Liz Stephen Steady at Tour de Ski
TOBLACH, Italy (January 8, 2015) – Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) and Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) were the only two U.S. racers to compete in stage five of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy. Stephan finished 14th and Randall in 25th in the 15k/35k Freestyle pursuit race. The rest of the U.S. athletes withdrew, planning to rest for the upcoming World Cup events, while Randall withdrew after this race. Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) did not race due to illness.
The Norwegian ladies swept the podium again, with Marit Bjoergen in first, Heidi Weng in second and Therese Johaug in third. The Norwegian men had a strong showing, as well, with Petter Northug Jr. winning the stage and Martin Johnsrud Sundby finishing third. Calle Halfvarsson from Sweden was in second.
Liz Stephen races in the Tour de Ski 15k/35k Freestyle pursuit race. (Getty Images-Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom)
“It was always in the plan for most athletes to stop the Tour today. Only Jessie and Liz were planning on going all of the way through,” explained head coach Chris Grover. “We have a lot of sprinters on the team who were targeting the first four short stages of the Tour, but then planned on recovering and preparing for the big sprint weekend in Otep, Estonia.”
Stephen skied a tough race, holding her deficit to race against overall Tour leader, Marit Bjoergen (NOR). “It was a good race. I was feeling pretty good energy-wise,” said Stephen. “The climbs are really gradual, which is tougher for me. There’s a long downhill that brings everyone back together too, so it’s hard to make a break.”
The Tour resumes on Saturday in Val di Fiemme, Italy with a 10K/15k mass start classic event.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Liz Stephen finished 14th in Stage 5, a 15K classic pursuit race. She was the only U.S. skier to continue in the Tour de Ski after Stage 4.
- Norwegians Marit Bjoergen and Petter Northug won the women’s 15K and men’s 35K classic pursuit race respectively.
QUOTES
Liz Stephen
It was a good race. I was feeling pretty good energy wise. The climbs are really gradual which is tougher for me. There’s a long downhill at 3k that brings everyone back together too, so it’s hard to make a break. I skied in a pack of six or seven girls and I feel like we had a strong race. We started and finished in the same place but now we are all tighter in to fourth place.
It’s too bad that Jessie [Diggins] got sick. It was going to be the two of us finishing the Tour, but she made the right decision to stop where she did. Jessie is staying on the road in Val di Fiemme.
I love showing up to Val di Fiemme because the hills are big. We know the place and the town so well, I’m excited to be there.
Kikkan Randall
I started in the wave start today for the 15k skate, which meant I had lots of company out there. The first lap my body was slow to respond, but it came alive through the race and I ended up feeling strong on the second and third laps. I was able to move up a few places and end with a more satisfying effort.
With five races now under my belt I am leaving the Tour and taking some time to recover and rediscover my top form.
Chris Grover, Head Coach
It was always in the plan for most athletes to stop the Tour today. Only Jessie and Liz were planning on going all of the way through. We have a lot of sprinters on the team who were targeting the first four short stages of the Tour, but then planned on recovering and preparing for the big sprint weekend in Otep, Estonia. Estonia is our only chance to race team sprint prior to Falun, so we have some athletes that are focused on that event, as a means of preparing for the championships.
RESULTS
Women's results
Men's results