All favorites for the Overall World Cup met at Nove Mesto na Morave in the Czech Republic. The leg is predestined for the classic technique. The race on its 15 km (women) and 30 km (men) distance was not just about the day victory but also about taking another step towards the Overall World Cup. Justina Kowalczyk’s performance was very strong and she already started with a high speed with which only the two Norwegians Marit Björgen and Therese Johaug could keep up. Johaug had to give in on the last kilometers so that only Björgen and Kowalczyk came into question for the victory.
The trip to Sochi was a big challenge for all teams. Three planes were loaded with skis and bags in Zurich. After a turbulent flight, the journey to the skiing region Rosa Khutor continued by bus. The skiers were able to run three training tours on the technical and icy slope. Many athletes had big difficulties with the demanding slope.
