From 14th to 16th March, the Viessmann FIS World Cup season will have its final weekend with the World Cup Final in St. Caterina Valfurva in Italy.
The Cross-Country Final promises to be very interesting: The courses are challenging and selective and the decisions in five rankings are open as only the men’s overall World Cup and the distance World Cup have already been decided with winner Lukas Bauer (CZE), who’s had a “dream season” (quote Lukas Bauer). Anything could happen during the weekend, especially when somebody is not in a top shape, since the courses at the altitude of 1734 –1802 m will be extremely hard.
Really tight is the standing in the sprint World Cup ranking on the men’s side where Ola-Vigen Hattestad (NOR) is now leading with only 2 points ahead of Emil Joensson (SWE). For them, it will be a challenging prologue over the distance of 3,3 km in the free technique because both are stronger in the classical style and have not often competed in a distance race this season. For Joensson and Hattestad, it will be the first World Cup trophy in their career.
On the ladies side, Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) is fighting to defend her overall World Cup with a lead of 210 points ahead of runner-up Astrid Jacobsen (NOR). Petra Majdic from Slovenia would like to win the first World Cup trophy ever for a Slovenian Cross-Country athlete – she is now in the lead of the sprint World Cup, 74 points ahead Jacobsen and 76 points ahead of Kuitunen.
Also the distance World Cup is open: Valentina Shevchenko (UKR) is in the lead with 35 points over Jacobsen and 77 points over Kuitunen. For Shevchenko it would be the second distance World Cup trophy after winning in the season 2003/2004.
Last but not least, the Finnish ladies team is fighting for their second team cup victory after 2007 but Norway would like to have this title back. At the moment, Norway is leading 226 points ahead of Finland. As you can see, it will be a hot weekend
But not only Cross-Country is on the program during the FIS Grand Finals. Also Alpine, Snowboard and Freestyle will have their Finals in the region of Bormio – it will truly be the ‘FIS Grand Finals’ – come and join us!
More information:
http://www.grandfinals2008.com Starting times:
Friday, 14th March
Prologue F ladies 14.00h*
Prologue F men 14.45h*
Saturday, 15th March
10 km Mass Start C ladies 14.00h*
20 km Mass Start C men 16.00h*
Sunday, 16th March
10 km F handicap start ladies 14.00h*
15 km F handicap start men 16.00h*
*local time