it is great to be back on top again,” Joensson claimed.
Like Joensson, Randall had 3 sprint wins on the season. She won in Quebec City, Sochi and Lahti. For Randall her victory in Lahti also guaranteed her the second World Cup overall sprint title. While being the season’s best sprinter she also recorded her first ever distance World Cup. She was third in the 10 km skate in Gällivare. In total Randall was on the podium 7 times in World Cup competitions and another 4 times during stage World Cups. She was second in the 5 km F in the Kuusamo mini-tour. Then during the Tour de Ski she won the prologue in Oberhof, Germany and the sprint in Val Mustair, Switzerland. Last Saturday she was third in the prologue for the Falun mini-tour.
Randall and her teammates on the ladies’ relay made history for US skiing with a 3rd place finish in the 4 x 5 km relay in Gällivare. Randall and Jessie Diggins also partnered up to win the team sprint in Quebec, another first for US skiing, and they did it again at the World Championships in the team sprint giving the US it’s first ever World Championship gold medal in cross-country. In total Randall was on the podium 12 times during the 2012-13 season, and finished the year 3rd in the Overall World Cup standings. “With my foot injury in September and October I thought there was no chance to try for the sprint globe again this season. It was very special to win it last year for the first time, and really rewarding this season to win it again,” Randall said.
SPRINT OVERALL STANDINGS
MEN
1. Emil Joensson (SWE) 498 pts
2. Petter Northug Jr. (NOR) 329 pts
3. Nikita Kruikov (RUS) 316 pts
LADIES
1. Kikkan Randall (USA) 542 pts
2. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) 430 pts
3. Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg (NOR) 294. —- FIS
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