After 10 days and 8 stages of racing the 2007-2008 Viessmann Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear is over.

Charlotte Kalla (SWE) won the Tour in spectacular fashion on the last stage today. The 20 year old Swede caught Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) a third of the way up the Alpes Cermis Final Climb, then made a decisive break with one kilometre to go. Arianna Follis (ITA) took third place, just ahead of Valentina Shevchenko (UKR) who skied the fastest women's time of the time to move up from 10th place to 4th.

Charlotte Kalla of Sweden celebrates on the podium after winning the women's World Cup cross-country 9 km free final climb Pursuit 'Handicap' start, stage eight of the Tour de Ski, in Val di Fiemme January 6, 2008. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (ITALY)

Lukas Bauer (CZE) was never in doubt on his way to cross the line first on the Final Climb of the 2007-2008 Tour de Ski. The 30 year old extended his lead over second place by nearly another minute on the 10km stage up Alpes Cermis. Rene Sommerfeldt (GER) took second place in a dramatic finish with Georgia Di Centa (ITA), skiing the fastest time of the day to take the Italian right on the finish line.

Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic shows his trophy after winning the men's 10-kilometer freestyle pursuit, with the final 3.65-kilometers uphill on a slope that is normally used for downhill skiing, which concluded the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski included eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The Tour de Ski is over. The FIS World Cup continues in two weeks with four World Cup events in Canmore in Canada beginning on January 22

Hjelmeset Wins Stage; Bauer Extends Overall
Stage 7 Summary - Men

Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (NOR) won the Stage 7 mass start 20km in Val di Fiemme in a photo finish from his team-mate Jens Arne Svartedal (NOR). However the strongest skier on the day was undoubtedly race leader Lukas Bauer (CZE), who won three of the intermediate sprints and dictated the pace for much of the race. Reportedly skiing on a pair of “micro-skis” without grip wax, Bauer extended his overall lead to 1:50 ahead of Tord Asle Gjerdalen (NOR) and 2:23 ahead of Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA).

Norway's Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset, right, crosses the finish line ahead of his teammate Jens Arne Svartedal to win the 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) classical race in the penultimate stage of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski includes eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bonus seconds were awarded at the end of each of the six laps of 3.3km in classic technique. Roenning (NOR) and Svartedal won the first two intermediate sprints, but then Bauer decided it was time for him to take charge. He broke away from the main pack with 2-3 skiers before each of the next three sprints, and took the maximum 15 second bonus with powerful double poling. On the final lap Bauer was also looking good for the final victory however a couple of small errors cost him any chance of the stage win and he crossed the finish line in 7th place. Goering (GER) won the finish sprint for third place in the stage ahead of Gjerdalen and Teichmann (GER).

There were no changes in the first two places in the sprint standing today, with Northug and Hetland gaining no seconds and remaining equal on top. However Di Centa picked up 30 seconds today to finish in third place.

Tour de Ski leader Lukas Bauer, of the Czech Republic is on his way to place seventh in the 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) classical race during the penultimate stage of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski includes eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bauer's form on the Final Climb up Alpes Cermis is untested however if his form over the last week is anything to go by he should have no trouble defending his lead. The battle for second place on the other hand is far from over. Gjerdalen has 33 seconds over Piller Cottrer, and then there are another four skiers in the next 40 seconds. The 2006-2007 Tour de Ski showed that a lot of time can be gained by someone with fresh legs on the Final Climb. Svartedal is now in 4th place overall after picking up 25 bonus seconds today, however the Norwegian has alwaya been stronger in classic and is probably not going to be the one making a big move tomorrow. The Italians could be the movers and shakers on the final stage, as they are stronger in freestyle and will also have home crowd support. Di Centa moved up to 6th place today with his bonus 30 seconds from the individual sprints, and boasted the third quickest time up Alpes Cermis last year. And then there are the Germans. Sommerfeldt, Teichmann and Goering will start 13 seconds apart just over three and half minutes behind Bauer. Their form has been slowly improving this Tour - can they pull out something special for the last stage?

Race Summary
Reporting from the TV chair is difficult when the live coverage begins 20 minutes into the race. The commentators reported that Roenning won the first sprint ahead of Hjelmeset and Di Centa (ITA), and that Svartedal won the second sprint ahead of Hjelmeset and Dementiev (RUS). In the middle of the third lap a main pack of around 30 skiers was being lead by Goering, and snow continued to fall heavily similar to the women's race. Bauer went up to the lead, and then with a big effort created a gap off the front of the pack. Gjerdalen, Di Centa and Goering took up the chase, with Oestensen (NOR) and Piller Cottrer also following. Gjerdalen bridged the gap and made it onto the back of Bauer as they hit the stadium, but was content to sit behind and take the 10 second bonus for second place; Di Centa took the 5 seconds for third. The tempo dropped considerably immediately afterwards and the big pack reformed.

A view of the start of the 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) classical race during the penultimate stage of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski includes eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The next time around Bauer broke off the front driving a train of Di Centa and Dementiev, and Hetland (NOR) worked hard to make contact just as they hit the stadium. The Norwegian seemed to be contemplating changing tracks and trying to get some bonus seconds, but then changed his mind and let the first three take the points unchallenged. Perhaps it was too hard to overtake in the un-skied track? Bauer seemed to have no problems moving up when he wanted to. The pack reformed again. Bauer was always at the front. He made a small break again as they got closer to the stadium, and Di Centa chased him down. The Italian tried to sprint past but Bauer changed tracks and checked him like Northug did in the sprint. Piller Cottrer joined them to make a trio entering the stadium, and Bauer's powerful double poling lead them across the line – 15 seconds bonus again to the Czech, 10 to Di Centa, 5 to Piller Cottrer.

This time there was a discussion about who will take the lead. Piller Cottrer asked politely if Bauer would like to lead, and Bauer politely declined. The Italians led casually out of the stadium while the rest of the pack caught up again. All the major players in the overall Tour standings were in contact. After a short rest Bauer resumed his place at the front, and Gjerdalen also came forward after a break for a couple of laps. As they hit the end of a climb there was suddenly four skiers wide in the tracks as Svartedal and Hjelmeset decided they wanted to be on the podium. It was almost sprint pace over the top of the hill, and only Bauer responded quickly enough to go with them and the three skiers had a gap. Gjerdalen led the next chasing group on the donwhill, and in the middle of it Hetland made a big face plant into the snow. Over the last rise towards the stadium Svartedal looked like he was sprinting again, then Bauer fought back and passed Hjelmeset and moved onto Svartedal's shoulder. Just as it looked like Bauer might be getting ready for his 5th stage win, he made a mistake. In a flash the two Norwegians were left to sprint it out for the win, while Bauer felt the breath of the rest of the pack on his neck.

Svartedal and Hjelmeset went neck and neck down the straight and they hit the line together. In a photo-finish Hjelmeset won by about 2cm. Goering seemed quite happy to take third place, Gjerdalen just missed out on more bonus seconds in 4th, then Teichmann, Dementiev, and Bauer in 7th. The first 28 skiers finished with 48 seconds, then there was a gap and the rest of the field finished in ones and twos all the way down to Jonas Thor Olsen(DAN) in 60th place. The Dane may be in last place, however he is going to acheive his goal of finishing this Tour.

Kuitunen Wins Stage; One Final Climb To Go
Stage 7 Summary - Women

Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) has seized the initiative in the Tour de Ski, winning the Stage 7 10km mass start in Val di Fiemme and extending her lead over Charlotte Kalla (SWE) to 39.7 seconds with one stage to go. Kuitunen won both intermediate sprints and took the maximum possible bonus seconds for the day, and while Kalla managed to take second place in the stage the Swede was unable to contest the two intermediate sprints. Claudia Nystad-Kuenzel (GER) took third place in the stage, while Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) had her worst stage of the Tour in 26th place and dropped from place three to five in the overall standings.

Defending champion Virpi Kuitunen, of Finland, leads the pack on her way to victory in the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) classical race in the penultimate stage of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski includes eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Kuitunen now has the sprint classification wrapped up and the overall victory in sight. But she still has to survive the Final Climb tomorrow, 9km in freestyle technique up Alpes Cermis. Kalla will start 40 seconds behind, and the young Swede has demonstrated her strongest form in freestyle in this Tour. Kalla was 45 seconds and 32 seconds quicker than Kuitunen in the two 10km Freestyle pursuit stages. Rotcheva (RUS) and Follis (ITA) will start 10 seconds apart about a minute and half behind Kuitunen, and about 45 seconds ahead of Kowalczyk. In the Final Climb last year Kuitunen was first over the line but had only the 31st fastest time and lost over two minutes to the fastest climber Neumannova (CZE). Even Follis was 1:30 faster than Kuitunen on the climb. Of course Kuitunen still won by over a minute so there was no need to dig really deep and push hard. With Kalla hunting behind there will be no such luxury for Kuitunen this time.

The second and third fastest up Alpes Cermis last year were Shevchenko (UKR) and Steira, both within 6 seconds of Neumannova's time. Shevchenko is currently in 10th, 3:19 behind Kuitunen, while Steira is 3:58 behind. Maybe they will move up the standings again this year but they wont catch Kuitunen.

Follis took second place in the sprint classification thanks to her win in Prague and her 4th place in Asiago. Muranen (FIN) moved up to third place after picking up 10 bonus seconds today.

Race Summary
Snow fell heavily throughout the race, which was held with three laps on a 3.3km loop. At the end of each lap there were 15, 10, and 5 bonus seconds available for the first three athletes. Right from the start Kuitunen was at the front of the pack, with Kowalczyk by her side in the first kilometre and Kalla and Saarinen also up the front (FIN) close by. The pack stretched out into single file on the downhill with Kuitunen and Saarinen at the front, and then suddenly Kalla fell! The Swede was up relatively quickly and still amongst the first 10 skiers, but meanwhile the two Finns had a small break on the field. Zeller (GER) and Johaug (NOR) took up the chase, and Zeller made it across to the two leaders just as they came into the stadium. Zeller went for the first intermediate sprint but the Finns were too strong – Kuitunen took 15 seconds, Saarinen 10, and Zeller 5

A view of the start of the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) classical race in the penultimate stage of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski includes eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The pace dropped and the pack came together again on the next hill, about 27 skiers in touch. Muranen came to the front, while Saarinen started to drop back. Was this the team tactics of the Finnish team? In the middle of the pack Kowalczyk looked to have problems. The Pole slipped and stumbled on a hill and didn't look fresh on her feet. As the end of the second lap approached the picture looked the same as the first, except it was Muranen together with Kuitunen at the front instead of Saarinen. Zeller and Johaug gave chase again, and Zeller took the 5 second bonus once again. The pack came together again after the intermediate sprint.

As they began to climb Kutinunen extended the front of the pack again, and Johaug had problems to follow at the back of the pack. Kalla came forward for the first time since her fall and made a move at the front. The Swede gained a few metres ahead of the pack before Kuitunen responded with a move of her own, overtaking and pulling away over the top of the hill just as Kalla slipped for a couple of strides. Kuitunen went out to a five second break, with Rotcheva (RUS) leading a chasing group of five including Sachenbacher (GER), Steira (NOR) and two Swedes Kalla and Hansson. Zeller and Nystad joined on the back as they headed for the stadium for the last time. Kalla picked up the pace trying to bring back Kuitunen, and Rotcheva followed on her tail. But Kuitunen had no intention of slowing down and hit the final straight with a winning lead. It was a six-way sprint for second place, and Kalla just held on ahead of Nystad, then Rotcheva, Zeller, Sachenbacher and Hansson. Follis in 10th place was only 13 seconds behind the winning time, however had picked up no bonus seconds and just held onto second place by 3 seconds ahead of Muranen. Kowalczyk looked very tired as she crossed the line 1:10 behind Kuitunen.

Bauer Unbreakable
Final Climb Summary - Men

Lukas Bauer (CZE) was never in doubt on his way to cross the line first on the Final Climb of the 2007-2008 Tour de Ski. The 30 year old extended his lead over second place by nearly another minute on the 10km stage up Alpes Cermis. Rene Sommerfeldt (GER) took second place in a dramatic finish with Georgia Di Centa (ITA), posting the fastest time of the day to catch and out-sprint the Italian in the last 100m

Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic reacts after winning the men's 10-kilometer freestyle pursuit, with the final 3.65-kilometers uphill on a slope that is normally used for downhill skiing, which concluded the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski included eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bauer won five out of eight stages of the Tour, conceding only the two Sprint stages and the mass start Stage 7 in which he scored the most bonus seconds.

If there were two things to be certain of in the final stage they were that Bauer would win and that there would be a big fight for second place. Gjerdalen (NOR)started the day in second place, 1:50 behind Bauer. Piller Cottrer (ITA) started 2:24 back in third place, while Di Centa was 2:58 behind in 6th place and Sommerfeldt 3:33 back in 9th place. After the first 2.5km around the stadium tracks in Val di Fiemme the gaps were fairly similar, with Bauer gaining 5-10 seconds on most of the top 10. It was then time for a 4km relatively flat ski down to the base of the Alpes Cermis. Gjerdalen lost some time on this section while Piller Cottrer gained 12 seconds on Bauer, and as they started the climb the Italian was only 10-15m behind the Norwegian.

Lukas Bauer of Czech Republic speeds on his way to win the 15 km classic race of the Tour de Ski cross-country skiing event in Nove Mesto na Morave, some 160 kms east of Prague, Czech Republic, on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/CTK, Igor Sefr)

Bauer began the climb steadily, and increased his lead on most of the chasers. Piller Cottrer looked like he was going to catch Gjerdalen, but never quite made contact. Further down the hill Di Centa moved up into 4th place, with Norwegians Hetland, Svartedal, and Northug on his tail. The next group contained Sommerfeldt, Czechs Koukal and Jaks, Dementiev (RUS), and Goering (GER), with Teichmann (GER) just off the back. The space between Gjerdalen and Piller Cottrer started to widen, while behind them Di Centa has left his Norwegian pack and was bridging the gap to third place. Gjerdalen and Piller Cottrer were feeling the heat and threw off their hats, and Gjerdalen started single skating. Di Centa kept the pace up and in quick succession caught and passed first Piller Cottrer and then Gjerdalen and went alone into second place on the hill. At the 8.2km time check Bauer's lead was 2:48, meaning that Di Centa had caught 15 seconds since the start of the climb. Piller Cottrer was looking very tired, and Sommerfeldt was up to 6th place on the hill, 3:16 behind Bauer.

Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic reacts after winning the men's 10-kilometer freestyle pursuit, with the final 3.65-kilometers uphill on a slope that is normally used for downhill skiing, which concluded the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski included eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The crowd started to bunch closer to the side of the track like a mountain climb in the Tour de France. Bauer showed no signs of fatigue and kept grinding away. With 1km to go his lead was 2:50 over Di Centa, who was 10 seconds ahead of Gjerdalen. There was no sign of Piller Cottrer. Sommerfeldt was skiing solo, and moved up to 4th place past Hetland. Bauer had time to kill, and paused to grab a Czech flag as he hit the lanes to the finish. He fell to the ground after the line, seeming to laugh with jubilation rather than pant in exhaustion like the first women had. Behind the finish the battle for second place could be seen unfolding down the slope. Sommerfeldt caught and passed Gjerdalen, but the man with the aviator glasses wasn't giving up. He dug deep and tried to hold on, but couldn't quite match the pace. 50m later Di Centa was suddenly within reach of Sommerfeldt., and the German went past as he had with Gjerdalen just as they hit the finish lanes. But Di Centa wasn't giving up. He stuck on the back of Sommerfeldt, and summoning all his strength pulled to the next lane and made a dash for the line. Sommerfeldt took second place by just one metre. Gjerdalen was 6 seconds off the podium in 4th place, and Hetland finished well to be 5th another 10 seconds back. Goering took 6th and a very tired Piller Cottrer 7th.

Kalla Storms To Victory in Tour de Ski
Final Climb Summary - Women

Charlotte Kalla (SWE) won the 2007-2008 Tour de Ski in spectacular fashion on the last stage today. The 20 year old Swede caught Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) a third of the way up the Alpes Cermis Final Climb, then made a decisive break with one kilometre to go. Arianna Follis (ITA) took third place, just ahead of Valentina Shevchenko (UKR) who skied the fastest women's time of the day to move up from 10th place to 4th.

Charlotte Kalla of Sweden skis on her way to win the women's World Cup cross-country 9 km free final climb Pursuit 'Handicap' start, stage eight of the Tour de Ski, in Val di Fiemme January 6, 2008. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (ITALY)

The final stage was held in pursuit style in freestyle technique, with the overall Tour leader starting first and all other competitors starting behind according to their time behind in the overall standings. After a short lap of the Val di Fiemme stadium tracks, the course meandered down the valley to the base of the Final Climb. Two and half kilometres and 425 vertical metres up the Alpes Cermis later the first athlete across the finish line would be the winner.

Kalla started conservatively, taking just a few seconds from Kuitunen's 40 second lead on the journey down to the base of the climb. Then Kalla could see Kuitunen up ahead of the climb and the pursuit really began. The gap closed steadily, and soon Kalla was on the tail of Kuitunen's skis. Kalla was then content to sit behind Kuitunen and to catch her breath for a while. Further down the hill Follis caught third placed Rotcheva, and behind them Shevhenko was out on a mission and steadily moving up through the field. Kuitunen at the front was single skating up the steep alpine run ahead of Kalla, and nearly all the top 10 skiers were closing on the leaders. Just before the 8.1km mark and 1km to the finish Kalla decided it was time to go. She accelerated quickly and Kuitunen had nothing to answer with. The gap increased rapidly just as the steepness of the slope relaxed a little, and Kalla was looking like a World Cup skier again instead of just a cross country skier slowly climbing an alpine run. Rotcheva and Follis passed the 8.1km timing point 30 seconds behind Kalla and 27 behind Kuitunen; Shevchenko in 5th place was 54 seconds behind.

Sweden's Charlotte Kalla reacts after winning the 9-kilometer freestyle pursuit, with the final 3.65-kilometers uphill on a slope that is normally used for downhill skiing, which concluded the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. The second edition of the Tour de Ski included eight races in 10 days with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Kalla kept her momentum going and the finish was soon in sight. Kuitunen was clearly struggling and her second place seemed in danger. On the flatter section of track Follis left Rotcheva and started to close on Kuitunen, and just in time as Shevchenko was soon on Rotcheva's back. Kalla hit the finish lanes alone but there was no energy to wave to the growing crowd. The effort of the climb was apparent as she crossed the finish line and collapsed onto the snow gasping for air. Kuitunen crossed the line 36 seconds later, and seemed happy to have held onto second place rather than disappointed to have lost first place. Follis was ecstatic to take third place 53 seconds behind Kalla. Shevchenko had the fastest time of the day, 58 seconds quicker than anyone else, but it wasn't quite enough to make the podium. Rotcheva was 5th, then there was a big gap down to Nystad (GER) in 6th, up from 8th at the start of the day. Kowalczyk (POL) was 7th and collapsed on the snow heavier than anyone; that is until Korosteleva (RUS) crossed the line later totally spent, having dropped from 6th to 23rd place on the last climb.

Tour Web Editor: Finn Marsland (AUS)
tour-de-ski.com

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