The Norwegians Are Dominating Cross Country & Nordic Combined World Cup At Ruka
As the Nordic Combined and Cross Country World Cup seasons are getting underway at Ruka, Finland, the Norwegian team has already taken almost all of the podium spots.
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In a one, two, and three finish, the Norwegian team took the 5 KM Nordic Combined event with a clean sweep. After scoring a 155.5 on the jumping portion of the competition, Jarl Magnus Riiber secured a 28-second lead over teammate Espen Bjørnstad for the cross country portion, even after Bjørnstad jumped to 148 meters, just a half meter off of the Nordic Combined record.
At the end of the 5 KM race, Riiber held onto to his first-place start for a first-place finish that was 53.3 seconds ahead of teammate Bjørnstad, who was able to hold onto his second-place start for a second-place finish. Coming in third was Norwegian youngster Jens Lurås Oftebro, rounding out the podium at 1:17.1 behind teammate Riiber. This third-place finish would also mark Oftebro's first career podium finish.
The race becomes even a little sweeter with Jørgen Graabak, another skier from Team Norway, taking the fourth position. This makes this Norwegian team the first to achieve such a feat since 1996.
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The first Cross Country World Cup win goes to another member of the Norwegian ski team, Maiken Caspersen Falla. Commenting that this is one of her favorite racecourses, Falla was able to pull a first-place finish 2.33 seconds over the number 2, Jonna Sundling from Sweden. The battle for third-place was almost won by another member of the Norwegian team, Ane Appelkvist Stenseth. However, Stenseth ended up with a time just 0.01 seconds behind third-place finisher, Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen from the United States.
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Johannes Høsflot Klæbo could have been considered the favorite to win the day, as he was the Overall World Cup and Sprint World Cup winner last season. He did not disappoint and took first place in this season's World Cup opener in Finland. Finishing 4.17 seconds behind Klæbo was teammate Paal Golberg.
"I was a bit a slow starter today but I was lucky to get to the finals so I am very happy with my second rank. I have great expectations for tomorrow and hope to be amongst the top-3," said Golberg about his performance.
The competition continues in Ruka, Finland through the weekend with more from the world's of Cross Country, Nordic Combined, and Ski Jumping. More information can be found at the International Ski Federation website and by following the FIS social media pages for each discipline.
Nordic Combined - The Whole Podium Is Norwegian
In a one, two, and three finish, the Norwegian team took the 5 KM Nordic Combined event with a clean sweep. After scoring a 155.5 on the jumping portion of the competition, Jarl Magnus Riiber secured a 28-second lead over teammate Espen Bjørnstad for the cross country portion, even after Bjørnstad jumped to 148 meters, just a half meter off of the Nordic Combined record.
At the end of the 5 KM race, Riiber held onto to his first-place start for a first-place finish that was 53.3 seconds ahead of teammate Bjørnstad, who was able to hold onto his second-place start for a second-place finish. Coming in third was Norwegian youngster Jens Lurås Oftebro, rounding out the podium at 1:17.1 behind teammate Riiber. This third-place finish would also mark Oftebro's first career podium finish.
The race becomes even a little sweeter with Jørgen Graabak, another skier from Team Norway, taking the fourth position. This makes this Norwegian team the first to achieve such a feat since 1996.
Women's Sprint-C Win Goes To Norway
The first Cross Country World Cup win goes to another member of the Norwegian ski team, Maiken Caspersen Falla. Commenting that this is one of her favorite racecourses, Falla was able to pull a first-place finish 2.33 seconds over the number 2, Jonna Sundling from Sweden. The battle for third-place was almost won by another member of the Norwegian team, Ane Appelkvist Stenseth. However, Stenseth ended up with a time just 0.01 seconds behind third-place finisher, Sadie Maubet-Bjornsen from the United States.
Norway Takes One & Two In Men's Sprint-C
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo could have been considered the favorite to win the day, as he was the Overall World Cup and Sprint World Cup winner last season. He did not disappoint and took first place in this season's World Cup opener in Finland. Finishing 4.17 seconds behind Klæbo was teammate Paal Golberg.
The podium was rounded out by French skier Richard Jouve, who was able to take the third position just shy of 5 seconds behind winner Klæbo.
The competition continues in Ruka, Finland through the weekend with more from the world's of Cross Country, Nordic Combined, and Ski Jumping. More information can be found at the International Ski Federation website and by following the FIS social media pages for each discipline.
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