Sargent at World Cup in Lillehammer, Norway
A Pink Storm after the Relay, in which the US Women placed 3rd and 12th. Photo Kikkan Randall
Last Updated: 09.Dec.2013
GRP skier Ida Sargent was back in action for the second weekend of World Cup racing in Lillehammer, Norway, site of the 1994 Winter Olympics. For many World Cup skiers, it was their first time racing a World Cup in Lillehammer, which is back on the circuit after a long break. The weekend brought an individual start distance classic and a relay, notable because it is the first and only relay event before the Olympics in February.
In Saturday’s 10k classic, Sargent was hoping to break into the top 30 and ultimately finished just outside in 39th. Sargent is a strong classic skier, but may have lacked a little pop after a tiring last weekend in Kuusamo. The US Women had another great day, as Sadie Bjornsen matched her 7th place result in the 5k classic from last weekend, proving it was no fluke. She also had the chance to sit in the leader’s chair until the top six women finished. Kikkan Randall was 16th and Jessie Diggins 30th, and with 3 women in the points it was solid performance from the US ladies.
Sunday’s relay event was especially exciting because the US was able to field two full women’s relay teams. Sargent was the second classic leg on the US II team, with teammates Sophie Caldwell, Holly Brooks, and Rosie Brennan. Caldwell had a great race and was able to hold onto the lead pack until her tag to Sargent. Sargent kept her team in the mix and tagged off to Brooks in 7th. Ultimately, the US II team finished 12th, but the story of the day was the first women’s team grabbing another historic podium spot in 3rd. Jessie Diggins, the relay anchor, kept things interesting with a crash and a broken pole right before finish, but she was able to hold off the second Norwegian team and come in behind the Finnish women’s team for a bronze medal.
The World Cup heads next to Davos, Switzerland. Saturday will be a 15k individual start skate for the women, and Sunday will be the first skate sprint of the World Cup season. Stay tuned for race updates, and check FIS-Ski for live results!
Results from Lillehammer here:
Also, full race video is now available online here.