CROSS COUNTRY SKI. Overall Tour leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway wanted his revenge from his 15 km mass start classic competition result from Oberstdorf and he got it today in Val di Fiemme.  Sundby lifted the pace on the final lap as he and his teammate Niklas Dyrhaug broke away from the field and in the end skied solo to the finish with a 7.7 second victory.  In third place was Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan (+12.6) for his third podium of the Tour.

Sundby increased his lead in the overall standings to 2:51 minutes over Petter Northug (NOR) and with the stage 7 results the battle for 2-6th place is now really tight.  Just 15.4 seconds separate that group.  With his result today, Poltoranin has moved into 3rd overall in the Tour standings, followed closely by Sergey Ustiugov (RUS), Finn Haagen Krogh (NOR) and Didrik Toenseth (NOR). 

The 10th FIS Tour de Ski will end with the completion of stage 8 in it's tradition location atop Alpe Cermis.  

ATHLETES QUOTES

Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
It was the same distance and technique as in Otberetsdorf but totally different result. I had amazing skis. The plan before the start to ski with the pack with the skis like I had to go for it. I am really happy for the victory and happy that Niklas is on the podium as well.

Niklas Dyrhaug, NOR
I was close off the podium in Oberstdorf. It feels great to finish in 2nd place. One of the goals today was to help other guys from Norway fighting for the overall. I had to be patient and follow the lead and go got the sprint. I tried to do as good job as possible. I started to be little bit tired in the second last lap.

Alexey Poltoranin, KAZ
It was a good race. I am really happy to be again on the podium. My service team did a very good job. I had amazing skis. Let’s see about tomorrow.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MEN - 15 km classic mass start

1. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR 39:55.2
2. DYRHAUG Niklas +7.7
3. POLTORANIN Alexey KAZ +12.6
4. DE FABIANI Francesco ITA +30.2
5. KROGH Finn Haagen +30.9

OVERALL TOUR STANDINGS

1. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR 3:16:31.2
2. NORTHUG Petter Jr. NOR +2:51.5
3. POLTORANIN Alexey KAZ +2:53.0
4. USTIUGOV Sergey RUS +2:56.2
5. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR +3:01.4

FIS cross-country ski
09 January 2016 15:07

Heidi finally gets her own victory!

After 37 World Cup podiums Heidi Weng has finally won her first individual World Cup competition.  Weng held off her teammate Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg on the final meters of the ladies' 10 km mass start competition on stage 7 of the FIS Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy. With bonus seconds collected on the course and at the finish with second place, Oestberg stretched her Tour lead over Therese Johaug (NOR) to 38.7 seconds heading into the final stage.  Johaug finished third on the stage +6.2 seconds off the lead.

Finland's Krista Parmakoski skied with the front the Norwegian trio for most of the competition but fell off over the kilometers to take 4th place +17.4 seconds back of Weng.  With her strong result today Parmakoski moved up into 6th place in the overall Tour standings. Charlotto Kalla of Sweden struggled in the middle portion of the competition but rebounded in the end to finish in 5th place and maintain her 4th place position in the overall standings.  

ATHLETE QUOTES

Heidi Weng, NOR
I cannot believe it, it is so crazy and hard to describe it. I was the best today and I still cannot believe it. Today I followed Ingvild’s track in the last uphill. I had stiff legs in the downhills. I was just focused on the finish.

Ingvild Flugstad Östberg, NOR
It was another good day for me. I tried to be smart, tactical. Heidi was very fast in the last 200m. I am really happy for Heidi to win her first World Cup. It was little bit difficult with the skis. I am very proud to be on the podium on all of the Tour de Ski stages. I would not believe before the Tour I could lead before the last stage by almost 40 seconds.

Therese Johaug, NOR
A podium is good. Heidi and Ingvild were better than me. I am happy to be third place. It will be very tough race tomorrow. I know Ingvild can be fast on the climbs too. I have good memories about this hill but I have to have a good day tomorrow.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

LADIES - 10 km classic mass start

1. WENG Heidi 1991 NOR 29:16.3
2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 1990 NOR +0.8
3. JOHAUG Therese 1988 NOR +6.2
4. PARMAKOSKI Krista 1990 FIN +17.4
5. KALLA Charlotte 1987 SWE +55.1

OVERALL TOUR STANDINGS

1. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 2:06:41.3
2. JOHAUG Therese NOR +38.7
3. WENG Heidi NOR +2:26.7
4. KALLA Charlotte SWE +6:46.0
5. NISKANEN Kerttu FIN +6:47.7

FIS cross-country ski
09 January 2016 13:13