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Skiing

Alaskans Gus Schumacher and Rosie Brennan thrive at Tour de Ski

By Anchorage Daily News
Updated: January 5, 2024 Published: January 5, 2024

Rosie Brennan of USA in action during the women's 20km classic pursuit race of the fifth stage of the Tour de Ski, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

Alaska cross-country ski racers continued to thrive this week on the World Cup circuit as Gus Schumacher and Rosie Brennan posted excellent finishes in Tour de Ski races in Davos, Switzerland.

On Wednesday, Schumacher finished in fourth place in the freestyle sprint race final after advancing on the back of a pair of lucky loser finishes in qualifying heats.

In the final, Schumacher finished with a time of 2 minutes, 17.13 seconds, just 2.06 seconds behind winner Lucas Chanavat of France.

The finish was a career best for Schumacher, who said he made some significant passes on the second lap to secure the finish.

Gus Schumacher raced in Wednesday's freestyle sprint race in Davos, Switzerland, on the Tour de Ski. (Photo by Mathias Bergeld / provided by APU)

“That was a crazy race,” Schumacher said in a statement. “My sprinting, and skiing in general, has felt really good lately so I felt confident about the qualifier, which is a super nice place to be. Then it was kind of new territory for me, and I definitely had a lot of luck with (advancing as) lucky loser (in the quarterfinals and semifinals) and someone falling in both of those heats.”

Zanden McMullen also had a career-best finish of 25th place after qualifying for the heats for the first time in his World Cup career. Schumacher was scheduled to race in Thursday’s 20K Classic Pursuit but was sick and had to withdraw. Two Alaskans did compete in the Pursuit race as Scott Patterson finished 25th and McMullen was 28th.

Rosie Brennan of USA, left, in action during the women's 20km classic pursuit race of the fifth stage of the Tour de Ski, in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

On Thursday, the American women dominated the podium in the 20K Classic Pursuit led by Brennan’s second-place finish and a third-place finish from U.S. teammate Jessie Diggins, who is the World Cup overall leader.

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Finnish skier Kerttu Niskanen won the race in a time of 1:12:00.7, and Brennan was just a split-second behind at 1:12:01.5 to earn her 11th career World Cup podium.

Second-place Rosie Brennan of the USA, left, winner Kerttu Niskanen of Finland, center, third-place Jessie Diggins of the USA, right, celebrate on the podium during the women's 20km classic pursuit race of the fifth stage of the Tour de Ski in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

Diggins also found the podium on Wednesday, placing third in the sprint final in a time of 2:34.08. Diggins leads the Tour de Ski standings with Brennan currently sitting in 10th. Patterson is the top American male in 22nd.

With the fifth leg of the Tour de Ski complete, racing shifts to Val di Fiemme, Italy, for the final two events starting Saturday.

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