[ad_1]
This coverage was made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and the Hall Mark of Excellence Award. If you would like more information about the Hall Mark of Excellence Award or how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact us at info@fasterskier.com.
The long journey of the World Cup cross country season came to an end today. And like all good road trips, there’s bound to be something special waiting at the end of the road. What was special for Jesse Diggins (USA) today in Falun was the chance to take home his second overall crystal globe. Diggins had already won the Distance Glove award, but the overall win was an added bonus. Every professional cross country skier’s dream.
Diggins didn’t mathematically win the Globe before the race, but her 75-point lead over Lynn Svern (SWE) was healthy enough that all she really had to do today was , all I had to do was keep Svern in sight for a 20km mass start freestyle race. .
The winner could receive 130 points. If Svern wins everything including all 30 bonus points and Diggins earns no bonus points, Diggins could finish 13th.th You still get the crystal globe. However, it was very likely that Svern would take home all the points.
For Diggins, today will mark the end of a season that started with low expectations. Over the summer, Diggins was very candid about his struggles, and he expressed that he wasn’t sure what the new ski year would bring. But from early dominations in Finland and Sweden to wins at the Tour de Ski, she showed the consistency needed to earn her major prizes. Her overall win adds an impressive addition to her already long resume.
Diggins was not satisfied with eliminating Svern mathematically. From the start of the race, it was clear that Diggins was going all out for the win. She won today’s race and pushed hard throughout the race to claim the Crystal Globe. It was an exclamation point marking the end of a season packed with highlights. Heidi Wen (Norway) took second place, and Anne Gjersti Culver (Norway) took third place.
“I was really impressed when I put on the glitter and went outside,” Diggins said. “My only goal today was to have the most fun, and I really did. I wanted to finish with nothing left behind… so I could walk away with pride. I wanted the technicians to see that I was skating a brave race and to be proud of them. Now I am ready to go home.”
For Svern, the impossible didn’t happen and even though he finished second in the Crystal Globe Hunt, it was still a season worth celebrating. After having her breakout year in 2021, she was sidelined from World Cup racing for almost two years due to injury, making it a stressful and difficult time for her. Now, she has pushed Diggins to the limit, but this season she is back, she emphasized. That alone is worth celebrating.
Diggins’ win wasn’t the only thing that made this a great day for American cross country. Rosie Brennan put in a solid performance and finished 10th.th.Norby McCabe was 11 years oldthSofia Laukri finished 17ththSidney Palmer Ledger was 23 years old.rdHaley Brewster was 32 years oldn.d.. Julia Kahn did not finish the race.
Canada’s top skier finished 53rd in Lilian Gagnonrd. Sonja Schmidt did not finish the race.
Women’s 20k Freestyle Mass Start
Diggins led a herd of 63 women out of the stadium on a perfect Bluebird Day in Falun. It was in stark contrast to yesterday’s rainfall and poor conditions. The weather was nice today, and the conditions were like lightning. The Falun course presents some unique challenges, with some very difficult climbs that skiers will climb four times today.
Diggins set the pace from the start, closely followed by Heidi Wen (NOR). By the time the group reached the 2.5km mark, Diggins had fallen back slightly and Frieda Karlsson (SWE) took the lead. Svern was still in the front group, just 6.4 seconds off the lead.
The first bonus came at 5.8 kilometers. The first test in the duel between Diggins and Svern. As the pack approached the bonus line, Diggins reasserted himself and returned to the lead. Diggins easily crossed the bonus line first, earning 15 bonus points. Svaan received nothing. The lead over Diggins grew to 90 points. What little hope Svaan might have had vanished.
Despite having firm control over Crystal Globe, Diggins did not retreat and continued to lead the pack until the 6.8km mark. After half a kilometer the lead group regrouped and Victoria Carle (GER) took the lead. Karl’s lead didn’t last long, as Sofia Laukri (USA) jumped into the lead. Falun’s courses are perfect for Laukri. Not only does her distance suit her, but it also matches her climbing ability as she has four big climbs.Diggins dropped to 10 while Laukri surged.th, but I was still in the middle of the lead group. More importantly, Svaan was sitting behind her at 13:00.th.
Along the way, Karlsson returned to the front and joined Laukri and Wen. Eva Anderson (SWE) also joined the leadership. A battle for the lead ensued on the front row of racers, but Diggins sat smartly in ninth place with Svern skating right alongside him. But Diggins wasn’t content to sit in the middle of the pack and regained the lead at 12.5km, with the next bonus mark approaching at 15.8km. If Diggins gets another bonus point on the next line, it would end any chance Swarn might have.
Diggins quickly jumped to the front and was in perfect position for the next bonus section. While Diggins was shooting toward the front, there was bad news for Carlson, who fell during the collision and broke his pole. Her delay cost her dearly. In the end, she was forced to change poles twice and fell back from the lead group.
Diggins was clearly up to the task and skating well as the pack approached the bonus point line. Once again, Diggins scored the most points, 15 points. The deal was sealed as Svern did not score any points and Diggins’ overall lead stood at 105 points. Diggins only had to finish the race to win the Crystal Globe. But Diggins wasn’t content with just winning the Globe, he fought hard to win the race and take home the Crystal Globe in style. She continued to press from the front and with only Wen and Culver able to compete with Diggins, she gained a wide lead in the race. She had built a four-second lead over the chasing group and was looking to extend her advantage.
With 1km remaining, Jonah Sandling (SWE) managed to close the gap and join the lead group, with four riders in front of him. Diggins then picked up the pace at a breakneck pace, using the downhill to increase his sprint speed to full speed and extend his advantage. She parted ways with Sandling, leaving only Wen and Culver with her.
Diggins continued to pull away on the downhill, as he had throughout his career. Wen and Culver gamely helped her, but Diggins was determined to get her the win. Once they entered the stadium, it was a three-way sprint to the end, but Diggins was able to escape and take the victory. Wen crossed the finish line in second place, with Culver in third.
Diggins answered all doubts as Svern finished 26thth, go back more than a minute. Diggins clearly showed that she is the best in the world and can face difficult situations better than anyone else. It was a dramatic victory and she answered clearly when asked who was the best.
Women’s 20k Freestyle Mass Start Results
[ad_2]
Source link
