Gathered for the first time in a World Cup team sprint, cross-country skiers Katherine Stewart-Jones and Liliane Gagnon finished ninth in the freestyle final at the Lahti stop in Finland on Friday.
“We’re really happy and it’s new for us. We look forward to doing more team sprints together,” said Stewart-Jones of Chelsea, Outaouais.
The two Quebecers were 33.59 seconds behind the winners of Sweden 1, formed by Emma Ribom and Jonna Sundling. Julie Myhre and Anne Kjersti (Norway 1, +4.57 seconds) and Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek (Germany 1, +5.12 seconds) completed the podium.
“I was really looking forward to it and both of us thought we could do well. Liliane is skiing really well in sprint freestyle these days and for my part, I was a little more afraid of my performance in qualifying since this year, it is the cumulative time that determines the 15 teams that go to the final . But hey, luckily there were only 16,” added Stewart-Jones, who said she was impressed with the confidence her rookie teammate has shown on the circuit this season.
“She doesn’t need your hand held and I really enjoyed spending the season with her. She is very mature and professional as an athlete. »
Stewart-Jones and Gagnon had taken the 11e qualifying rank on Friday.
In the men’s event, Antoine Cyr and Graham Ritchie had a more difficult exit, as they missed out on their place in the final. The duo who had shone with a fourth place in this event at the World Championships last month, concluded the day at 19e rank. The two thus missed the 15e and last place for qualifying teams by 1.61 seconds.
Canada 2, formed by Olivier Léveillé and Xavier McKeever, for its part concluded in 21e place.
Reigning Olympic champions Erik Valnes and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (Norway 1) walked away with victory. They had the upper hand over Francesco De Fabiani and Federico Pellegrino (Italy 1) and Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Sindre Bjoernestad Skar (Norway 2).
Classic sprint and 20 kilometer mass start races in classic style will be on the menu on Saturday and Sunday at this last stop on the circuit this season.