Team Finland (Mona-Lisa Malvalehto, Anne Kylloenen) has won the pre-Olympic World Cup team sprint in Sochi, Russia. They stopped the clock in a time of 17:06.95 over 5 seconds ahead of Russia ll (Julia Ivanova, Natalia Matveeva) +5.52, and Canada (Perianne Jones, Daria Gaiazova) +5.58.
The Russian l team of Dmitriy Japarov and Maxim Vylegzhanin thrilled the home crowd today as they dominated the men's team sprint. Sweden I (Peterson, Joensson) finished second +18.44 back, as Angerer brought Germany I (Teichmann, Angerer) across the line +20.53 seconds back for third place.
- Anne Kylloenen pulled away in the last classic leg and came to finish unchallenged
- Photo finish between Russia II and Canada
- From the start of the men's final the Russian's pushed the pace and broke every other team
- Emil Joensson for Sweden overtook Germany's Tobias Angerer on the final leg to move Sweden lahead of the Germany l team (with Axel Teichmann)
ATHLETES' QUOTES
Mona-Lisa Malvalehto (FIN)
The last leg of the race was the most difficult leg but overall we didn't have any big problems here today. The track was very good, I hope it will be the same for the Olympics. It's very nice here when it's sunny. When it was snowing so much, it was more difficult. The snow is so different here from the snow we have in Finland. This is particularly difficult for the waxing team. Our waxing guys were out here for four days testing the snow so that they will be ready for Olympics.
Natalia Matveeva (RUS)
After the fall in the semifinal, initially we thought we would not make it into the final but somehow we still got through. It was a bit difficult for me at the end. I just didn't have enough in me but we still did well. The speed today was much higher than on previous days. It was wonderful to feel the support of all the Russian fans here today.
Daria Gaiazova (CAN)
It's pretty cool. I was born in Russia and my grandmother still lives here, just outside Moscow. She was a little bummed that she couldn't come to the venue to see me but I know she'll be watching on TV and shouting and cheering. When it got to the end and I saw the TV cameras I thought of her. I thought how she'd probably be watching and she'd be really happy to see me on the screen at the Olympic venue.
Dmitriy Japarov (RUS)
It feels great to be on the podium on the home soil. Maxim did a very good job on his legs and we could build up the gap. It was our plan to go as fast as possible right from the start. I hope we can repeat the same performance also next year at the Olympics.
Emil Joensson (SWE)
It was really hard to go uphill but today we had very good skis, which allowed us to take a good grip up the hill. I tried to save some energy for the last leg. It is great to be on the podium.
Tobias Angerer (GER)
Third place today the maximum what we could achieve. We expected Russians to be strong but it was surprising see them go away so early. I did my best against Joensson on the last leg. I am very happy with our performance. We had great skis. We are now going to a training camp in Toblach.
OFFICIAL RESULTS LADIES
1. Finland (Mona-Lisa Malvalehto, Anne Kylloenen)
2. Russia II (Julia Ivanova, Natalia Matveeva)
3. Canada (Perianne Jones, Daria Gaiazova)
NATIONS CUP STANDING LADIES
1. Norway 5595 pts
2. Finland 2982 pts
3. Russia 2161
OFFICIAL RESULTS MEN
1. Russia I (Dmitriy Japarov, Maxim Vylegzhanin)
2. Sweden I (Teodor Peterson, Emil Joensson)
3. Germany I (Axel Teichmann, Tobias Angerer)
NATIONS CUP STANDING MEN
1. Russia 4936 pts
2. Norway 3452 pts
3. Sweden 2636
NATIONS CUP STANDING OVERALL
1. Norway 9047 pts
2. Russia 7097 pts
3. Sweden 4529 pts
