High Drama at Lake Placid World Cup Sprints

If there’s one word to summarize the second day of the Lake Placid World Cup Sprints, it would be “drama.” The day started innocently enough with much improved weather conditions – no snow, ideal course conditions, and over 15,000 spectators packing the grandstands and along the trail. Qualifying was similarly quite routine with Jessie Diggins heading out early and clocking the fastest time that held up until the Swedish girls pushed her down to fifth.  American ladies fared quite well with Sammy Smith and Julia Kern qualifying 11th and 15th respectively.

Diggins strategically chose the first heat insuring optimal conditions. It was a heat stacked with talent, including Jonna Sundling (Sweden) , Julie Myhre (Norway), and Nadine Faehndrich (Switzerland) guaranteeing a fast heat. Sundling took control and drove what was to be the fastest heat of the day. Diggins battled throughout the heat, but dropped to a fourth place finish. The heat was fast enough, however, that she and Faehndrich who came in third, claimed “Lucky Loser” semi-final qualifying spots as the two next fastest times among all competitors.

Diggins’ semi-final was chocked full of the top women including Sundling, Myhre, Linn Svahn (Sweden), and Jasmi Jonensu (Finland). Sundling again pushed the group edging out teammate Linn Svahn for the win. Diggins did not fare as well and finished fifth, ending her day. She took a curtain call and bowed to the enthusiastically cheering crowd. The stage was set for the first dramatic final of the day.

The final World Cup sprint of the season included current overall World Cup sprint points leader Maja Dahlqvist. Ironically, this event would determine the final outcome of the World Cup sprint championship. Going into the event Dahlqvist held a 20 point lead in the overall, followed by Svahn and Sundling with the potential for a major shake-up in the standings. The final unfolded with intensity as Svahn, as she had done in earlier heats, lead from the start. Cresting the final significant climb on the course Svahn stood up, not wanting to lead into the descent approaching the stadium. A little cat and mouse ensued but the race to the finish was on. Svahn once again prevailed with Sundling a close second. Dahlqvist came third for a Swedish women’s podium sweep, which was good enough to cement her overall championship. Faehndrich, who is also retiring at the end of the season, finished fourth, which locked in her third place in the overall.

The big news of the day in the men’s competition was that Johannes Hosflot Klaeboe would not be starting the sprints. In as much as he had already locked up the overall sprint title, there was nothing to gain from competing and he opted to rest up for the 20 km freestyle on Sunday.

Like the women’s competition, U.S. men were well represented  after the qualifying round with Gus Schumacher, Zanden Mullen, Ben Ogden, and JC Schoonmaker all making it to the heats. Schoonmaker was the only one to advance to the semi-finals as a Lucky Loser, but did not move on to the final.  

The men’s final was similarly loaded with talent, even without Klaebo: Lars Heggen (Norway) (U23 overall leader), Anton Grahn (Sweden), Lucas Chavanat (France), Harald Oestberg Amundsen (Norway), Erik Johansson (Sweden), and Federico Pelligrino, (Italy).  This was Pelligrino’s final World Cup sprint and he too is retiring at the end of the season. He recently medaled at the Olympics and was a heavy sentimental fan favorite.

The final unfolded with intensity with a tight competition ensuing. Save for a couple of trip-ups the race worked into the final intense climb. Most races throughout the day had seen little separation among the competitors with tight packs roaring into the finish. Pelligrino had other ideas, however, and launched a viscous attack during the climb opening up a significant gap. He continued to push and further gapped the field. It was a full on drag race to finish with Pelligrino maintaining a confident lead. It was perhaps the most exciting finish of the racing so far. The crowd erupted into a deafening cacophony of cheering. It couldn’t have been louder if it was an American taking the victory. Pelligrino’s storybook ending was as good as it gets. 

Racing concludes on Sunday, March 21 with men’s and women’s 20km freestyle at 12:30 pm EST and 2:30 respectively.