Weltcup Otepää/Estland on the competitions in Otepää I am particularly pleased. Last year I got there in the classic sprint with 22 Rank the second half of the Olympic qualifiers. Positive experiences, so I connected with this place.
The last weeks I spent most time in Realp and was much on training. After the World Cup, Davos, I caught a cold and could not compete in La Clusaz for the season. Until Christmas I was indeed recovered but my form was anything but good. For this reason I decided on a good build-up training and the focus on the competitions in the COC's Cup in Oberwiesenthal / GER and the World Cup Otepää.
After the competitions in Oberwiesenthal, which ran quite well for me (win in the Classic Sprint and 11th place in the 10 km freestyle), I knew that my shape well and is on the rise. That gave me confidence and self-confidence for my next assignment in the World Cup.
On Thursday, two days before the first race, we traveled from Zurich to Otepää. The journey took longer than planned but unfortunately. Because of snow we had in Zurich for almost an hour wait until we could fly away. In Copenhagen, then we missed our connecting flight to Tallinn. That meant for us to wait five hours in Copenhagen, departure and arrival at 20.30 clock in Tallinn at 23.00 clock (local time). Terminus but was Otepää and until there were still three hours by bus. Clock at 2:30, we were finally in our beds. Certainly not the best preparation for a competition.
were on Saturday the 10 km Classic on the program. A beautiful and hard track to expect. My feeling from the start was not particularly good. My legs hurt light and increased nervousness. But when was the start, it ran from the start. I quickly found a good pace that I could hold more than 10 kilometers. The skis were really fast and I could also climb well, which is very important at this track. I managed a really good competition and I was absolutely excited about the first World Cup points in a distance race. Seraina Boner ran for 29 Rank and also won World Cup points. With 27 Level I unfortunately missed half a World Cup qualifying by 5 seconds.
was held on Sunday instead of the classic sprint. The track was not the same as last year. It was much flatter, which meant that a lot had to be run in a double floor. I had a rise of more preferred but now I had with the new track "making friends". In the sprint, it's about tenths of seconds, especially on such a "flat" round. With number 34 in the prologue I was after the finish at the 28th Rank. I had a qualification for the quarter-finals fear. Seraina Boner was right behind me with only two tenths of a second. And exactly these two tenths of a second it was enough for me thirty for the quarter-finals. Seraina missed as the Thirty-first qualification.
In the finals, everything is open again. As a thirty I was in the prologue fastest quarter-final. I had a good start and was with the people. When it came to the long stretch was I could classify as a third party, but I had to give a final spurt beaten in fourth. So I am ranked in the final standings at the 20th Place. The second-best World Cup result for me! I was pleased and looked forward to a good competition.
My next assignment will be the Swiss Championships on the Col des Mosses. There, I will measure in the 10 km freestyle and the double tracking with the other runners.
Until then I wish you a good time, best wishes Doris
