Sapporo: Finland tops Germany in women's relay

Finland took charge in the first leg and went on to win the women's 4×5 km mixed relay Thursday with Germany taking silver and Norway bronze. The U.S. foursome finished 14th.

SAPPORO, Japan — Finland took charge in the first leg and went on to win the women's 4×5 km mixed relay Thursday with Germany taking silver and Norway bronze. The U.S. foursome finished 14th.
    World Cup leader Virpi Kuitunen handed 21.9-second lead to Aina Kaisa Saarinen to start the second 5 km leg of classic technique skiing, and despite easing up dramatically in the final 400 meters, Finland went on to win in 54 minutes, 18.6 seconds. Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle lifted Germany from fourth to silver on the final leg and Norway salvaged the bronze.
    Americans Kikkan Randall, Laura Valaas, Caitlin Compton and Sarah Konrad had a time of 58:46.7.
    Randall said the blistering start was too much to overcome. "With Virpi Kuitunen taking the fast pace there, holy cow … that was a wicked fast pace off the start."
    Head coach Pete Vordenberg agreed. "The pace at the start of the race was higher than we've seen. Kuitunen was leading before they left the stadium."

Never a doubt for the Finns
    Finland opened up a comfortable 30-second lead heading into the final leg and Pirjo Manninen crossed the finish line as the Finns took the gold medal easily. ''We had a pretty big lead by the time it got to me,'' said Manninen, who is the sister of nordic combined gold medalist Hannu Manninen. ''When I got into the stadium I knew we had the gold.''  
    The excitement was saved for second place when Sachenbacher-Stehle overtook Norway's Astrid Jacobsen on the home stretch to give Germany the silver medal, 11.9 seconds back. Defending champion Norway finished 15.7 seconds off the pace to collect the bronze medal.
    ''I went as fast as I could,'' said Jacobsen. ''But I was really tired. When Evi came I had no chance to follow so we had to settle for the bronze.''
    Germany also won the silver at the Torino Olympics where Sachenbacher was a member of the team. She said winning Thursday's medal was a big thrill.
    ''I didn't think we could be second,'' said Sachenbacher. ''I thought it would be Finland and Norway but then I saw Astrid in front of me and I knew I had a chance to catch her.''
    Olympic champion Russia finished in seventh place.
    Finland was in control throughout the event. World Cup leader Kuitunen, who pulled out of Tuesday's 10-kilometer race citing health problems, gave her team a big lead after the first leg.
    ''The plan was to go all out from the start,'' said Kuitunen. ''The first lap was good, the second lap wasn't as good but I'm glad I was able to give us a big lead.''
    The Feb. 22-March 4 championships continue Friday with the men's 4×10-kilometer cross-country race. The final women's cross-country race is Saturday, the 30 km classic technique.

Sapporo World Championships women's 4×5-kilometer relay results
1. Finland, 54 minutes, 18.6 seconds.
2. Germany, 11.9 seconds behind.
3. Norway, 15.7.
4. Sweden, 31.7.
5. Czech Republic, 44.3.
6. Italy, 56.1.
7. Russia, 1:20.6.
8. Japan, 2:03.2.
9. Switzerland, 2:20.8.
10. China, 2:29.6.

Click here for complete results.