Stephen 11th in World Championship Skiathlon
FALUN, Sweden (Feb. 21, 2015) – Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) used the power of a strong skate leg to ski into 11th place leading the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 15k skiathlon event. Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) finished 20th. Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) led the men in the 30k skiathlon event in 28th. Russia's Maxim Vyleganin won the men's race over a hard-charging Dario Cologna of Switzerland while Norway's Therese Johaug won a tough battle over the home country's favorite Charlotte Kalla.
The skiathlon day at Falun 2015 had long been anticipated to be a crowd favorite. Well over 40,000 fans packed the stadium for the afternoon of racing, showcasing a magnificent cross country stadium.
From the early stages of the classic leg, Kalla, Johaug and fellow Norwegian Astrid Jacobsen established themselves as the favorites. To the crowd's delight, Kalla led them into the stadium at the changeover to the skate leg. For the USA, Bjornsen was strong in the classic coming in 17th at the exchange with Stephen 20th. Moving into skating, Stephen moved up quickly through the pack. Meanwhile, Kalla set a hard pace with the Norwegians waiting to pounce, which they did less than two kilometers from the finish. Kalla battled back to take silver.
“I’ve had low energy and tired muscles and just fatigue coming out of the training week,” Stephen said of the two-discipline event. Stephen stayed within 1:14 after the classic event, a strong effort in slow, transformed snow. Stephen led a chase group of five skiers through the course lined with enormous crowds before coming into the finish 1:45 behind eventual winner, Johaug.
“The biggest climb was filled with fans and I channeled some rhythm to go up the hill. I’m thankful for that hill and the crowd today,” Stephen said of the event and the scene. “It was hard, I was struggling with classic a bit today. I don’t know why. I switched into skating and struggled at the beginning. The biggest climb was filled with fans and I channeled some rhythm to go up the hill. I’m thankful for that hill and the crowd today,” echoed Sadie Bjornsen of the experience.
On the men’s side, Maxim Vylegzanin of Russia won over a hard charging Dario Colgona of Switzerland. Erik Bjornsen led the USA in another progressive finish. "My goal was to fight for every kilometer of the race," he said. "I just wanted to hang onto guys and fight for it. I was very surprised at how long I saw the leaders. That’s a boost of energy when you can see the leaders. I went into the skate feeling good and at five k I started to cramp. This is my second championships and this has got to be one of the biggest races I’ve skied in."
The race also marked another milestone in Noah Hoffman's (Aspen, CO) return from a lower leg injury suffered in a crash earlier this season at a World Cup in Finland. He was 44th. "The injury is feeling great," he said. "The medical team that helped me get back was so helpful. It’s a non-issue at this point."
Cross country racing continues Sunday with the team sprint. Starters for the USA will include Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) for the men with defending World Champion Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) for the women, pairing up with Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT). Action will be streamed live beginning at 6:30 a.m. EST, presented by L.L.Bean, on usskiteam.com and universalsports.com.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Liz Stephen led the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team with an 11th place at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
- Sadie Bjornsen finished 20th with brother Erik 28th in the men's 30K event.
- Therese Johaug and Astrid Jacobsen led a 1,2 finish for Norway in the women's race.
- Maxim Vylegzanin of Russia won over a hard charging Dario Colgona of Switzerland.
- Other U.S. finishes: Kris Freeman 48th, Matt Gelso 54th in the men's; Rosie Brennan 30th, Kikkan Randall 31st
UPCOMING LIVE STREAMING - Presented by L.L.Bean
Sunday, Feb. 22
6:30 a.m. EST - Team sprint qualifications
8:30 a.m. EST - Team sprint
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Falun 2015 Full Event Replays - Universal Sports
Falun 2015 Event Highlight - USSA Network
QUOTES
Sadie Bjornsen
It was hard, I was struggling with classic a bit today. I don’t know why. I switched into skating and struggled at the beginning. The biggest climb was filled with fans and I channeled some rhythm to go up the hill. I’m thankful for that hill and the crowd today.
Liz Stephen
I’ve had low energy and tired muscles and just fatigue coming out of the training week. I didn’t have any expectations and I’m really happy with how I finished and how my energy was.
It was the chillest mass start I’ve ever done- whoever usually pushes the pace kept it chill. I’m not a super fast starter so it worked out well for me. I had amazingly fast skis on both legs.
We started to see the leaders and it was motivating and I didn’t know what place I was in, but I could see Marit (Bjorgen) and if you see her you know you’re having a good race.”
Kikkan Randall
I tried to in with a positive mindset. I’m not getting into a good race feel. It’s been challenging mentally. Yeah, I was just trying to get a feel for where I’m at and I’m hoping more racing will put me in the right direction. We’re trying to figure it all out.
I think it was a good call to race and while I had a different place coming.
Erik Bjornsen
My goal was to fight for every kilometer of the race. I just wanted to hang onto guys and fight for it. I was very surprised at how long I saw the leaders. That’s a boost of energy when you can see the leaders. I went into the skate feeling good and at five k I started to cramp. This is my second championships and this has got to be one of the biggest races I’ve skied in.
Noah Hoffman
It was really something for me right from the start. It’s not something I was looking for. I can build from here, however.
The injury is feeling great. The medical team that helped me get back was so helpful. It’s a non-issue at this point.
