CROSS COUNTRY, TOUR DE SKI. Petra Majdic (SLO) finally won her first stage in Tour de Ski and could celebrate the win of Classic Sprint in Oberstdorf today. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) took second place, close follwed by Astrid Urenholdt Jacobsen (NOR). In the mens race, Emil Joensson (SWE)  was announced the winner after a photo finish. Kershaw (CAN) took his second 2nd place in the Tour, and Dario Cologna (SUI) came in third.

Petra Majdic (SLO) and Emil Joensson (SWE) took the victory in the third stage of the Tour, the classical sprint in Oberstdorf today. 

Majdic were dominating the ladies race from the qualification up to the final heat and showed a strong performance in the final, winning clearly ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Astrid Urenholdt Jacobsen (NOR). It was the first stage win for Majdic in this year’s Tour edition.

Majdic had a fast start, and was in the lead throughout the entire final. In the last downhill she were several meters ahead of her contenders, and crossed the finish line as the winner. Kowalczyk and Jacobsen fought hard over the other podium spots and Kowalczyk took the second place while Jacobsen finished third like in the Prologue.

Justyna Kowalczyk keeps her Tour de Ski lead with the second place, followed by Majdic (44.4 seconds behind) and Saarinen (1.03 min behind). Marianna Longa  from Italy is at the moment just out of the podium with the fourth place (1.01.09 behind) and Jacobsen is fifth. (1:09.2 behind). In the Tour de Ski Sprint ranking, Kowalczyk is as well in front with 1:26 min, Majdic is second with 60 bonus seconds and Jacobsen third with in total 57 bonus seconds.

In the men’s race Joensson was dominating as well even if it was tighter in the end thanm in the ladies race. Joensson took the victory in the photo finish against Devon Kershaw. Tour leader Dario Cologna finished third and completed the podium. 

Dario Cologna defended his Tour de Ski Leader bib and is as well the sprint leader. In the Tour overall ranking Devon Kershaw is second, very close behind Cologna, with 3.7 seconds. Alexander Legkov (RUS), who took the 6th place in today’s sprint is 23.1 seconds behind. Big Tour favourite Petter Northug egded out in the quarterfinal today and has now already +59,5 seconds disadvantage to Cologna whilst last year’s winner Lukas Bauer has already 1:31,3min gap to Cologna in the overall ranking.

Cologna leads the Tour de Ski Sprint with 1:07 min, Kershaw is second (1:06min) and third Emil Joensson with 1:00min.

In the Tour team ranking Sweden is 16,1 seconds ahead of the Russians whilst Norway is third with 21,1 seconds gap.

Tomorrow the Tour will continue with the Pursuit for ladies (5 km + 5 km) and for men (10km + 10km).

Quotes from today

Petra Majdic (SLO)

"I am very happy and will enjoy this win. It was a great race and I felt better and better during it. I like this kind of tough course. This win was also extremely important for my self confidence that I can still win.”

Justyna Kowalczyk (POL)

"I am satisfied with my today’s second place. I am in a good position in the Tour de Ski ranking but I know as well that it good advantage can be fast done as we still have a lot of bonus seconds and the long stage race in Toblach. I will be fighting for bonus points tomorrow, I will think more about my tactics after the lunch".

Emil Joensson (SWE)

"It was really, really tight in the finish, my tightest finish in my life, I changed the tracks, closed my eyes and went for it all. I was really happy when the announcer said I was the winner.

My body was really tired, the last race was really though. Tour de Ski is getting harder, I feel tired. When the race is on, all I focus on is winning the race. I was lucky today.

I will see how long I can stay in the front tomorrow, and we will see for how long I will continue. As long as my body feels OK I will continue Tour de Ski.".

Dario Cologna (SUI):

“I am satisfied with the race and the third place. I am still the Tour leader and tomorrow the others will have to chase me. I will see if I will fight for the bonus seconds tomorrow, it depends on my legs but I know that they will be important. I didn’t realize that Petter didn’t made it further after the qualification, I was focused on my race. He will still be able to win the Tour even if he has now over 1 min gap.”

FIScrosscoutry.com
Sunday 2 January 2011

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