CROSS-COUNTRY SKI WORLD CUP. Marit Bjoergen’s control in ladies cross country World Cup continued on Saturday. Bjoergen won ladies 5 kilometres free competition.

Peter Northug won the 2nd stage - 10 km Free race - of the mini-tour in Kuusamo. Photo: Manzoni / Nordic focus

Norwegian skier was very happy after her second victory in Kuusamo.

”Of course I was pushing a hundred per cent and I had good skies today. We three are in good shape now. Tomorrow will be hard race because other girls are stronger and stronger all the time and they’ll try attack me,” Bjoergen said after the race.

As yesterday, Swedish Charlotte Kalla took the second place. Kalla managed to plan her competition really well.

”I started hard and just kept it going. My goal for tomorrow is to have good feeling on classic technique and just be relaxed,” Kalla told.

Norwegian Vibeke Skofterud seemed to be in very good shape too. Skofterud was third on Saturday.

”I could get used to being on the podium. My plan was start hard and I’m happy that I managed to do that. All Norwegians had very good skies today. Tomorrow we’ll have to work together with Kalla to chase Bjoergen”, Skofterud planned.

Norway is absolutely cross country land number one at the moment. There was 6 Norwegians in top 10 in this competition.

Bjoergen is the clear leader of Ruka Triple. Tomorrow 10 kilometres Classic pursuit will end women’s weekend.

Katja Kantanen
NordicOpening.com
26.11.2011

Northug was the king of the Cross Country 10km free individual

Ruka Nordic Opening Cross-Country continued on Saturday with Men's 10km Free Individual. Winner of the race, Petter Northug, won the race with only the difference of 20 seconds from Italy's Roland Clara.

”I  was fast today. I had good skis and good feeling. My plan was to start hard and i succeeded. I'm very happy and satisfied with the competition,” Northug said.

”Tomorrow in the Pursuit there will be group skiing. After two laps I hope to be in good position.”

After the victory in the Free Individual Northugh is the leader of the Ruka Triple.

Roland Clara won the second place.
”Two competitions, two podiums; it feels incredible to be in the podium all the time,” Clara said.

Third place winner, France's Maurice Manificat says he wasn't in the best shape in today's competition.
”Tomorrow everything's possible. We have to collaborate in the Pursuit to catch Petter,” Manificat says.

Janica Varjo
NordicOpening.com
26.11.2011

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