January 26th, 2008
The fourth and final World Cup event in Canmore, Alberta gets under way this morning at 10:00 AM MST with the qualification round. Women start first, followed by the men at 10:25.
The freestyle sprint course is substantially different from the loop used for Wednesday’s classic sprint. Skiers exit the stadium in the opposite direction and immediately climb up the first of two significant hills. After a quick drop that will allow the racers to carry significant momentum the course climbs again, before dropping down to the 180 degree turn that marked the entrance to the finish stretch in the classic sprint as well. The course is marginally shorter and features the same long gradual uphill to the finish. View the course profile at the official Alberta World Cup site using the link on the left. (Read more for US racers and favorites).
It is looking to be another gorgeous day with temperatures warming for the heats - which begin at 12:30.
Kikkan Randall leads a contingent of five US women. Randall became the first American woman to win a World Cup cross-country event earlier this season when she was victorious in the freestyle sprint in Rybinsk, Russia. Teammate Laura Valaas represents the US women’s next best chance of qualifying for the heats. The APUNSC skier finished 41st in the classic sprint on Wednesday.
Kate Arduser, who led the US women with her 39th place finish in the 10km freestyle, starts her fourth race of the week. Lindsey Dehlin joins Arduser as a four race starter and Lindsay Williams rounds out the American five.
Canadians Sara Renner and Chandra Crawford are hoping to cap an already successful week with a strong performance today. Crawford is the defending Olympic champion in this event, and skied to a 12th place finish in the classic sprint. Renner has scored World Cup points in every event in Canmore and is a good bet to qualify for the heats.
Astrid Jacobsen, the World Cup sprint leader is the favorite. She was edged by Slovenian Petra Madjic in a photo finish in the classic sprint. Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland alread has three podium finishes and is also a strong podium candidate. Arianna Follis (ITA), Virpi Kuitunen (FIN), Olga Rothceva (RUS), and Evi Stelle Sachenbacher (GER) are among the other top racers who should battle in the heats.
IN the mne’s event, the American men are led by sprint specialists Andy Newell and TOrin Koos. Koos qualified an excellent 7th in the classic sprint, but broke a pole in his quarterfinal. Newell also qualified but was unable to advance. Chris Cook, coming off a 20th place in the classic, looks to make the heats for the second time this week. Also sprinting for the US men are Garrott Kuzzy, Colin Rodgers, Anders Haugen, Marshall Greene, Brian Gregg, and Leif Zimmermann.
Canadian Devon Kershaw looks to bounce back from a disappointing finish in the 15km freestyle in his fourth race of the week. Phil Widmer and Sean Crooks both qualified in the classic sprint, and look to repeat that performance today.
Josef Wenzl (GER) makes his first start since the beginning of the season. Wenzl won the season opening sprint in Germany, but was injured in a collision while training. It will be interesting to see the form of the young German.
The Norweigan men start a strong group, though it is unlikely they will be able to match their dominance in the classic sprint, where they took the top five spots.
Check back for an update following the qualification round.
