The Women's 4 x 5 kilometre relay cross-country skiing

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 18 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...

.

Vibeke Skofterud

Vibeke Skofterud

Vibeke Westbye Skofterud is a Norwegian cross country skier who has been competing since 1999. She won gold in the 4 x 5 km relay at Vancouver in 2010...

, Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen

Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen

Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen is a Norwegian cross-country skier. Her first Olympic medal was a silver 4 × 5 km at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, she took the bronze medal in the 10 km classical interval start event...

, Kristin Størmer Steira

Kristin Størmer Steira

Kristin Størmer Steira is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed since 2002. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, she has seven medals with two gold , two silvers , and three bronzes Kristin Størmer Steira (born April 30, 1981) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed...

 and Marit Bjørgen

Marit Bjørgen

Marit Bjørgen is a Norwegian cross country skier and triple olympic champion from Midtre Gauldal, Norway. Bjørgen is the most successful sprinter in Cross-Country World Cup history, with twenty-four victories. She is ranked first in the all-time Cross-Country World Cup rankings with forty-eight...

 of Norway were the defending World Champions, but finished third at a pre-Olympic World Cup event in Val di Fiemme, where a team representing Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 won. 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...

 were defending Olympic champions, with Claudia Künzel

Claudia Künzel

Claudia Nystad is a German top-level woman cross country skier. She represents the sports club WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal...

, Manuela Henkel

Manuela Henkel

Manuela Henkel is a German cross-country skier who has competed since 1994. She won a gold medal in the 4 x 5 km at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Her best individual finish was 12th in the Individual sprint at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin...

, Viola Bauer

Viola Bauer

Viola Bauer is a retired German cross-country skier who competed from 1995 to 2007...

 and Evi Sachenbacher.

Results

Each team used four skiers, with each completing racing over the same 5 kilometre circuit. The first two raced in the classical style, and the final pair of skiers raced freestyle.

Rank	Team	Time
	Natalia Baranova-Masolkina Natalia Baranova-Masolkina Natalia Baranova-Masalkina is a former Russian cross-country skier who has competed from 1994 to 2006. She won a gold medal in the 4 x 5 km at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.... Larisa Kurkina Larisa Kurkina Larisa Kurkina is a Russian cross-country skier who has competed since 2002. She won a gold medal in the 4 x 5 km at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.... Julija Tchepalova Julija Tchepalova Yuliya Chepalova is a Russian cross-country skier.-Early and current personal life:Daughter of a cross-country skiing coach, Chepalova started to ski as soon as she began to walk... Evgenia Medvedeva-Abruzova Evgenia Medvedeva-Abruzova Yevgeniya Vladimirovna Medvedeva is a Russian cross-country skier who has competed since 1996. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she won two medals at Turin in 2006 with a gold in the 4 x 5 km and a bronze in the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit....	54:47.7
	Stefanie Boehler Viola Bauer Viola Bauer Viola Bauer is a retired German cross-country skier who competed from 1995 to 2007... Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle is a German cross country skier from Reit im Winkl who has competed since 1998... Claudia Kuenzel	54:57.7
	Arianna Follis Arianna Follis Arianna Follis is an Italian cross country skier who started competing in 1995. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km at Turin in 2006.... Gabriella Paruzzi Gabriella Paruzzi Gabriella Paruzzi is a retired Italian cross-country skier who competed from 1991 to 2006 and formerly skied with the C.S. Forestale club. She skied in World Cup events, and won the Women's Overall World Cup in 2004.... Antonella Confortola Antonella Confortola Antonella Confortola is an Italian cross-country skier who has competed since 1994. She earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin... Sabina Valbusa Sabina Valbusa Sabina Valbusa is an Italian cross-country skier who competed from 1993 to 2010. Competing in five Winter Olympics, she earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin...	54:58.7
4	Anna Dahlberg Anna Dahlberg Anna Olsson is a Swedish cross-country skier who competed from 1996 to 2010. Competing in three Winter Olympics, she won a gold medal in the team sprint at Turin in 2006.Olsson also won a silver medal in the team sprint event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec... Elin Ek Britta Norgren Britta Norgren Britta Johanna Helena Johansson Norgren is a Swedish cross country skier who has been competed since 2002. She won a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec... Anna-Karin Strömstedt	55:00.3
5	Kristin Størmer Steira Kristin Størmer Steira Kristin Størmer Steira is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed since 2002. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, she has seven medals with two gold , two silvers , and three bronzes Kristin Størmer Steira (born April 30, 1981) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who has competed... Hilde G. Pedersen Kristin Murer Stemland Kristin Mürer Stemland Kristin Mürer Stemland is a Norwegian cross country skier.Born in Trondheim, her club is Byåsen IL.At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Stemland finished 5th in women's 4 x 5 km relay with the Norwegian team. She participated at the 2007-08 Cross-country Skiing World Cup, and won one of the... Marit Bjørgen Marit Bjørgen Marit Bjørgen is a Norwegian cross country skier and triple olympic champion from Midtre Gauldal, Norway. Bjørgen is the most successful sprinter in Cross-Country World Cup history, with twenty-four victories. She is ranked first in the all-time Cross-Country World Cup rankings with forty-eight...	55:21.8
6	Helena Balatkova Erbenova Kamila Rajdlova Kamila Rajdlová Kamila Rajdlová is a Czech cross country skier who has competed since 1996. Her best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was sixth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Oberstdorf in 2005 while her best individual finish was 11th in the 30 km event at Sapporo in 2007.Rajdlová's best finish at the... Ivana Janečková Ivana Janecková Ivana Janečková is a Czech cross country skier who has competed since 2002. Her best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was fifth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Sapporo in 2007 while her best individual finish was 21st in the 30 km event at those same championships.Janečková's best... Kateřina Neumannová Katerina Neumannová Kateřina Neumannová is a retired Czech cross country skier. She was a flatwater canoeist and downhill skier before moving to cross country skiing at sixteen...	55:46.3
7	Aino-Kaisa Saarinen Virpi Kuitunen Virpi Kuitunen Virpi Katriina Sarasvuo is a Finnish cross country skier who competed from 1995 to 2010. She won a bronze medal in the team sprint event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and earned her best individual finish of fifth in the individual sprint event in those same games... Riitta Liisa Lassila Kati Venalainen	55:55.8
8	Kateryna Grygorenko Kateryna Grygorenko Kateryna Gygorenko is a Ukrainian cross country skier who has competed since 2004. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of eighth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Turin in 2006 and earned her best individual finish of 27th in the 30 km event at Vancouver four years... Tatjana Zavalij Tatjana Zavalij Tatjana Zavalij is a Ukrainian cross country skier who has competed since 2000. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of eighth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Turin in 2006 and earned her best individual finish of 22nd in the 30 km event at Vancouver four years... Vita Jakimchuk Vita Jakimchuk Vita Jakimchuk is a Ukrainian cross-country skier who has competed since 1998. Competing in three Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of eighth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Turin in 2006 and had her best individual finish of 22nd in the 30 km event at those same games.Jakimchuk's... Valentina Shevchenko Valentina Shevchenko Valentina Shevchenko is a Ukrainian cross country skier who has been competing since 1994. She won the bronze medal in the 30 km event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec....	56:36.3
9	Aurelie Perrillat Karine Philippot Cecile Storti Cécile Storti Cécile Storti is a French cross-country skier who has competed since 2000. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of sixth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Vancouver in 2010.... Emilie Vina Émilie Vina Émilie Vina is a French cross-country skier who has competed since 2000. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of ninth in the 4 x 5 km relay at Turin in 2006 and had her best individual finish of 47th in the indiivdual sprint event at those same games.Vina's best finish at...	56:41.4
10	Milaine Theriault Milaine Thériault Milaine Thériault is a Canadian skier.In February, 2004 Thériault won her second consecutive women's five km free technique at the Haywood NorAm Canada Cup competition in Kelowna, British Columbia... Sara Renner Sara Renner Sara Renner is a Canadian cross-country skier who competed from 1994 to 2010. With Beckie Scott, she won the silver medal in the team sprint event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and earned her best individual finish of 8th in the 10 km classical event in those same games... Amanda Ammar Amanda Ammar Amanda Ammar is a Canadian cross-country skier.Ammar made her World Cup debut in 2005. Her best finish to date came in that year, when she teamed with Perianne Jones to finish 17th in the team sprint in Canmore... Beckie Scott Beckie Scott Rebecca "Beckie" Scott, MSM is a retired Canadian cross-country skiing athlete and as of February 23, 2006, an International Olympic Committee member by virtue of being elected to the IOC Athlete's Commission along with Saku Koivu....	56:49.8
11	Seraina Mischol Seraina Mischol Seraina Mischol is a Swiss skier competing in cross country skiing.-External links:*... Laurence Rochat Laurence Rochat Laurence Rochat is a Swiss cross-country skier who has competed since 1996. She won a bronze medal in the 4 x 5km relay at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and had her best individual finish with a 15th place in the Individual sprint at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.Rochat's best... Natascia Leonardi Cortesi Natascia Leonardi Cortesi Natascia Leonardi Cortest is a Swiss cross-country skier and Ski mountaineering who has competed since 1988 in the World Cup circuit. She won a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km relay at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and had her best individual finish with a 10th place in the 30 km... Seraina Boner	56:52.4
12	Nokubo Fukuda Masako Ishida Masako Ishida is a Japanese cross country skier who has competed since 1998. Her best World Cup finish was third in the 30 km event in Norway in 2009.... Sumiko Yokoyama Sumiko Yokoyama is a Japanese cross country skier who competed from 1993 to 2008. Her best World Cup finish was fifth in a 4 x 5 km relay in Switzerland in 2003.... Madoka Natsumi Madoka Natsumi Madoka Natsumi is a Japanese cross country skier who has competed since 1995. She earned the best individual finish of the host nation Japan at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo with a fifth place finish in the women's sprint event which was also her best individual finish at...	56:57.8
13	Oxana Jatskaja Oxana Jatskaja Oxana Yatskaya is a Kazakhstani cross country skier who has been competing since 1995. She finish fifth in the team sprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo and earned her best individual finish of eighth in the 30 km event at the 2005 championships in... Yevgeniya Voloshenko Elena Kolomina Elena Kolomina Elena Kolomina is a Kazakhstani cross country skier who has been competing since 1998. She finished fifth in the team sprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo and had her best individual finish of 21st in the sprint event at the 2001 championships in Lahti.Kolomina's best... Svetlana Malahova-Shishkina Svetlana Malahova-Shishkina Svetlana Malahova-Shishkina is a Kazakhstani cross country skier who has competed since 1995. Her best World Cup finish was third in a 10 km event in China in 2007....	57:52.9
14	Wendy Kay Wagner Kikkan Randall Kikkan Randall Kikkan Randall is an American cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska. She is the niece of former cross-country skiing Olympians Betsy Haines and her brother, Chris Haines... Sarah Konrad Rebecca Dussault	57:58.4
15	Alena Sannikova Alena Sannikova Alena Sannikova is a Belarusian cross country skier who has competed since 1998. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of 11th in the 4 x 5 km relay at Vancouver in 2010 while earning her best individual finish of 29th in the 10 km event at Turin in 2006.Sannikova's best... Ludmila Korolik Shablouskaya Ekaterina Rudakova Bulauka Olga Vasiljonok Olga Vasiljonok Olga Vasiljonok is a Belarusian cross country skier who has been competing since 2000. She finished sixth in the team sprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2007 in Sapporo and earned her best individual finish of 17th in the individual sprint event at the 2009 championships in...	58:19.5
16	Wang Chunli Wang Chunli Wang Chunli is a Chinese biathlete and cross-country skier. She competed for China at the 2006 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing. She also competed in the biathlon for China at the 2010 Winter Olympics.-References:... Li Hongxue Li Hongxue Li Hongxue is a Chinese cross country skier who has competed since 2003. Participating in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of 16th in the 4 x 5 km relay at Turin in 2006... Liu Yuanyuan Liu Yuanyuan Liu Yuanyuan is a Chinese female biathlete who competed China at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. - References :... Song Bo	58:42.5
17	Piret Pormeister Silja Suija Kaili Sirge Tatjana Mannima Tatjana Mannima Tatjana Mannima is an Estonian cross-country skier who has competed since 2000. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she earned her best finish of 17th in the 4 x 5 km at Turin at 2006 while her best individual finish was 41st both in the individual sprint and 30 km events at those same...	60:24.4