Diggins Fifth in Drammen Classic Sprint
Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) skied a tactical race with fast skis to finish fifth at the FIS Cross Country World Cup classic sprint in Drammen, Norway, Tuesday.
Qualifying for the heats in addition to Diggins was Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.), who finished 21st, Sophie Caldwell (Peru, Vt.) in 24th, and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Co) qualifying in 30th and finishing 25th overall. Diggins was the only U.S. skier to advance beyond the quarterfinals.
“Drammen is kind of a funny course, and this year they took away the iconic uphill pitch at the finish, so it was even harder to determine the right moment to transition from double-poling to power striding on the gradual uphill,” said Diggins “It’s not a secret that I love workable downhills so my strategy each heat was to ski smooth and smart and get myself into an open lane heading into the finishing straight. In the final, I simply got tired from the short turnaround time you get from the second semifinal, but overall I was really happy with the whole day.”
“I have been feeling really good in double pole this season, which helped me have a good qualifier here to start the day out,” said Bjornsen. “Unfortunately, I kind of struggled to find position over the top of the climb, and then really struggle with that super gradual striding in sprint speed right there at the finish. I was trying to push the DP as far as possible because I know that is my strength, but I just couldn't keep up in that unique striding.”
The women’s race was won by Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway with fellow countrywomen Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen in second, and Natalia Nepryaeva of Russia in third.
Norway went 1-2 in the men’s race with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo taking the win and Eirik Brandsdal in second. Richard Jouve of France in third.
The World Cup heads to Falun, Sweden, this weekend before heading back to North America for the Quebec City World Cup Finals.
RESULTS
Men’s sprint
Women’s sprint
HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
*Same-day broadcast
**Next-day broadcast
Wednesday, March 13
1:45 p.m. - Cross Country Junior Nationals individual classic sprint - Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
Friday, March 15
1:45 p.m. - Cross Country Junior Nationals classic mass start - Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
Saturday, March 16
9:30 a.m. - Men and women’s sprint, Falun, SWE - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
1:45 p.m. - Cross Country Junior Nationals individual freestyle relay - Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
Sunday, March 17
6:30 a.m. - Women’s 10k - Falun, SWE - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:30 a.m. - Men’s 15k - Falun, SWE - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
1:00 p.m. - Women’s 15k - Falun, SWE - Olympic Channel-TV*
All streams are available via desktop (NBCSports.com/Live, NBCSports.com/Gold and OlympicChannel.com) as well as mobile, tablet and connected television platforms. The NBC Sports app, NBC Sports Gold app and Olympic Channel app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire. Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass.
