Well, I was going to say, "what can be said about today..." but then I realized that whatever can be said will be said here at Team Today... "bombed out and depleted" might be a good place to start because "rough" doesn't begin to describe it. 

The System Strikes Again.  Germany made a choice about 10 years ago - do we have a cross-country ski team and make it the best in the world, or do we toss XC on the scrap heap.  The answer - develop a system and win.

Canada too... I remember when Sara Renner was placing no better than the top 50.  But the Canadian team stuck with a group of women, saw some quit and some rise from the 50's, to a few top 30's, to a few top 20's... to what you see today.  That too is a system.

Today's results are not indicitive of how we are going to ski in a few weeks once we get over jetlag and begin the resting process, but in general we are - the US ski community - at a place where a system must be put in place or else.  We have the talent, we have the resources, we can do it, but do we have the will?

(Vordenberg Images... sorry for no women's shots - I was testing wax and waxing during the women's race.  I really do apologize for not being able to post some Beckie shots.  Go Beckie!)