By Máximo Steverlynck
Friday brought wet World Cup racing for the first time to Goms, Switzerland, a venue best known in the U.S. for a historic silver medal in the men’s relay at 2018 World Juniors. Of the four athletes on that team, Gus Schumacher and Ben Ogden returned today and were hoping to reprise their relay-race magic; Hunter Wonders was racing a SuperTour in Craftsbury; and Luke Jager had the day off while gearing up for next month’s North American World Cup stops.
Today’s race was a 4x5km mixed relay. Both Schumacher and Ogden were lined up to race for the Americans today, but unfortunately only Ogden made it on the course. He skied the scramble leg and led the U.S. team to 5th place at the first handoff, 13.2 seconds off the lead.
Erin Bianco took up the second leg but suffered a heavy crash shortly before the second handoff; the U.S. moves from 14th in the race at the 8.1-kilometer time point to DNF by 9.7km.
“Today I had a crash in the relay and was unable to finish,” said Bianco in a statement provided by USSS. “But I am okay! Our team doctor got to me quickly and made sure everything was okay. We’re back to the hotel now and my focus is to rest and recover and continue cheering on my teammates throughout the rest of the weekend!”
Sweden’s teams occupied the top two spots by the finish, with their first team, made up of William Poromaa, Frida Karlsson, Jens Burman, and anchored by Linn Svahn, taking the top spot. Sweden I was 8.3 seconds ahead of Sweden II, composed of Johanna Hagström, Ebba Anderson, Edvin Anger, and anchored by Maja Dahlqvist. 1.6 seconds back in third was Norway I, with Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Margrethe Bergane, Simen Hegstad Krüger, and anchored by Tiril Udnes Weng. Notably, Kristine Ståvas Skistad is absent from the Norwegian team this weekend, opting to take a training block in lieu of racing.
The Swiss represented well on their home snow, with their first team skiing to 6th place, in a team composed of Cyril Fähndrich, Anja Weber, Beda Klee, and Nadine Fähndrich as anchor. Right behind them in 7th was the Swiss second team, with Jonas Baumann, Marina Kälin, Valerio Grond, and Alina Meier representing the home team.
The World Cup continues tomorrow Goms with a freestyle sprint competition, with qualification starting at 13:00 CET, and heats starting at 15:30 CET. Subtract six hours from these times for EST and 10 hours for Alaska Time, or consult our viewing guide.
Kevin Bolger, JC Schoonmaker, Zak Ketterson, Peter Wolter, Ogden, and Schumacher are slated to start for the men on Saturday. The start list currently shows all of Jessie Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Sammy Smith, and Erin Bianco for the women, though Bianco’s status seems questionable after today’s fall.
