Category Archives: Sports

After the women’s 4×5 km relay yesterday, today it was time for the men’s 4×10 km relay. It become an interesting race all the way to the finish line. In the first classic round a group of six skiers managed to break away. At the first exchange Sweden’s Johan Olsson, who won the gold at 15 km freestyle the other day, were 20 seconds behind. However, he showed great shape once again and managed to take the lead with plenty of seconds before the first skate round. Now the battle for the medals was between three nations: Sweden, Norway and France. Sweden’s Marcus Hellner lost the advantage Olsson had given him and were passed by Norway and France.

Sweden, Norway and France

At the last exchange Norway’s Petter Northug was put against Sweden’s Calle Halfvardsson and France’s Adrien Backscheider. Backscheider quickly advanced, taking the lead while Northug lured behind Halfvardsson. After a while Northug passed Halfvardsson who kept up. Soon the three skiers were side by side. In one of the last hills, Northug made an attack but Halfvardsson answered. However, at the finish no one could beat Northug who did a furious last effort, winning the gold medal for Norway, 0,6 seconds before Halfvardsson. France got the bronze.

Looking at the whole race, the three nations are probably happy with the medals. Only gold counts for Norway while Sweden made a great comeback for the silver. France could give the big boys a fight today. Overall an entertaining race all the way!

Saturday we’re looking forward to the ladies 30 km and Sunday the men’s 50 km that will finish the Nordic World Ski Championships 2015.

Today the women’s 4×5 km relay was on the schedule in the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden. After two days of gold the expectations were high on the home team while the Norwegian women were favourites, despite having struggled in the 10 km freestyle the other day.

First round – classic

The first 5 km classic round started in a furious phase with Norway in the front. Finland and Sweden answered and were around 10 seconds behind at the first exchange.

Second round – classic

In the second round of classic skiing Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla were put up against Norway’s Therese Johaug. Kalla managed to take in most of the Norwegian advantage and was just behind Johaug at the second exchange. Finland were third.

Third round – freestyle

In the third round Sweden’s Maria Rydqvist fell in a curve which probably settled the fight over the gold medal. Norway’s Jacobsen did a solid performance and were around 20 seconds before Finland and Sweden at the exchange.

Fourth round – freestyle

Jacobsen switched over to Marit Björgen in the last round and she made no mistake: Leaving all competition behind she could cross the finish line and make sure Norway won the gold medal. The fight for the silver medal became a tactical battle where Sweden’s Stina Nilsson (with two silver medals before this race already) lured behind Finland’s Krista Parmakoski most part of the round. Before the last hill Nilsson pressed herself past Parmakoski and Team Sweden could win the silver after a strong finish.

Results:

1. Norway 49:07.7
2. Sweden +29,2
3. Finland +30,9
4. USA +1:49,9
5. Poland 1:52,3

Tomorrow the men are running the 4 x 10 km relay.

Yesterday Sweden got their first gold medal in the 2015 Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden when Charlotte Kalla won the women’s 10 km freestyle. Today it was the men’s turn to fight for the medals in the 15 km freestyle competition. Once again, the weather was so-so and the tracks became damper and heavier as the event went on.

Another Swedish gold medal

34-year old Swedish skier Johan Olsson made a solid performance and once again Sweden could outmaneuver the other nations against the weather-Gods. The second best today were Manificat from France who won the silver. Norway’s Gloeersen got the bronze medal.

1) Johan Olsson, Sweden 35.01,6
2) Maurice Manificat, France +17,8
3) Anders Gloeersen, Norway +19,2
4) Marcus Hellner, Sweden +39,8
5) Finn Haagen Krogh, Norway +47,6
6) Bernhard Tritscher, Austria +53,4
7) Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic +54,7
8) Chris Andre Jespersen, Norway +57,2
9) Sjur Roethe, Norway +1.01,2

Tomorrow we are looking forward to the women’s 4×5 km relay. It can be another Swedish success with sovereign Charlotte Kalla. In the 2014 Sochi Olympics she was 30 seconds behind the leaders but managed to win the gold medal after a sensational recovery.

The Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden continued today with the sprint relay. Two skiers from every team share 6 rounds of 1,4 km each.

Women’s sprint relay

Sovereign Margit Björgen from Norway passed the competition after failing to get a medal in yesterdays skiathlon. However, this time it was two other Norwegian skiers who won the gold medal: Ingvild Flugstad Östberg and Maiken Caspersen Falla. The home nation Sweden got a silver medal after a strong finish by Stina Nilsson (who also won the silver in the classic sprint earlier). Swedish Ida Ingemarsdotter also made a strong fifth round. The bronze medal went to Polands Justyna Kowalczyk and Sylwia Jaszkowiec.

Men’s sprint relay

In the men’s competition Petter Northug won his second gold medal of the championships, this time together with Finn Hågen Krogh. Russia finished second and Italy won the bronze. Overall Norway was once again miles before the other nations. The Swedish men gave them a match but at the last exchange one of the Russian skiers bumped into Sweden’s Peterson who dropped his pole which made him lagging to far behind the top.

Results

1) Finn Hågen Krogh/Petter Northug, Norway, 15.32,89, 2) Alexej Petuchov/Nikita Krjukov, Russia, +5,64, 3) Dietmar Nöckler/Federico Pellegrino, Italy, +5,73, 4)Thomas Bing/Tim Tscharnke, Germany, +6,11, 5) Ville Nousiainen/Martti Jylhä, Finland, +13,66, 6) Ales Razym/Dusan Kozisek, Czech Republic, +16,73, 7) Andrew Newell/Simeon Hamilton, USA, +17,48, 8) Maciej Kreczmer/Maciej Starega, Poland, +26,46, 9) Calle Halfvarsson/Teodor Peterson, Sweden, +47,43, 10) Robin Duvillard/Baptiste Gros, France, +1.01,04.

Now we are looking forward to the 10 km freestyle, Tuesday February 24.

Today’s event in the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden 2015 was Skiathlon and here are the results:

Women’s Skiathlon 15km:

The big hope for the home nation Sweden here was Charlotte Kalla who’s signum is her excellent strong freestyle skiing. However, before that, 7,5 km of classic skiing had to be done. In the classic part, the big Norwegian star Marit Björgen were left behind and Kalla was first out to the ski exchange. However, the Norwegian ski-ladies are like Legion: They are not one, they are many. This time it was Therese Johaug and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen who were too strong.

Results:

1) Therese Johaug, Norway, 40.57,6, 2) Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, Norway, +5,7, 3) Charlotte Kalla, Sweden, +6,0

Men’s Skiathlon 30km:

In the men’s race there was a good mix of different skiers: Names like Petter Northug (won won the sprint the other day), Dario Cologna and Marcus Hellner promised us a tight competition, and so it was. A group of 15 skiers held together and it wasn’t until the end that Dario Cologna managed to break away. At the finish he got beaten by Russia’s Vylegzjanin. Alex Harvey from Canada won his second medal of the championships, finishing third.

Results:

1) Maxim Vylegzjanin, Russia, 1.16,25, 2) Dario Cologna, Switzerland, +0,4, 3) Alex Harvey, Canada, +1,6

At Chicken-Swedes we are looking forward to the sprint-relay tomorrow!