Team sprint: Sweden and Norway on the podium
Athletes for further World Cup events in Dusseldorf
The tenth FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup in Dusseldorf was concluded with two Scandinavian victories, cheered on by 100,000 spectators along the banks of the Rhine. Norway won the women’s team sprint with Mari Eide and Maiken Falla, while Sweden remained victorious in the men’s event with Jesper Modin and Teodor Peterson.
Germany’s Hanna Kolb and Denise Hermann reached the final but had to be content with tenth place. The DSV men’s team of Jens Filbrich and Josef Wenzl failed to make it into the final after a controversial disqualification. “These two could have had a say in the final, I’m absolutely sure. That’s why it is very unfortunate for us that the Jury decided to disqualify them”, commented German national coach Jochen Behle. Russia’s Nikita Kriukov and Alexey Petukhov benefited from the Germans’ disqualification and eventually finished runners-up in the final.
The tenth World Cup event in the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia once again proved a great success for the organisers. They received praise not only for the successful social programme under the motto “Ten Years of Ski World Cup” but also for the quality of the snow from JEVER Ski Hall in Neuss, and the overall organisation.
August Pollen, head of the organisation, is optimistic for the future: “If it’s up to us, the eleventh FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup will take place in Dusseldorf in two years’ time.” German national coach Jochen Behle: “Everything is perfect here, it’s as simple as that. I assume that we will be here again in two years.”
The athletes were disappointed by the change in the World Cup calendar and the consequent break for Dusseldorf. German promising talent Hanna Kolb, who finished eleventh in the individual sprint competition: “It is a pity that we won’t be here next year. The organisation is excellent, the track is always well prepared, and the atmosphere around the event is super. I am hoping that we will be back in two years.”
Russian Alexey Petukhov, a regular competitor in Dusseldorf and runner-up in the individual sprint on Saturday: “Of course it’s a pity that the World Cup in Dusseldorf will not be held next year. However, I’m hoping that the World Cup will return here in the 2013-14 season because I love this city sprint event in Dusseldorf. It’s incredible how many enthusiastic fans cheer us on along the course.” Ola Vigen Hattestad, Norway’s individual sprint winner: “I didn’t know that, and it’s really unfortunate. This event is simply different, again and again. I do hope we will return.”
