CANMORE, Alberta (March 9, 2016) – After the sixth stage of the Ski Tour Canada, Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) moved back up to fifth in the overall Tour standings, while Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) moved to 11th. Diggins led the U.S. team once again, finishing 11th overall in a 15k FIS World Cup skiathlon on Wednesday.
In the women’s skiathlon, Norway’s Heidi Weng fought against teammate Therese Johaug throughout the race to steal the victory and remain in the leader’s bib going into stage seven. Johaug tried hard to shake Weng in the final kilometers, but Weng was resilient, edging Johaug by 0.8 seconds while teammate Astrid Jacobsen followed in third to complete a Norwegian podium sweep.
In the men’s 30k skiathlon, the race was a battle to the finish as leaders continued to charge throughout the race and the top eight were within 10 seconds of each other at the finish. In the last kilometer, Norway’s Martin Sundby took control and charged ahead to steal the victory, 2.8 seconds ahead of tour leader, Sergey Ustiugov of Russia. Finland’s Matti Heikkinen finished third.
Sadie Bjorsen took 11th place in the skiathlon. (Getty Images-Trond Tamberg)
Diggins dug deep and kept fighting throughout the race to stay in the second chase pack. She dabbled between 14th and 15th until the final two kilometers where she fought to stay in 10th until the final stretch where Norway’s Kari Slind edged out Diggins for 10th by 2.1 seconds. The effort helped Diggins reclaim her spot in fifth in the overall Ski Tour Canada standings.
“I wasn't quite feeling it today—I think the long sprint day really took it out of me,” said Diggins. “But after tomorrow's day off I'll be ready to go for this 10k skate!”
Three U.S. women were in the top-25 in the skiathlon, with Diggins leading in 11th, Bjornsen 16th and Rosie Brennan (Park City, UT) finished 25th. Brennan is 24th in the overall Tour Standings after stage six.
Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO) led the U.S. men finishing 35th in the skiathlon.
There are two stages remaining in the Ski Tour Canada. Competition continues Friday with a 15/10k individual freestyle race at 11:45 a.m. EST, which will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Norway’s Heidi Weng and Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov still lead the overall Tour. Weng leads by 2.9 seconds over teammate Therese Johaug and Ustiugov leads by 47.3 seconds over Norway’s Petter Northug.
- Matti Heikkien of Finland recorded his best World Cup finish since Rybinsk 2015 to take third place, 3.7 seconds off the lead.
- After Norway’s Martin Sundby won the skiathlon, he moved to third in the overall Ski Tour Canada standings.
- Caitlin Gregg (Minneapolis, MN) was the next American, finishing in 31st, Katharine Ogden (Landgrove, VT) 32nd, Chelsea Holmes (Girdwood, AK) 33rd, Anne Hart (Stillwater, MN) 34th, Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) 35th, Kaitlynn Miller (Lake Elmore, VT) 46th and Jennie Bender (Johnson, VT) 54th.
- Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) was the next American, finishing 49th overall, following Hoffman. Scott Patterson (Anchorage, AK) was 55th and Tad Elliott (Durango, CO) was 58th.
- Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT), Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT) and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) dropped out of the Tour due to illness.
- With no more sprints, Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) and Dakota Blackhorse von-Jess (Bend, OR) dropped out of the Tour.
- Matt Liebsch did not make the time cut off Tuesday, while Eric Packer (Anchorage, AK), Reese Hanneman (Anchorage, AK) and Brian Gregg (Minneapolis, MN) were lapped during the skiathlon and cannot continue.
STREAMING SCHEDULE (times EST)
Friday, March 11
11:45 a.m. - Women’s 10k freestyle interval start, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
3:00 p.m. - Men’s 15k freestyle interval start, Canmore - LIVE - NB Sports Live Extra
Saturday, March 12
3:00 p.m. - Women’s 10k classic pursuit, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
4:00 p.m. - Men’s 15k classic pursuit, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
QUOTES
Jessie Diggins
I wasn't quite feeling it today- I think the long sprint day really took it out of me but after tomorrow's day off I'll be ready to go for this 10km skate! We had great skis again and I dug in to keep fighting for time in the overall tour.
RESULTS
Men’s 30k Skiathlon
Women’s 15k Skiathlon
OVERALL TOUR STANDINGS (after six races)
Men’s Standings
Women’s Standings
