History Repeats Itself as Alsgaard Wins Close Finish
February 25, 1999 - 0:0
RAMSAU, Austria History repeated itself when Thomas Alsgaard of Norway won the 15k freestyle pursuit by the length of a ski. In Nagano Olympics last year, Alsgaard beat his teammate Bjorn Daehlie on the line after in a neck-to-neck finish. At the Nordic Ski World Championship in Ramsau on Tuesday, he overtook Mika Myllylae of Finland at the end of the home stretch, defeating him by 0.7 seconds.
``I haven't lost a single important sprint yet,'' the 27-year old Norwegian said after the race. Alsgaard, who finished 15th in Monday's 10k classical, the first leg of the pursuit, took to the course 57 seconds behind Myllylae, the 10k and 30k winner here. He went into a fast-paced chase and caught Myllylae and Daehlie at the 12th kilometer. ``Before the race, I thought there was no realistic chance I could win a medal,'' Alsgaard said.
``I only tried to keep my pace, I was surprised when I caught up with the two.'' Once he did, Alsgaard began believing he could take the gold. ``My tactic was to stay behind Mika and have take some rest for the home-stretch sprint.'' The plan worked for Alsgaard, just as it did for him at the Olympics. Myllylae was unable to push ahead as the two sprinted home next to each other.
``I realized I'd lost the gold two meters before the finish line,'' Myllylae said. Daehlie, the most active throughout three-quarters of the race, eventually dropped to sixth place. ``I could see Daehlie was tired, he couldn't keep our pace,'' Alsgaard said. Daehlie is having somewhat of a nightmare here. Bronze Medalist in the 30k, he has finished outside the medals in the following two races.
That's a very poor record for the eight-time Olympic champion and the most successful cross-country skier in history. Daehlie now has the 50k to redeem himself, but that's Myllylae's strongest event. Trailing Alsgaard by 22.7 seconds, Fulvio Valbusa finished third in the pursuit, taking his first medal at a major championship after 10 years on the cross-country circuit. ``For me, the bronze is like the gold,'' the 30-year old Italian said.
In the women's 10k freestyle pursuit Tuesday, Stefania Belmondo of Italy won her second gold of the championships. Eighth after 5k classical, the first leg of the pursuit, Belmondo pushed ahead at the halfway mark and kept up the pace until she crossed the finish line with an Italian flag in her hand. ``It was a tough race, I'm very happy with the result,'' said Belmondo, who also won the opening 15k freestyle.
``Ramsau is like my second family.'' In the ski jumping team competition on the 120k hill at the nearby Bischofshofen, Germany took the gold, collecting a total of 988.9 points for the four jumps and winning its third medal in two ski-jumping events here. Japan finished second with 987 points, while Austria took the bronze at 905.5. points. The Japanese were ahead leading into the final series.
But Kazuyoshi Funaki, the Olympic champion, cleared only 115 meters, losing the gold by 1.5 meters. (AP)
``I haven't lost a single important sprint yet,'' the 27-year old Norwegian said after the race. Alsgaard, who finished 15th in Monday's 10k classical, the first leg of the pursuit, took to the course 57 seconds behind Myllylae, the 10k and 30k winner here. He went into a fast-paced chase and caught Myllylae and Daehlie at the 12th kilometer. ``Before the race, I thought there was no realistic chance I could win a medal,'' Alsgaard said.
``I only tried to keep my pace, I was surprised when I caught up with the two.'' Once he did, Alsgaard began believing he could take the gold. ``My tactic was to stay behind Mika and have take some rest for the home-stretch sprint.'' The plan worked for Alsgaard, just as it did for him at the Olympics. Myllylae was unable to push ahead as the two sprinted home next to each other.
``I realized I'd lost the gold two meters before the finish line,'' Myllylae said. Daehlie, the most active throughout three-quarters of the race, eventually dropped to sixth place. ``I could see Daehlie was tired, he couldn't keep our pace,'' Alsgaard said. Daehlie is having somewhat of a nightmare here. Bronze Medalist in the 30k, he has finished outside the medals in the following two races.
That's a very poor record for the eight-time Olympic champion and the most successful cross-country skier in history. Daehlie now has the 50k to redeem himself, but that's Myllylae's strongest event. Trailing Alsgaard by 22.7 seconds, Fulvio Valbusa finished third in the pursuit, taking his first medal at a major championship after 10 years on the cross-country circuit. ``For me, the bronze is like the gold,'' the 30-year old Italian said.
In the women's 10k freestyle pursuit Tuesday, Stefania Belmondo of Italy won her second gold of the championships. Eighth after 5k classical, the first leg of the pursuit, Belmondo pushed ahead at the halfway mark and kept up the pace until she crossed the finish line with an Italian flag in her hand. ``It was a tough race, I'm very happy with the result,'' said Belmondo, who also won the opening 15k freestyle.
``Ramsau is like my second family.'' In the ski jumping team competition on the 120k hill at the nearby Bischofshofen, Germany took the gold, collecting a total of 988.9 points for the four jumps and winning its third medal in two ski-jumping events here. Japan finished second with 987 points, while Austria took the bronze at 905.5. points. The Japanese were ahead leading into the final series.
But Kazuyoshi Funaki, the Olympic champion, cleared only 115 meters, losing the gold by 1.5 meters. (AP)