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Norwegians Bjoergen, Hafsaas win XC opener

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The Cross Country World Cup season kicked off this morning in Beitostoelen, Norway with women’s 10 km and men’s 15 km free individual races going to the home team, as Norwegians Marit Bjoergen and Ronny Andre Hafsaas took the wins.

With a crushing display of her renewed cross country skiing prowess, Bjoergen fired the first salvo of the season, winning the first World Cup event of the year in the women's 10km skate race. Bjoergen's top time was at 24:48.3, besting the talented Sweden Charlotte Kalla, who finished in 25:18. Yet another Swedish skier took the bronze with Anna Haag at 25.25.5.  Norway's strong team then went forth to Kristin Stoermer Steira followed by Virbeke Skofterrud in fifth.

It was the 29-year-old Bjoergen’s 31st World Cup Win, four of those coming at Beitostoelen. She was the overall World Cup champion in back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006, but slipped to tenth last season. Kalla, who collected her eighth World Cup podium today, was last year’s overall runner up. The result was Haag’s first World Cup individual top-three finish.

"This win hopefully confirmed that I have done all things right during preseason training," Bjoergen told the Associated Press. "It went very well today. Maybe I don't have to ski so much faster at the Winter Olympics."

Not many week's ago in an exclusive interview Norwegian coach, Vidar Lofshus told us that, "things have been looking especially good for Marit, who has gained alot since leaving the Helgerud style, which includes a great deal of intensity training, and has been on more of a lower-intensity program, that has been her main focus."

America's world championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall, known for her sprinting prowess finished in a fine 21st place, with a time of 26:52.1. American Liz Stephen finished the race in 48th place in 27:29.1, while Morgan Arritola was 72nd 28:11.8.

Canadian Chandra Crawford, an Olympic gold medalist from Torino, skied in her first World Cup in over a year, finishing 86th in today's race in her bid to gain a spot on Canada's Olympic team.

Last season’s overall champion, Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk was also in the field, finishing 12th.

Ronny Andre HafsaasThe men’s race was much closer as biathlon specialist Hafsaas (34.42.1) grabbed the win only .2 seconds ahead of France’s Vincent Vittoz (34:42.3) in second. Finland's Matti Heikkenen was third in 34:49.7, Fourth place went to Norwegian superstar Petter Northug, Jr. with a time of 34:53.8. Defending World Cup champion, Swiss skier Sario Cologna finished in 20th place with 35:30.3.

"I have worked very hard in preseason training to ski fast and it paid off today," Hafsas told the Associated Press while fighting back tears. "I finished the race very strongly. I have worked hard mentally the last few days to prepare myself for the last lap."

Before today’s victory Hafsaas had only competed in one other cross country World Cup event in Davos, Switzerland in 2007, where he claimed 36th place. Vittoz claimed his 21st World Cup Podium, while Heikkenen, a two-time bronze medal winner at last year’s World Championships, grabbed his first career World Cup podium.

The Top American man was Andover, New Hampshire skier Kris Freeman--coming off a tremendous weekend here last week with a pair of fifth-place finishes. Freeman skied to a strong 22nd place today in 35:32.1. Fellow American Lars Flora finished in 91st place.

"We had a pretty good day. For this time of year, you can't be unhappy with those type of results," said U.S. Cross Country Ski Team head coach Pete Vordenberg. "I feel like things are going well."

Canadian skier Ivan Babikov finished an impressive 28th, with Devon Kershaw in 37th, while Alex Harvey placed 43rd. Graham Nishikawa was 66th, Brian McKeever was in 80th.

World Cup racing in Beitostoelen continues tomorrow with a 4x5 km women’s race and a 4x10 km men’s race.

By Peter Q. Grave and Eric Williams

Images by Gepa

       
  
Women
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Time FIS Points
 1  83  1303777 BJOERGEN Marit  1980  NOR   24:48.3  0.00
 2  80  3505217 KALLA Charlotte  1987  SWE   25:18.0  15.96
 3  74  3505183 HAAG Anna  1986  SWE   25:25.5  20.00
 4  88  3425003 STEIRA Kristin Stoermer  1981  NOR   25:39.8  27.68
 5  55  1305426 SKOFTERUD Vibeke W  1980  NOR   25:45.6  30.80
 6  81  1255374 ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa  1978  FIN   25:46.5  31.28
 7  60  3485032 KOROSTELEVA Natalia  1981  RUS   25:57.8  37.36
 8  84  1138877 FOLLIS Arianna  1977  ITA   25:59.2  38.11
 9  90  1255665 SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa  1979  FIN   26:07.9  42.79
 10  62  3485193 KHAZOVA Irina  1984  RUS   26:13.3  45.69
 11  76  1207165 MEDVEDEVA Evgenia  1976  RUS   26:24.3  51.60
 12  91  3435001 KOWALCZYK Justyna  1983  POL   26:27.6  53.38
 13  89  1222200 LONGA Marianna  1979  ITA   26:33.4  56.49
 14  64  1237817 OLSSON Anna  1976  SWE   26:36.5  58.16
 15  82  1142563 SHEVCHENKO Valentina  1975  UKR   26:38.8  59.40
 16  86  1166037 KUITUNEN Virpi  1976  FIN   26:39.8  59.93
 17  85  3425301 JOHAUG Therese  1988  NOR   26:46.1  63.32
 18  68  1005017 VALBUSA Sabina  1972  ITA   26:46.5  63.54
 19  87  1276714 MAJDIC Petra  1979  SLO   26:51.1  66.01
 20  63  3425410 OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad  1990  NOR   26:51.5  66.22
 21  41  1365857 RANDALL Kikkan  1982  USA   26:52.1  66.55
 22  71  1274580 ISHIDA Masako  1980  JPN   26:52.8  66.92
 23  57  3435014 JASKOWIEC Sylwia  1986  POL   26:53.6  67.35
 24  59  1355769 STEMLAND Kristin Muerer  1981  NOR   26:54.8  68.00
 25  51  3505069 LINDBORG Sara  1983  SWE   26:55.1  68.16
 26  72  1247226 ZELLER Katrin  1979  GER   26:55.3  68.27
 27  75  1256732 SACHENBACHER -STEHLE Evi  1980  GER   26:55.8  68.53
 28  67  1367021 SIDKO Alena  1979  RUS   26:57.2  69.29
 29  78  1220648 NYSTAD Claudia  1978  GER   26:59.7  70.63
 30  49  3195126 BOURGEOIS Celia  1983  FRA   27:02.6  72.19
 31  61  3425117 ELDEN Marte  1986  NOR   27:04.0  72.94
 32  53  1182042 MALAHOVA-SHISHKINA Svetlana  1977  KAZ   27:05.3  73.64
 33  77  1293107 BOEHLER Stefanie  1981  GER   27:07.8  74.98
 34  50  3295015 RUPIL Silvia  1985  ITA   27:10.3  76.33
 35  30  3155041 NYVLTOVA Eva  1986  CZE   27:10.7  76.54
 36  29  3565002 FABJAN Vesna  1985  SLO   27:11.4  76.92
 37  43  3515004 BUCHER Silvana  1984  SUI   27:13.5  78.05
 38  52  3485170 ILJINA Natalja  1985  RUS   27:14.7  78.69
 39  6  3425499 WENG Heidi  1991  NOR   27:15.5  79.12
 40  69  1088922 SAVIALOVA Olga  1972  RUS   27:16.0  79.39
 41  39  3195059 BARTHELEMY Laure  1988  FRA   27:21.5  82.35
 41  15  3425394 TOFTDAHL Tuva  1990  NOR   27:21.5  82.35
 43  38  3155008 JANECKOVA Ivana  1984  CZE   27:22.7  82.99
 44  46  1289227 SANNIKOVA Alena  1980  BLR   27:26.3  84.93
 45  70  1174670 RAJDLOVA Kamila  1978  CZE   27:26.7  85.14
 46  21  1319976 KOLOMINA Elena  1981  KAZ   27:27.1  85.36
 47  25  3505090 INGEMARSDOTTER Ida  1985  SWE   27:27.2  85.41
 48  66  1101920 CONFORTOLA WYATT Antonella  1975  ITA   27:29.1  86.43
 48  48  3535261 STEPHEN Elizabeth  1987  USA   27:29.1  86.43
 50  47  1181848 JATSKAJA Oxana  1978  KAZ   27:30.6  87.24
 51  42  3425275 BRUN-LIE Celine  1988  NOR   27:33.1  88.58
 52  65  3425183 JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt  1987  NOR   27:33.3  88.69
 53  17  3695007 ZAVALIJ Tatjana  1981  UKR   27:34.8  89.50
 54  56  3185004 SARASOJA Riikka  1982  FIN   27:40.8  92.72
 55  12  3665014 RUDAKOVA Ekaterina  1984  BLR   27:41.0  92.83
 56  8  3425373 NORDSLETTEN Marie  1990  NOR   27:44.8  94.87
 57  40  3195056 CUINET Aurore  1985  FRA   27:47.6  96.38
 58  20  3425302 NYDAL Britt Ingunn  1989  NOR   27:48.6  96.92
 59  73  1099204 LAURENT PHILIPPOT Karine  1974  FRA   27:51.4  98.42
 60  79  1255471 MURANEN Pirjo  1981  FIN   27:55.4  100.57
 60  37  1312216 BONER Seraina  1982  SUI   27:55.4  100.57
 62  23  1316193 JAKIMCHUK Vita  1980  UKR   27:58.1  102.02
 63  24  3425315 LAUVHAUG Hilde  1989  NOR   27:59.4  102.72
 64  54  3495008 ORGUE Laura  1986  SPA   28:04.8  105.62
 65  32  3435018 MAREK Kornelia  1985  POL   28:05.7  106.11
 65  22  1335690 STRANDBERG Kristina  1975  SWE   28:05.7  106.11
 67  10  1345390 VINA Emilie  1982  FRA   28:06.0  106.27
 68  13  3435031 MACIUSZEK Paulina  1985  POL   28:06.3  106.43
 69  18  3305024 OBAYASHI Chisa  1984  JPN   28:09.2  107.99
 70  45  3485046 MIKHAILOVA Olga  1981  RUS   28:11.6  109.28
 71  35  3535270 ARRITOLA Morgan  1986  USA   28:11.8  109.39
 72  28  3155231 MORAVCOVA Klara  1983  CZE   28:12.8  109.92
 73  31  3565014 JEZERSEK Barbara  1986  SLO   28:13.2  110.14
 74  2  3675019 SLONOVA Anastasia  1991  KAZ   28:25.4  116.70
 75  26  1250524 GENUIN Magda  1979  ITA   28:33.5  121.05
 76  34  1194555 NESTERENKO Lada  1976  UKR   28:41.3  125.24
 77  14  3125002 HONGXUE Li  1984  CHN   28:44.3  126.86
 78  44  1191354 ROCHAT Laurence  1979  SUI   28:45.7  127.61
 79  33  3785000 TERENTJEVA Irina  1984  LTU   28:48.0  128.84
 80  16  3095010 GRIGOROVA-BURGOVA Antonia  1986  BUL   28:51.7  130.83
 81  27  3665001 VASILJONOK Olga  1980  BLR   29:04.9  137.93
 82  36  3205075 HERRMANN Denise  1988  GER   29:11.2  141.32
 83  7  3305165 KASHIWABARA Michiko  1991  JPN   29:25.2  148.84
 84  19  3425231 MYHRE Marthe Katrine  1985  NOR   29:43.8  158.84
 85  9  3045009 WATSON Aimee  1987  AUS   30:10.8  173.35
 86  1  3105013 CRAWFORD Chandra  1983  CAN   30:20.4  178.51
 87  11  1105509 JOHANSEN Katarina  1976  SVK   30:20.7  178.67
 88  3  3095004 MALCHEVA Teodora  1983  BUL   30:24.7  180.82
 89  5  3705007 GARAJOVA Katarina  1987  SVK   31:02.7  201.25
 90  4  3085002 MOURAO Jaqueline  1975  BRA   31:09.3  204.80
Did not finish
   58  3425350 SLIND Astrid Oeyre  1988  NOR   


Men
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Time FIS Points
 1  36  3420283 HAFSAAS Ronny Andre  1985  NOR   34:42.1  0.00
 2  94  1100077 VITTOZ Vincent  1975  FRA   34:42.3  0.08
 3  88  3180053 HEIKKINEN Matti  1983  FIN   34:48.7  2.54
 4  101  3420239 NORTHUG Petter jr.  1986  NOR   34:53.8  4.50
 5  30  3420005 GAUSTAD John Anders  1980  NOR   34:55.2  5.03
 6  65  1262358 AASEN OUREN Geir Ludvig  1974  NOR   34:58.4  6.26
 7  97  3480016 LEGKOV Alexander  1983  RUS   35:02.9  7.99
 8  98  1283892 OLSSON Johan  1980  SWE   35:05.0  8.80
 9  89  3500139 HELLNER Marcus  1985  SWE   35:05.5  8.99
 10  69  1363141 FISCHER Remo  1981  SUI   35:08.1  9.99
 11  102  1139459 PILLER COTTRER Pietro  1974  ITA   35:09.5  10.53
 12  78  1362656 LIVERS Toni  1983  SUI   35:09.6  10.57
 13  1  3420076 BERGER Lars  1979  NOR   35:11.9  11.45
 14  39  1306202 ANDRESEN Frode  1973  NOR   35:14.1  12.30
 15  100  1344711 JAUHOJAERVI Sami  1981  FIN   35:23.7  15.98
 16  22  1052159 KOZU Masaaki  1974  JPN   35:25.0  16.48
 17  92  1067291 DI CENTA Giorgio  1972  ITA   35:27.9  17.60
 18  24  3420605 ROETHE Sjur  1988  NOR   35:28.5  17.83
 19  49  3480007 PANKRATOV Nikolay  1982  RUS   35:30.1  18.44
 20  103  3510023 COLOGNA Dario  1986  SUI   35:30.3  18.52
 21  29  3200229 TSCHARNKE Tim  1989  GER   35:31.8  19.10
 22  68  1285347 FREEMAN Kris  1980  USA   35:32.1  19.21
 23  93  3420228 JOHNSRUD SUNDBY Martin  1984  NOR   35:32.2  19.25
 24  96  1178162 ANGERER Tobias  1977  GER   35:34.4  20.10
 25  77  1125588 DOLIDOVICH Sergei  1973  BLR   35:39.6  22.09
 26  32  1310470 KRECZMER Maciej  1981  POL   35:40.9  22.59
 27  87  1221036 FILBRICH Jens  1979  GER   35:41.5  22.82
 28  82  3100190 BABIKOV Ivan  1980  CAN   35:42.1  23.05
 29  73  1101047 SOMMERFELDT Rene  1974  GER   35:47.8  25.24
 30  31  3040011 SIM Ben  1985  AUS   35:49.2  25.78
 31  55  1356545 DJUPVIK Roger Aa  1981  NOR   35:50.5  26.28
 32  43  1377885 ANDREASSON Rikard  1979  SWE   35:50.7  26.36
 33  99  1221327 TEICHMANN Axel  1979  GER   35:51.1  26.51
 34  42  3420280 ELIASSEN Petter  1985  NOR   35:53.2  27.32
 35  63  3190111 MANIFICAT Maurice  1986  FRA   35:53.5  27.43
 36  62  1094839 HOFFMANN Christian  1974  AUT   35:56.7  28.66
 37  91  3100006 KERSHAW Devon  1982  CAN   35:59.5  29.74
 38  57  3670007 POLTARANIN Alexey  1987  KAZ   36:03.0  31.08
 39  7  3660023 IVANOU Aliaksei  1980  BLR   36:04.3  31.58
 40  66  1362947 PERL Curdin  1984  SUI   36:05.8  32.16
 41  79  1175058 KOUKAL Martin  1978  CZE   36:08.9  33.35
 42  74  3480081 SHIRIAEV Sergey  1983  RUS   36:09.5  33.58
 43  86  3100110 HARVEY Alex  1988  CAN   36:10.8  34.08
 44  59  3420002 DAHL John Kristian  1981  NOR   36:14.4  35.46
 45  53  1327251 DIEZIG Thomas  1981  SUI   36:16.2  36.16
 46  76  1175155 MAGAL Jiri  1977  CZE   36:16.9  36.42
 47  72  1223849 CHECCHI Valerio  1980  ITA   36:17.0  36.46
 48  83  3290016 CLARA Roland  1982  ITA   36:21.0  38.00
 49  37  3420084 POST Arne  1983  NOR   36:23.6  39.00
 50  90  3480013 VYLEGZHANIN Maxim  1982  RUS   36:24.7  39.42
 51  51  1218902 KATTILAKOSKI Teemu  1977  FIN   36:27.5  40.50
 52  67  3290007 HOFER David  1983  ITA   36:27.7  40.57
 53  19  1093869 KREZELOK Janusz  1974  POL   36:28.1  40.73
 54  50  1106091 BATORY Ivan  1975  SVK   36:29.8  41.38
 55  70  1106867 BAJCICAK Martin  1976  SVK   36:30.8  41.77
 56  60  3480314 CHERNOUSOV Ilia  1986  RUS   36:32.4  42.38
 57  56  3290004 SCOLA Fulvio  1982  ITA   36:32.9  42.57
 58  75  3670000 CHEBOTKO Nikolay  1982  KAZ   36:33.1  42.65
 58  47  3420160 EILIFSEN Morten  1984  NOR   36:33.1  42.65
 60  71  3180054 NOUSIAINEN Ville  1983  FIN   36:36.1  43.80
 61  46  1108225 BURGERMEISTER Reto  1975  SUI   36:37.8  44.46
 62  48  1344129 SPERL Milan  1980  CZE   36:40.1  45.34
 63  33  3420317 RENNEMO Kristian Tettli  1984  NOR   36:40.7  45.57
 64  64  1067485 ZORZI Cristian  1972  ITA   36:45.0  47.22
 65  40  1277393 LEYBYUK Roman  1977  UKR   36:45.7  47.49
 66  41  3100034 NISHIKAWA Graham  1983  CAN   36:46.3  47.72
 67  35  3660013 LASUTKIN Alexander  1983  BLR   36:48.4  48.53
 68  80  1177580 JONNIER Emmanuel  1975  FRA   36:52.2  49.99
 69  25  3420577 DYRHAUG Niklas  1987  NOR   36:55.9  51.41
 70  45  3150035 KOZISEK Dusan  1983  CZE   36:56.6  51.68
 71  18  3500138 SOEDERHIELM Tiio  1984  SWE   36:58.6  52.45
 72  21  3220002 MUSGRAVE Andrew  1990  GBR   36:59.1  52.64
 73  58  3670006 CHEREPANOV Sergey  1986  KAZ   37:01.0  53.37
 74  38  1357030 HOFF Erlend  1978  NOR   37:01.3  53.48
 75  81  1323468 REHEMAA Aivar  1982  EST   37:02.5  53.95
 76  20  1311925 VILARRUBLA Vicenc  1981  SPA   37:03.9  54.48
 77  44  3300021 NARUSE Nobu  1984  JPN   37:07.6  55.91
 78  14  3690000 PUTSKO Olexandr  1981  UKR   37:15.7  59.02
 79  15  1315805 MALAK Michal  1980  SVK   37:26.3  63.09
 80  11  1282146 MCKEEVER Brian  1979  CAN   37:28.7  64.01
 81  16  3090024 TZINZOV Veselin  1986  BUL   37:30.0  64.51
 82  27  3180000 OHTONEN Olli  1979  FIN   37:30.4  64.67
 83  61  3480286 SORIN Egor  1985  RUS   37:31.4  65.05
 84  84  1098137 MAE Jaak  1972  EST   37:34.6  66.28
 85  54  1223752 KOSTNER Florian  1979  ITA   37:35.9  66.78
 86  6  3560072 POTOCNIK Domen  1989  SLO   37:36.0  66.82
 87  17  3430056 MICHALEK Mariusz  1987  POL   37:36.4  66.97
 88  12  3390103 TAMMJARV Karel  1989  EST   37:51.0  72.58
 89  26  3300190 YOSHIDA Keishin  1987  JPN   38:00.3  76.15
 90  34  1233452 RUIZ Diego  1977  SPA   38:02.4  76.96
 91  10  1196883 FLORA Lars  1978  USA   38:14.9  81.76
 92  13  1320849 GOLOVKO Andrey  1980  KAZ   38:18.3  83.07
 93  4  3390050 SIMONLATSER Timo  1986  EST   38:25.1  85.68
 94  2  3040080 WATSON Callum  1989  AUS   38:28.3  86.91
 95  8  3780005 NOVOSELSKI Aleksei  1985  LTU   38:49.8  95.17
 96  28  3420822 BACH Ole-marius  1988  NOR   38:58.3  98.44
 97  5  1291070 THOR OLSEN Jonas  1978  DAN   38:58.4  98.48
 98  23  1276520 KANAMARU Tomio  1979  JPN   39:03.4  100.40
 99  3  3170013 MOELGAARD Asger Fischer  1983  DAN   41:24.4  154.57
Did not start
   95  1345875 GAILLARD Jean Marc  1980  FRA     
   85  1248293 SOEDERGREN Anders  1977  SWE     
   52  3190002 CHAUVET Benoit  1981  FRA     
Did not finish
   9  3660029 KARNEYENKA Leanid  1987  BLR 

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