Press Release 26 February 2013

10KM OF ADRENALINE IN VAL DI FIEMME 
JOHAUG, THE QUEEN WITH VELVET GLOVES

Therese Johaug is the new 10km cross-country race world champion
Silver medal for Bjoergen and bronze for Tchekaleva 
Individual Men 15km FT tomorrow

Therese Johaug is the new queen of the 10km free technique discipline. Today the Cross Country Stadium in Lago di Tesero was the scene of an extraordinary race which thrilled and excited the thousands of spectators watching.
The Norwegians Johaug and Marit Bjoergen dominated the race. Bjoergen didn’t manage to win a third successive gold medal at Fiemme 2013, having won already in sprint and skiathlon.
The race was hard fought with the lead changing all the time and the competitors giving their all.
Today Johaug was unstoppable and she took the gold with a tenacity expected of a world champion, stealing the world championships title from her team mate who had to bow to the petite glove-designer from Røros.
Bjoergen finished 10 seconds behind Johaug. Although she had hoped to win the gold, she still achieved the silver medal. 
Behind her, Yulia Tchekaleva of Russia won the bronze medal. She held the third place position at both the first  and the second legs (km 1.8 and 6.8) and she finished the race in a time of 25'56''1. The gap between 3rd and 4th place was within a blink of an eye. In fact the biggest surprise of the day was when the beautiful Miriam Goessner from Garmisch, not only a cross-country racer but a talented biathlete, finished the race in a great time of 25'56''6. Indeed Russia and Germany must again bow to “her majesty” Norway. The rest of the world, Italy included, are still hoping to have a medal win. It is true, the Italians were not expecting to be on the podium, but in any competition, like the sunshine of today, there is always a glimmer of hope. Italy will keep on striving for their first medal, the sooner the better at these Championships at home.
Tomorrow’s schedule reads the XC Individual Men’s race (15km FT) at the Cross Country Stadium in Lago di Tesero.
Info: www.fiemme2013.com

10 Km FT  Ladies
1 JOHAUG Therese NOR 25:23.4; 2 BJOERGEN Marit NOR 25:33.6; 3 TCHEKALEVA Yulia RUS 25:56.1; 4 GOESSNER Miriam GER 25:56.6; 5 STEPHEN Elizabeth USA 26:04.6; 6 WENG Heidi NOR 26:06.6; 7 KALLA Charlotte SWE 26:09.0; 8 ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa FIN 26:12.7; 9 STEIRA Kristin Stoermer NOR 26:25.0; 10 HUGUE Coraline FRA 12 26:26.2