This past weekend we raced only a single sprint, in Monguelfo, ITA. The format was quite interesting; the morning qualifier was held up the Gsieser Tal (valley) about 20km from Monguelfo on an off-camber farmer's field, while the heats were to be held that night on a downtown loop amidst a throng of spectators. The qualifying course was extremely fast with a long gradual climb that demanded powerful V2 up to the high point before rocketing downhill to the finish. After the previous weekend's disasters I was adamant and very psyched to put down a solid qualifier and making it into the evening's downtown heats. After a comprehensive warm-up I went to the line knowing I'd have to give everything to make the top-16. With the Olympics happening in Vancouver, the majority of top Europeans who weren't on their Olympic teams were here at these OPA Cups, making for a super-competitive senior men's field.
I started strong, and 200m into the race I knew I was feeling better than I had in a long time. I pushed hard up the long climb and by the high point had given everything I had. I tucked down the hill and threw in a hard jump-V2 to the line. Given the fact we were using timing chips I was able to instantaneously see my finish split when I crossed, and saw I had come in 30th, only 3 seconds out of qualifying and in the top half of the men's field.
It was a bittersweet race for me. I knew I had given everything and that I'm still not in top form yet. I got some of my best sprinting FIS points of the season. But I know I have the potential to be in that top-16, and I am anxious to get another sprint in to get closer to that goal.
