CROSS-COUNTRY SKI. Wow!  Where to start.  Stage 3 of the FIS Ski Tour Canada was a day of firsts in many ways.  Baptiste Gros of France won his ever World Cup, Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR) and Federico Pellegrino (ITA) locked up their first ever overall World Cup sprint crystal globes.  Heidi Weng (NOR) with her third place finish today took over the Ski Tour Canada leaders bib, and Russia's Sergey Ustiugov was on the podium for the third straight stage and extended his lead in the Tour. 

Sweden's Stina Nilsson won today's 1.5 km free technique sprint in Quebec City stopping Falla's quest for a 5th straight free technique sprint win.  Falla was a close second today just +0.11 back, enough to win her first sprint crystal globe.  In third was Weng +0.56 behind Nilsson and now enters the stage 4 pursuit event with a 11.8 second lead over Therese Johaug (NOR).

On the men's side Gros finally got his first World Cup sprint victory.  Gros come from third in the final 100 metres to secure the first ever sprint World Cup win for France.  To the delight of the home crowd Canada's Alex Harvey grabbed second place from Ustiugov who lead into the homestretch but hung on for third and now leads the Tour by 16.7 seconds ahead of Petter Northug Jr. 

ATHLETES QUOTES

Stina Nilsson, SWE
I am really excited about my victory. I felt very good since we came to Canada. It amazing to be again on the podium and win here in Québec City.

Maiken Caspersen Falla, NOR
I think I had a good strategy in the final but Stina was very strong. When she got a gap it was very hard to close it. But to win the crystal globe is amazing. I want to keep up the good work and train even harder. Olympic Winter Games in 2018 is the biggest goal.

Heidi Weng, NOR
Stina was very good today and she deserved to win. The sprint was longer but I liked it. It is great to be in the lead of the Ski Tour Canada, but there are many races to go.

Baptiste Gros, FRA
We’ve a great energy on the team with many strong guys. It is very special. The course was great. I like competing in the city and set up today was perfect.

Alex Harvey, CAN
The crowd was amazing today. They got louder and louder overtime the speaker announced my name. It gave me great energy. I am happy I proofed to have a strong finish and be able to beat Petter Notrthug who is one of the best finishers in the world.

Sergey Ustiugov, RUS
It is really cool to be again on the podium. I extended the lead in the Ski Tour but I will see how tomorrow goes. The Tour is not over yet.

FIS cross-country ski
05 March 2016 00:32

OFFICIAL RESULTS - Quebec City March 4, 2016

LADIES - 1.5 km Sprint free

1. NILSSON Stina SWE 3:37.15
2. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR +0.11
3. WENG Heidi NOR +0.56
4. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR +1.09
5. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt NOR +1.57
6. INGEMARSDOTTER Ida SWE +9.43

SKI TOUR CANADA OVERALL STANDINGS

1. WENG Heidi NOR 36:23.3
2. JOHAUG Therese NOR +11.8
3. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR +42.9
4. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt NOR +46.5
5. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR +57.8

SPRINT WORLD CUP STANDINGS

1. FALLA Maiken Caspersen NOR 676 pts
2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 603 pts
3. NILSSON Stina SWE 602 pts

MEN - 1.7 km Sprint free

1. GROS Baptiste Gros, FRA 3:36.26
2. HARVEY Alex, CAN +0.55
3. USTIUGOV Sergey, RUS +0.79
4. NORTHUG Petter jr., NOR +1.91
5. STAREGA, Maciej., POL +2.12
6. JOUVE, Richard, FRA +2.18

SKI TOUR CANADA STANDINGS

1. USTIUGOV Sergey, RUS 49:41.8
2. NORTHUG Petter jr., NOR +16.7
3. IVERSEN Emil, NOR +24.3
4. HARVEY Alex, CAN +1:56.8
5. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud, NOR +2:13.7

SPRINT WORLD CUP STANDINGS

1. PELLEGRINO Federico, ITA 503
2. NORTHUG Petter Jr., NOR - 61
3. KROGH Finn Haagen, NOR - 126