CROSS COUNTRY SKI. Otepää, 21 st January 2012:  FIS Tour de Ski winner, Dario Cologna (SUI) and shined again and took the victory in the classic sprint in Otepää.

Dario Cologna left no doubts who was the biggest candidate for victory today already in the qualification. Cologna chose to go on skate skis and put the fastest qualification time. He kept the winning momentum all the way through to the finals as he clearly dominated both quarterfinal and semifinal.

In the final heat all six skiers were using skate skis and it was again Cologna who had the most powerfull arms. He built up a winning margin that he could defend to the finish line.

Norway's Ola Vigan Hattestad and last year's winner Eirik Brandsdal were fighting hard for the second place and it was Hattestad who grabbed it. Brandsdal finished third and Dario Cologna could celebrate first victory in classical sprint World Cup.

Dario Cologna SUI

It was a perfect day for me. I had a good qualification and I got self-confidence for the heats. It was a great day for me. I'have been in good shape and recovered well from Tour de Ski. I hope I will ski fast and make a good result tomorrow. There are still many races to go before the end of the World Cup. It will be nice to win the Overall world Cup again.

Ola Vigen Hattestad NOR

I am really satisfied with my second place today. I did not have a chance against Dario. Second place is the maximum what I could achieve today.  My shape has been good. The course is hard but in the finals everyone was double poling. I hope next time the sprint will be again in classical technique. Next Friday we are having national championships and then I will go to Moscow.

Eirik Brandsdal NOR

My goal was to finish top three today. The course fits me well. I like the long finishing straight most. I will also go to the nationals in Norway. The championships are big event. We meet there guys who don't compete at World Cup and they are very motivated to beat us.

FIScrosscountry.com
Saturday 21 January 2012

Justyna Kowalczyk goes for classical sprint victory in Otepää

Justyna Kowalczyk has full recovered after the FIS Tour de Ski, skipped the sprint weekend in Milano and sprinted to victory in Saturday's sprint in Otepää.

Otepää is the favourite World Cup resort of the Polish ace and the record if successes has grown bigger again. Kowalczyk has won already four times the distance competitions but never a sprint, until today.

Kowalczyk qualified with the second fastest time behind Marit Bjoergen, who were lucky to go forward from the semifinal being one of the lucky losers. Kowalczyk went all the way through to the finals without problems.

In the final heat she was very skiing in front, dictating the tempo. Before the long  finishing straight Kowalczyk gained a small advantage, which was big enough to strongly attacking Marit Bjoergen. Russia's sprint specialist Natalia Matveeva finished third.

The current sprint World Cup leader Kikkan Randall of USA went out in the semifinals but she is still holding the lead.

Justyna Kowalczyk POL

I like Otepää very much. I feel like home here it's an amazing place for me. My shape has been very good. After Tour de Ski I was only resting in my bed. Now I'm feeling better and better.

Marit Bjoergen NOR

My feeling was was good. Last week I felt little bit tired. My prologue was good as well as the heats but Kowalczyk was better today. I was little bit worried when I was third in the semifinal but I got a lucky loser spot. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's race. Last year it was very good for me. I expect to be fighting again with Justyna. Let's who is stronger tomorrow."

Natalia Matveeva RUS

I'm very hap with my third place. I planned to be in top three today. My skis were very good today. My next big goal is the sprint in Moscow. I come from there and I would like to be on the podium again.

FIScrosscountry.com
Saturday 21 January 2012

  Tweet