Schumacher, Ogden Make History: First U.S. Men’s Team Sprint World Cup Podium
"Doing it with Gus, my boy from day one, was pretty fun," Ben Ogden.
In the first of three races in Goms, Switzerland, Stifel U.S. Ski Team's Gus Schumacher and Ben Ogden teamed up in the team sprint and ultimately brought home the first U.S. men’s team sprint World Cup podium, with a third-place result. Julia Kern and Sammy Smith were fifth, JC Schoonmaker and Zanden McMullen 11th and Lauren Jortberg and Kendall Kramer 15th.
A day after the U.S. Cross Country Olympic Team was named, it was all hands on deck for the athletes as they entered their final weekend of racing before the Olympic Winter Games kick off Feb. 7. In the team sprint format, athletes were paired into teams of two. To qualify for the heats, both team members had to be in the top 30. All American athletes achieved that. The teams, which consisted of two men’s teams and two women’s teams, were led by Team USA 1: Schumacher/Ogden and Kern/Smith and then Team USA 2: McMullen/Schoonmaker and Kramer/Jortberg.
In the heats, leg one races the sprint course, then physically tags their teammate for their turn to take a lap. The team skis six laps total of the hilly, high-elevation course. Whoever crossed the finish line first was crowned the winner.
In the qualifications, Ogden and Schumacher qualified third, setting them up nicely for the heats. Ogden was the “scramble” leg, going off the line first. Throughout the race, Ogden and Schumacher were safe in the top five, holding their strong position each time around the course. Norway was at the front the entirety, with Einar Hedegart and Harald Oestberg Amundsen setting a blistering pace. However, Italy and the USA held their own, trading back and forth for the podium spot. On the final lap, it was all gas. Ogden tagged off to Schumacher for the final leg, and Schumacher battled with Italy’s Federico Pellegrino for second. Ultimately crossing the line in third, it was still a celebration, as the U.S. brought home its first-ever World Cup men’s team sprint podium. Norway was crowned the victor, with Italy in second place.
"It was really fun. This has been a long time coming," said Schumacher. "We felt like we were strong in this event for a long time, and I think that's true. It was great to have a result that backs that up. Nothing went wrong, we skied well, and it felt good to be a strong part of that, especially securing the position in the last lap. Doing it with Ben was sweet. To come to the finish line... Second slipped through my fingers and I kind of knew that was coming, but he was psyched and it was really fun to share that with him, and always fun to share a big result with a teammate."
"Crazy that today is the first team sprint podium for the men," said Ogden. "(Sport Director Chris) Grover thought it might be at the finish line and I couldn't believe it at first. But it's honestly a really thrilling statistic and I am super proud to be a part of the first ever. Doing it with Gus, my boy from day one, was pretty fun... A dream come true, really. Super fired up."
For the women, Kern and Smith put together a strong race and finished fifth, gaining valuable team sprint experience going into the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, as this race will be featured on the Olympic schedule. Germany took home the win, with Norway in second and third.
Sunday, the athletes will be back on the start line for the classic sprint. Qualifications kick off at 4:00 a.m. ET and heats at 6:30 a.m. ET. Watch live on skiandsnowboard.live.
