Flora clinches Cross-Country SuperTour men's title

Two-time Olympian Lars Flora clinched the USSA Cross-Country SuperTour title Sunday, Feb. 4, when subzero temperatures in the Twin Cities during the weekend forced cancellation of two SuperTour freestyle technique races.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Two-time Olympian Lars Flora clinched the USSA Cross-Country SuperTour title Sunday, Feb. 4, when subzero temperatures in the Twin Cities during the weekend forced cancellation of two SuperTour freestyle technique races.
    The season’s final SuperTour sprints were canceled Saturday after being postponed by cold twice and although the 30K City of Lakes Loppet was held as planned Sunday, because it was minus-9 F at the start, and colder than International Ski Federation rules allow (minus-4 F, minus-20 C) to start a race, officials withdrew SuperTour recognition of the event.
    With the sprints canceled, Flora — who also leads the overall points race — captured the sprint title from Eric Strabel. Laura Valaas already had clinched the women’s sprint crown.
    Flora also has all but mathematically clinched the overall men’s title; he has 471 points with 306 for Kris Freeman. However, since both will be involved at the World Championships starting Feb. 22 in Japan, Freeman realistically could collect only 120 points (if he won both end-of-season races in Maine).
    The women’s overall race, though, continues between Valaas and CXC teammate Caitlin Compton. Compton has 497 points to 465 for Valaas. In a distant third place is Swiss skier Karen Camenisch (287).
    Four distance races, with SuperTour points doubled at the U.S. championships events, remain:

Feb. 10 – the 25 km FR Owl Creek Chase in Aspen, Colo.
Feb. 24 – the 52 km FR American Birkebeiner from Cable to Hayward, Wis.
March 28 – U.S. Cross Country Championships: Men’s 30 km/Women’s 20 km pursuit in Presque Isle, Maine
April 1 – U.S. Cross Country Championships: Men’s 50 km FR/Women's 30 km FR mass start in Presque Isle, Maine