Cross-country skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 4 x 10 kilometre relay
Encyclopedia
The men's 4 x 10 kilometre relay cross-country skiing
competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
, Italy
, was held on 19 February at Pragelato
.
A World Cup event in the relay was held at Beitostølen
, Norway
, on 20 November 2005, and Germany
's team of Andreas Schlütter
, Axel Teichmann
, Jens Filbrich
and Tobias Angerer
won the competition. The defending World Champions were Norway, with a team of Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset
, Frode Estil
, Lars Berger
and Tore Ruud Hofstad
. The Norwegians were also the defending Olympic champion, with Anders Aukland
, Estil, Kristen Skjeldal
and Thomas Alsgaard
winning gold in Salt Lake
. At Nagano
in 1998, the Norwegians beat the Italians by less than one tenth of a second, and in 1994 at Lillehammer
the Italians beat the Norwegians by less than one tenth of a second. In the previous three Olympics, the winning team beat the silver medalists by a cumulative time of just under one tenth of a second. One further relay event was held before the Olympics, at Val di Fiemme
on 15 January 2006, which was won by an Italian team consisting of Giorgio Di Centa
, Valerio Checchi
, Pietro Piller Cottrer
and Cristian Zorzi
. Four teams finished within 2.6 seconds of the Italian winners.
Hosts Italy won this relay, their fifth straight medal in relays in the Winter Olympics. They were over 15 seconds ahead of any competitors. Sweden took bronze, their first medal since 1988
, and Norway failed to win a medal for the first time since 1988.
declared all four members permanently ineligible for doping-related violations. This had a minimal effect on the final standings, as the Austrian team had been lapped during the race, ending up last overall.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, was held on 19 February at Pragelato
Pragelato
Pragelato is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km west of Turin, in the upper Val Chisone. The name Pragelato, meaning ‘icy meadow’, has been derived from the harsh climate and the fact that the ground is covered with ice for long periods...
.
A World Cup event in the relay was held at Beitostølen
Beitostølen
Beitostølen is a village in Øystre Slidre, Norway. As of 1 January 2009, it had 247 residents, and is located above mean sea level. It is largely a tourist area, with many cabins and hotels serving various winter sports facilities. The village has hosted FIS Cross-Country World Cup and Biathlon...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, on 20 November 2005, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's team of Andreas Schlütter
Andreas Schlütter
Andreas Schlütter is a German cross-country skier who has been competing since 1993. He won 2 medals in the 4 × 10 km relay at the Winter Olympics with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2002...
, Axel Teichmann
Axel Teichmann
Axel Teichmann is a German cross-country skier.- Background :...
, Jens Filbrich
Jens Filbrich
Jens Filbrich is a German cross-country skier who has been competing since 1998. He won two medals in the 4 x 10 km relay at the Winter Olympics with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2002...
and Tobias Angerer
Tobias Angerer
Tobias Angerer is a German cross country skier, and skies with the SC Vachendorf club. He graduated from the Skigymnasium Berchtesgaden in 1996. His occupation is "Sports Soldier"...
won the competition. The defending World Champions were Norway, with a team of Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset
Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset
Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed since 1993.A classical technique specialist, Hjelmeset's biggest success is the gold medal in the 50 km event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo...
, Frode Estil
Frode Estil
Frode Estil is a retired Norwegian cross-country skier. He currently lives in Meråker with his wife Grete whom he married in the summer of 2001. They have two sons, Bernhard, born in August 2002, and Konrad. Estil was classical specialist and also a specialist at succeeding in World Championships...
, Lars Berger
Lars Berger
Lars Berger is a Norwegian biathlete and cross-country skier. Fellow biathlete Tora Berger is his sister. Berger's family moved to Lesja, Oppland, in 1985. At the age of six, Berger started cross-country skiing, but during his teens he decided to try out the biathlon.Berger joined the national...
and Tore Ruud Hofstad
Tore Ruud Hofstad
Tore Ruud Hofstad is a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed from 1998 to 2010. A freestyle specialist, Hofstad is best noted as a member of the Norwegian relay team during three successful FIS Nordic World Ski Championship campaigns...
. The Norwegians were also the defending Olympic champion, with Anders Aukland
Anders Aukland
Anders Aukland is a professional Norwegian cross-country skier who has won both Olympic and World Championship gold medals. He lives in Oslo....
, Estil, Kristen Skjeldal
Kristen Skjeldal
Kristen Skjeldal is an Olympic champion and cross country skier from Norway. He has won three olympic medals: two gold and one bronze. He won his first gold medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville...
and Thomas Alsgaard
Thomas Alsgaard
Thomas Alsgaard is a retired Norwegian cross-country skier. Alsgaard is regarded by many as the best performer of the skate-style in cross-country skiing and many of today's best skiers have studied his technique...
winning gold in Salt Lake
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. At Nagano
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in 1998, the Norwegians beat the Italians by less than one tenth of a second, and in 1994 at Lillehammer
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
the Italians beat the Norwegians by less than one tenth of a second. In the previous three Olympics, the winning team beat the silver medalists by a cumulative time of just under one tenth of a second. One further relay event was held before the Olympics, at Val di Fiemme
Val di Fiemme
thumb|300px|Location of the Fiemme Valley in [[Trentino]].thumb|300px|The [[Lagorai]] seen from [[Passo Lusia]].Fiemme Valley is a valley in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region in northern Italy located in the Dolomites mountain region....
on 15 January 2006, which was won by an Italian team consisting of Giorgio Di Centa
Giorgio Di Centa
Giorgio Di Centa is an Italian cross country skier who won two gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, including the individual 50 km freestyle race...
, Valerio Checchi
Valerio Checchi
Valerio Checchi is an Italian cross country skier who has competed since 1999. He has two World Cup victories with one in 2006 and another in 2008....
, Pietro Piller Cottrer
Pietro Piller Cottrer
Pietro Piller Cottrer is an Italian cross-country skier who won gold medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He was born at Sappada, province of Belluno....
and Cristian Zorzi
Cristian Zorzi
Cristian Zorzi is an Italian cross country skier who excels at sprint ski races. He is nicknamed Zorro, for his exuberant character....
. Four teams finished within 2.6 seconds of the Italian winners.
Hosts Italy won this relay, their fifth straight medal in relays in the Winter Olympics. They were over 15 seconds ahead of any competitors. Sweden took bronze, their first medal since 1988
Cross-country skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympic Games cross-country skiing results was contested at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.-15 km classical:19 February 1988-30 km classical:15 February 1988-50 km freestyle:17 February 1988-4 x 10 km relay:...
, and Norway failed to win a medal for the first time since 1988.
Results
Each team used four skiers, with each completing racing over the same 10 kilometre circuit. The first two raced in the classical style, and the final pair of skiers raced freestyle. The Austrian team was disqualified after the IOCInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
declared all four members permanently ineligible for doping-related violations. This had a minimal effect on the final standings, as the Austrian team had been lapped during the race, ending up last overall.
| Rank | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
 |
Fulvio Valbusa Fulvio Valbusa Fulvio Valbusa is an Italian cross country skier who competed from 1992 to 2006. He won two medals in the 4 x 10 km relay at the Winter Olympics with a gold in 2006 and a silver in 1998... Giorgio Di Centa Giorgio Di Centa Giorgio Di Centa is an Italian cross country skier who won two gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, including the individual 50 km freestyle race... Pietro Piller Cottrer Pietro Piller Cottrer Pietro Piller Cottrer is an Italian cross-country skier who won gold medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He was born at Sappada, province of Belluno.... Cristian Zorzi Cristian Zorzi Cristian Zorzi is an Italian cross country skier who excels at sprint ski races. He is nicknamed Zorro, for his exuberant character.... |
1:43:45.7 |
 |
Andreas Schlütter Andreas Schlütter Andreas Schlütter is a German cross-country skier who has been competing since 1993. He won 2 medals in the 4 × 10 km relay at the Winter Olympics with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2002... Jens Filbrich Jens Filbrich Jens Filbrich is a German cross-country skier who has been competing since 1998. He won two medals in the 4 x 10 km relay at the Winter Olympics with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2002... René Sommerfeldt René Sommerfeldt René Sommerfeldt is a German cross-country skier who competed from 1994 to 2010. He won 2 medals in the 4 x 10 km relays at the Winter Olympics with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2002... Tobias Angerer Tobias Angerer Tobias Angerer is a German cross country skier, and skies with the SC Vachendorf club. He graduated from the Skigymnasium Berchtesgaden in 1996. His occupation is "Sports Soldier"... |
1:44:01.4 |
 |
Mats Larsson Mats Larsson Mats Larsson is a Swedish cross country skier who raced since 1999. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and also finished 20th in the 15 km event at those same Olympics.Larsson won a silver medal in the Individual sprint event at the 2007 FIS Nordic... Johan Olsson Anders Södergren Anders Södergren Hans Anders Södergren is a Swedish cross-country skier who has competed since 1999. He earned a bronze medal in the 4x10 km relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and also finished 5th in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit event at those same Olympics... Mathias Fredriksson Mathias Fredriksson Mathias Fredriksson is a Swedish cross country skier who has competed since 1993. He earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 km at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin... |
1:44:01.7 |
| 4 | Christophe Perrillat Christophe Perrillat Christophe Perrillat is a French cross country skier who has competed since 1998. His lone World Cup victory was in a 4 x 10 km event in France in 2004 while Perrillat's best individual finish was eighth in a 15 km + 15 km double pursuit event at Whistler Olympic Park in January 2009.Competing in... Alexandre Rousselet Alexandre Rousselet Alexandre Rousselet is a French cross country skier who has competed since 1998. His best individual finish at the Winter Olympics was 19th in the 15 km event at Turin in 2006.... Emmanuel Jonnier Emmanuel Jonnier Emmanuel Jonnier is a French cross country skier who has been competing since 1998. His best finish at the Winter Olympics was fourth in the 50 km event at the 2006 games in Turin.... Vincent Vittoz Vincent Vittoz Vincent Vittoz is a French cross-country skier. He grew up in the town of La Clusaz in the Northern French Alps and has been competing since 1982... |
1:44:22.8 |
| 5 | Jens Arne Svartedal Jens Arne Svartedal Jens Arne Svartedal is a Norwegian cross country skier who has competed since 1996. He represents Trøsken IL from Sarpsborg in Norway. His greatest achievement is winning the individual sprint gold medal at the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo... Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed since 1993.A classical technique specialist, Hjelmeset's biggest success is the gold medal in the 50 km event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo... Frode Estil Frode Estil Frode Estil is a retired Norwegian cross-country skier. He currently lives in Meråker with his wife Grete whom he married in the summer of 2001. They have two sons, Bernhard, born in August 2002, and Konrad. Estil was classical specialist and also a specialist at succeeding in World Championships... Tore Ruud Hofstad Tore Ruud Hofstad Tore Ruud Hofstad is a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed from 1998 to 2010. A freestyle specialist, Hofstad is best noted as a member of the Norwegian relay team during three successful FIS Nordic World Ski Championship campaigns... |
1:44:56.3 |
| 6 | Sergei Novikov Sergei Novikov (cross-country skier) Sergei Vladimirovich Novikov is a Russian cross country skier who has competed since 1999. His lone World Cup victory was in a 4 x 10 km event in Switzerland in 2007 while Novikov's best individual finish was third in a 15 km event in Estonia the previous year.Competing in three Winter Olympics,... Vassili Rotchev Ivan Alypov Ivan Alypov Ivan Vladimirovich Alypov is a Russian cross-country skier who has competed since 2002. He won the bronze medal in the Team Sprint event at the 2006 Winter Olympics at Turin.... Yevgeny Dementyev |
1:45:09.9 |
| 7 | Reto Burgermeister Reto Burgermeister Reto Burgermeister is a Swiss cross country skier who has competed since 1994. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he finished sixth in the 4 x 10 km relay at Nagano in 1998 overall and ninth in the 15 km at Salt Lake City in 2002.... Christian Stebler Toni Livers Toni Livers Toni Livers is a Swiss cross country skier who has competed since 2000. His best individual finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was ninth in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit at Sapporo in 2007.... Remo Fischer Remo Fischer Remo Fischer is a Swiss cross country skier who has competed since 2000. He competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, finishing 21st in the 50 km and 36th in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit events.... |
1:45:10.9 |
| 8 | Aivar Rehemaa Aivar Rehemaa Aivar Rehemaa is an Estonian cross-country skier. He competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He represents Estonia at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver... Andrus Veerpalu Andrus Veerpalu Andrus Veerpalu is a former and so far the most successful Estonian male cross country skier.On 17 February 2006 he won his second Winter Olympics gold medal , becoming the fourth Estonian to have won two Olympic gold medals Andrus Veerpalu (born 8 February 1971 in Pärnu) is a former and so far... Jaak Mae Jaak Mae Jaak Mae is an Estonian cross-country skier who has competed since 1994. He won a bronze in the 15km event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.... Kaspar Kokk Kaspar Kokk Kaspar Kokk is an Estonian cross-country skier. He competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He represents Estonia at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Kokk's best finish was 14th in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 2010 Games.His best finish was the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was... |
1:45:23.8 |
| 9 | Martin Koukal Martin Koukal Martin Koukal is a Czech cross country skier and mountaineer who has been competing since 1996. He won two medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with gold in 50 km and a bronze in the team sprint... Lukáš Bauer Lukáš Bauer Lukáš Bauer is a Czech cross country skier who has competed since 1996.On February 17, 2006, he won the Winter Olympics silver medal for the 15 km cross-country classical.... Jiří Magál Jirí Magál Jiří Magál is a Czech cross-country skier. Magál has appeared in four Winter Olympics and at every World Championship since 1999.-Olympic Games:* 1998 - 30 km classic, 22nd* 1998 - 50 km freestyle, 47th* 2002 - 30 km freestyle, 42rd... Dušan Kožíšek Dusan Kozisek Dušan Kožíšek is a Czech cross country skier who has been competing since 2002. He won a bronze medal in the team sprint at the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf and finished 38th in the individual sprint in those same games... |
1:46:03.3 |
| 10 | Sami Jauhojärvi Sami Jauhojärvi Sami Jauhojärvi is a Finnish cross country skier who has been competing since 2000. His best finish at the Winter Olympics was fifth in the 4 x 10 km relay at Vancouver in 2010.... Tero Similae Olli Ohtonen Teemu Kattilakoski Teemu Kattilakoski Teemu Kattilakoski is a Finnish cross country skier who has been competing since 1996. His best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was sixth in the 4 x 10 km event in 2007 while his best individual finish was eighth in the 50 km event in 2003.Kattilakoski's best individual finish at... |
1:46:36.1 |
| 11 | Devon Kershaw Devon Kershaw Devon Kershaw is a Canadian cross country skier who has been competing since 2000. Growing up in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, he split his time between several sports before choosing to focus on his skiing career.-Early life and career:... Sean Crooks Sean Crooks Sean Crooks is a Canadian cross-country skier.Crooks made his World Cup debut in 2005, placing 28th in his first World Cup start in Vernon, BC. Later that season he teamed with Phil Widmer to finish 13th in team sprint at Canmore. His best individual performances came in 2007, when he placed 13th... Chris Jeffries Chris Jeffries Chris Jeffries is a Canadian cross-country skier.Jeffries made his World Cup debut in 2001, with his best finish coming in 2004, when he teamed with George Grey to finish 9th in team sprint at Lahti... George Grey George Grey (skier) George Grey is a Canadian cross-country skier.Grey made his World Cup debut in 2001, with his best finish coming in early 2009, when he teamed with Alex Harvey to win a bronze medal in the team sprint. His best individual performance thus far is 16th place, which he achieved at Canmore in 2005 and... |
1:48:15.9 |
| 12 | Kris Freeman Kris Freeman Kris Freeman is one of the United States's most elite cross-country skiers. Born October 14, 1980 in Concord, New Hampshire, he is a member of the U.S. Ski Team, along with his older brother Justin Freeman.... Lars Flora Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson (skier) Andrew Johnson is a cross-country skier from the United States. He was born and raised in Greensboro, Vermont, and is a member of the U.S. 2006 Olympic Cross-Country Ski Team. He has been a Junior National Champ, an Overall "Supertour Champ," and a 3-Time All American... Carl Swenson |
1:48:44.2 |
| 13 | Andrey Golovko Andrey Golovko Andrey Golovko is a Kazakhstani cross-country skier. He competed at the Winter Olympics in 2002 in Salt Lake City, and in Turin in 2006, placing 29th in the 30 km and 29th in the 50 km.-References:... Dmitrij Eremenko Maxim Odnodvortsev Yevgeniy Koschevoy |
1:49:03.6 |
| 14 | Roman Leybyuk Roman Leybyuk Roman Leybyuk is a Ukrainian cross-country skier who has competed since 1998. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of 11th in the 10 km + 10 km combined pursuit at Salt Lake City in 2002.... Vladimir Olschanski Olexandr Putsko Olexandr Putsko Olexandr Putsko is a Ukrainian cross-country skier who has competed since 2000. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of 52nd twice, both in the 30 km mixed pursuit events .... Mikhail Gumenyak |
1:50:01.9 |
| 15 | Xia Wan Li Geilang Zhang Chengye Zhang Qing |
1:50:40.5 |
| DQ | Martin Tauber Juergen Pinter Roland Diethart Johannes Eder Johannes Eder Johannes Eder is an Austrian cross country skier who has been competing since 1998. His best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was 4th in the 15 km event at Sapporo in 2007.... |
DQ |