TOUR DE SKI. Petter praised his team-mates Kristian Tettli Rennemo and Niklas Dyrhaug for his stage win today. “I didn’t have the best feeling today, without the help of Kristian Tettli Rennemo and Niklas Dyrhaug I wouldn’t have won today” Petter said in the press conference after the race.

Winner Petter Northug of Norway, right in the red bib, skis during the mass start at the men's Skiathlon 10 km classic and 10 km freestyle competition at the cross country Tour de Ski event in Oberstdorf, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

The men’s’ 20 km skiathlon turned into a real cat fight for the bonus seconds. With three intermediate points during the classic part and 2 intermediate points plus the finish line at the skating part, a total of 90 bonus seconds could be won. Crossing the finish line first, Petter Northug could cheer for 15 extra bonus seconds, his third stage win and keep the overall Tour de Ski lead, 1.1 second ahead of Dario Cologna. Maxim Vylegzhanin came in third.

Winner Petter Northug of Norway, right, crosses the finish line in front of second placed Dario Cologna of Sitzerland, left, and the 3rd placed Maxim Vylegzhanin of Russia, third right, during the men's Skiathlon 10 km classic and 10 km freestyle competition at the cross country Tour de Ski event in Oberstdorf, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Strong sprinters in classic technique gave all they had in the first 10 km of the race, knowing that the bonus seconds could help them climb on the overall standing. Joensson  After the ski change, Cologna, Northug and Hellner were fighting over bonus seconds. With the help of team-mate Kristian Tettli Rennemo, Northug got a good position and won important bonus seconds. “I didn’t fight for the bonus seconds in the classic part, I didn’t have a good feeling and I chose to fight for them in the skating part instead”. Northug got 45 bonus seconds, Cologna 49 and Legkov 41. Marcus Hellner took 37 important bonus seconds and is currently ranked 7th in the overall Tour de Ski ranking.

Petter Northug of Norway (2nd L) leads the pack into the first corner on his way to win the men's 10km Classic and 10km Free cross country skiing competition of the Tour de Ski in the Bavarian resort of Oberstdorf January 1, 2012. (REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay)

With only 1.1 second between Dario and Northug, Dario wasn’t worried about the second place today. There’s a sprint stage awaiting them in Toblach before the 35 km pursuit, and who the Tour de Ski winner will be is still open. Northug shares this statement, and said despite the lead of 52.3 seconds down to Vylegzhanin, the other athletes can still fight for the victory. “I think it’s possible to catch us, everything can happen in Toblach. If there’s a big group working together, it can easily be 4-5 athletes fighting for the victory”.

“I didn’t have the best feeling today, without the help of Kristian Tettli Rennemo and Niklas Dyrhaug I wouldn’t have won today”.

Daniel Rickardsson (SWE) was ranked last +1 second in todays race due to not following the marked course (ICR 340.1.2). Andy Newell has abandoned the Tour. He is sick.

Tour de Ski has the first of two rest days tomorrow. Most teams will stay in Oberstdorf to relax and save energy before they drive down to Toblach tomorrow morning.

Marit Bjoergen scores stage win in Oberstdorf. Kowalczyk still in the Tour lead

Marit Bjoergen is back on the winning momentum and scores victory in 5 C + 5 F skiathlon in Oberstdorf. Bjoergen won the fourth Tour de Ski stage in 5+5 km skiathlon ahead of Kowalczyk and Johaug. Kowalczyk remains the overall Tour Leader, with a gap of 26.6 seconds ahead of Bjoergen.

Winner Marit Bjoergen of Norway, right, reacts as she crosses the finish line in front of the second placed Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, left, during the women's Skiathlon 5 km classic and 5 km freestyle competition at the cross country Tour de Ski event in Oberstdorf, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

What started as a mass start ended quite early as a quartet, as Bjoergen, Kowalczyk, Johaug and Stoermer Steira got a gap to the main group. With two intermediate points where the top 10 athletes could take 15, 12, 10… bonus seconds, Kowalczyk was strongest in the uphill in both techniques. Kowalczyk took 37 bonus seconds, Bjoergen 31 and Johaug 32, meaning the gap down to Bjoergen increased by 4 seconds from yesterday.

With less grip on her skis, Bjoergen figured she wouldn’t be able to fight for the 15 bonus seconds in the classic part. Having changed to skating skis however, she had great skis and showed what she’s capable of both up and downhill. Bjoergen gave it all in the last downhill and showed what an amazing downhill skier she is. Skiing furthest out, she easily passed Johaug and Kowalczyk and could skate straight to the finish line. “I didn’t have a good feeling in the classic part, which meant I couldn’t fight for the bonus seconds, but in the skating part my skis were great and I knew that it was possible for me to win. It means a lot to me to win”.

Winning the fourth stage of Tour de Ski meant a lot to Marit. She’s confident that the Tour winner isn’t decided yet, and that it’s possible to fight for the victory. Having five stages ahead of them, including sprint, distance and pursuit, she needs to fight for seconds on Kowalczyk in each race. Bjoergen was ill during the World Cup weekend in Rogla and said she might not be fully recovered, although she is definitely in good shape. Johaug is +1:06.6 behind Kowalczyk in the overall ranking, and is still to be seen as a clear fighter for the overall win. Bjoergen is glad to see the Norwegians pressuring Kowalczyk and said “I think it is important to show that we are still fighting for the podium and that it’s not a one person race”.

Tomorrow is the first out of two rest days, and the athletes will spend the day to recover and prepare for the coming stages. First stage of 3 in Toblach is 3 km classic, individual start on Tuesday January 3rd.

Sofie Torlei Olsen
FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 1 January 2012

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