X-country in Düsseldorf 2006

Certainly, Cross-country is not Biathlon and the occasional shooting sessions are already missing to a crazy Biathlon fan; nevertheless tension doesn't lack this kind of sport. Considering this fact I used my short vacations in the west of the republic for spending one day in Düsseldorf and so be a part of this huge spectator mass watching the cross-country World Cup live for the first time. If Düsseldorf, situated in the flat country and normally only once per year blessed with snow (the beginning of cross-country WC season) is the correct place for this, should turn out ... After all, they've got their own skiing club.

That way to Düsseldorf ran without problems, because they waited in the large city. One could recognize by the enormous advertising boards that everyone is pleased here about the big event, which already takes place for the fifth time, but where it does take place exactly ? No signs or whatever guided the way. Thus we followed the signs directed to the port, in order to state that we drove nevertheless wrongly. But with the help of some native ones we found our way into the Rhine tunnel and the multi-storey car park was found in the old part of town (where we parked for only 12 €) quite easily. Finally arrived !

The view to the Rhine was most impressive, because between the lookout points the snow strip was lying where cross-country skiers passed by frequently. Most impressing the Norwegian Marit Bjoergen, winning the races in a series, who could be follow by none also today. Wathing her cross-country looks everything else as arduous. 4 Frenchmen (Karine Philipot, Roddy Daragon, Sylvain Fanjas-Claret and Damien Ambrosseti) nevertheless got over the prologue and so also the team of responsibles headed by the new sport director Pierre Mignerey was very pleased. That looked to become a successful day, but then the fatal Quarter-finals came.
Philipot, no Sprinter woman, could not follow the speed of her rivals and did not pass to Semi-finals. For the men a quantity of pitch was in the game. Sylvain Fanjas Claret had finished the prologue as the fifth and after the start of its run it looked quite good, but then he fell and was "all alone." Nevertheless he had exactly like Damien Ambrosseti who failed likewise, still a smile for the camera. Most unlucky person of the day was certainly Roddy Daragon, its binding "gave up" the fight for the important places. Under the jeers of the spectators he terminated the lap and was celebrated by everybody.

Result: The many thousand spectators showed themselves as extraordinarily fair and each athlete was carried to the finish line with loud jeers and calls. The athletes were surprisingly open and friendly. Thus above all the local heros round Evi Sachenbacher, Claudia Künzel and Tobias Angerer who even signed autographs between the races. In addition there's the exciting sprint race, where each second decides about victory and defeat and the visitor at the distance gets to see the athletes often due to the shortness of the lap. Above all no feeling did arise that a heap of football fans watches winter sports, because it is straight in the area and the goal of the spectators consists of being drunk before the beginning of the race, as it can be seen at similar meetings as the WTC "Auf Schalke ". All this makes the cross-country Worldcup a unique experience that I can recommend to everyone!! Anne Gassner

2005/2006

2006/2007