Cross Country: Legkov and Kowalczyk win in Lahti

World Cup competition in Lahti, Finland, wrapped up today as Russia’s Alexander Legkov and Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk won World Cup distance races. The win marks Legkov’s first World Cup victory of the season and the second of his career. Kowalczyk celebrated her fourth win of the season and claiming the lead in the World Cup distance rankings. 

Italy’s Pietro Piller Cottrer was eight seconds behind Legkov in second place for his third podium of the season, while Austria’s Christian Hoffmann finished third for his first podium of the year.

Piller Cottrer leads the men’s distance standings, 50 points ahead of Switzerland’s Dario Cologna.

Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla and Norway’s Marthe Kristoffersen rounded out the women’s podium in second and third, respectively. It was Kalla’s fourth podium of the season while 19-year-old Kristoffersen raked in her second.

Standing second in the overall ranking, Kowalczyk is now within striking distance of leader, Slovienian Petra Majdic. “It is not so simple to win, because Majdic is so strong in the sprints, and there are two more of those to come,” Kowalczyk told the Associated Press.

Liz Stephen led the disappointing American effort in 49th place. “Liz Stephen decided to race, she has been sick, too. It was more of a race back for everyone except Garrott Kuzzy, who said he felt pretty good and skied a solid race,” U.S. cross country coach Justin Wadsworth said. “We didn’t have a lot of high expectations for today.”

The cross country World Cup now heads to Trondheim, Norway for races March 12-14.

 
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 VIESSMANN CROSS COUNTRY FIS WORLD CUP
Lahti, Finland – March 8, 2009
Freestyle 10K, 15K

Men
1. Alexander Legkov, Russia, 33:05.9
2. Pietro Piller Cottrer, Italy, 33:13.4
3. Christian Hoffmann, Austria, 33:26.6
4. Sergei Dolidovich, Bulgaria, 33:27.6
5. Giorgio Di Centa, Italy, 33:30.2
–
62. Garrott Kuzzy, Hayward, WI, 35:26.2
71. Leif Orin Zimmermann, Bozeman, MT, 35:54.4
72. Chris Cook, Rhinelander, WA, 35:56.4
87. Colin Rodgers, 37:29.9

Women
1. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, 24:38.6
2. Charlotte Kalla, Sweden, 25:01.0
3. Marthe Kristoffersen, Norway, 25:05.7
4. Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia, 25:05.8
5. Arianna Follis, Italy, 25:08.4
–
49. Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT, 27:13.1

For complete results click here.

Cross country World Cup competition in Lahti, Finland, wrapped up today as Russia’s Alexander Legkov and Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk won World Cup distance races. The win marks Legkov’s first World Cup victory of the season and the second of his career. Kowalczyk celebrated her fourth win of the season and claiming the lead in the World Cup distance rankings. 

Italy’s Pietro Piller Cottrer was eight seconds behind Legkov in second place for his third podium of the season, while Austria’s Christian Hoffmann finished third for his first podium of the year.

Piller Cottrer leads the men’s distance standings, 50 points ahead of Switzerland’s Dario Cologna.

Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla and Norway’s Marthe Kristoffersen rounded out the women’s podium in second and third, respectively. It was Kalla’s fourth podium of the season while 19-year-old Kristoffersen raked in her second.

Standing second in the overall ranking, Kowalczyk is now within striking distance of leader, Slovienian Petra Majdic. “It is not so simple to win, because Majdic is so strong in the sprints, and there are two more of those to come,” Kowalczyk told the Associated Press.

Liz Stephen led the disappointing American effort in 49th place. “Liz Stephen decided to race, she has been sick, too. It was more of a race back for everyone except Garrott Kuzzy, who said he felt pretty good and skied a solid race,” U.S. cross country coach Justin Wadsworth said. “We didn’t have a lot of high expectations for today.”

The cross country World Cup now heads to Trondheim, Norway for races March 12-14.

 
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 VIESSMANN CROSS COUNTRY FIS WORLD CUP
Lahti, Finland – March 8, 2009
Freestyle 10K, 15K

Men
1. Alexander Legkov, Russia, 33:05.9
2. Pietro Piller Cottrer, Italy, 33:13.4
3. Christian Hoffmann, Austria, 33:26.6
4. Sergei Dolidovich, Bulgaria, 33:27.6
5. Giorgio Di Centa, Italy, 33:30.2
–
62. Garrott Kuzzy, Hayward, WI, 35:26.2
71. Leif Orin Zimmermann, Bozeman, MT, 35:54.4
72. Chris Cook, Rhinelander, WA, 35:56.4
87. Colin Rodgers, 37:29.9

Women
1. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, 24:38.6
2. Charlotte Kalla, Sweden, 25:01.0
3. Marthe Kristoffersen, Norway, 25:05.7
4. Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia, 25:05.8
5. Arianna Follis, Italy, 25:08.4
–
49. Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT, 27:13.1

For complete results click here.