Petter Northug (NOR) claimed victory on the 15 km classical handicap start in Oberhof on the second day of the Tour. He won in an extremly tight photofinish 0,1 seconds ahead of Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS). Matti Heikkinnen (FIN), who was in the leading more then the half distance, took the third place 0,8 seconds behind the winner. This is also the current Tour de Ski standing

In this exciting race, where 23 men finished within 30 seconds, Matti Heikkinen were one of the dominator of the race. The athlete from Finland started his attack quite early in the race and was in the lead until the last 1,5 kilometers where Maxim Vylegzhanin closed then the gap. Petter Northug impressed once more by his final sprint and won on the last meter the race.

All Tour de Ski winner from the past three years, Tobias Angerer, Lukas Bauer, Dario Cologna are currently ranked under the top 12 and are within 17,1 seconds although the winner of the last year's Tour de Ski, Dario Cologna (SUI) had a fall 2 km ahead of the finish.

Petter Northug is now the leader of the overall Tour de Ski ranking as well as the Tour sprint leader and also the overall World Cup leader.

"I am very happy about my victory today. I knew from the beginning they will be chasing me. After the first lap there was a big pack where I was skiing as well. Matti Heikkinen was very strong today and he was attacking with full power. However, I anticipated that someone from our group of chasers will try to catch him. My tactics was to stay behind and save energy for the last lap. In these snow conditions it was difficult for my service staff to choose the right grip wax. It was more impartant for me to have fast skis and perfect glide in downhills." commented Northug his victory.

Kowalczyk the new Tour leader, Majdic stayed behind

In the second ladies race of the Tour de Ski, a handicap start race over 10km classic, Justyna Kowalczyk took the victory and is now as well in the red bib of the Tour de Ski leader. The Polish athlete finished the today's race 2,8 seconds ahead of Aino Kaisa Saarinen from Finland. The third place took Kristin Stoermer Steira (NOR), 5,7 seconds behind the winner. The inrun of todays race is as well the new Tour de Ski overall standing.

In the tight race, the winner of yesterday's race Petra Majdic couldnd't follow the leading group and finished as 10th in the race with a gap of 35,7 seconds to Kowalczyk. But the Slovenian athlete is still in the lead of the Tour Sprint ranking.

With the today's victory, Justyna Kowalczyk is now as well in the lead of the overall World Cup ranking ahead of Marit Bjoergen (NOR) who is not competing in this year's Tour de Ski.

The third stage in the Tour de Ski will take place tomorrow in Oberhof with a sprint in the classical technique. This race format was never in the schedule of the Tour de Ski.

Justyna Kowalczyk (POL):
"It was not an easy race for me today. First half of the competition I did not feel well. I felt tired and could not get my pace. When I heared that Saarinen is 10 seconds behind, 5 seconds it was difficult. I hope I will perform well tomorrow. During the Tour I keep focused only on the upcoming race. I do not speculate what will happen on Alpe Cermis. I have to go there first and it will be a long way. I would rather skip sprint in Prague as I like long big uphills. I know there is new course in Prague which is not so flat as last year. I hope I will fight Petra again."

Petra Majdic (SLO):
"It was a very tough race from me. From the begining I was not feeling well. My upper body was not working properly. I noticed that in the first uphill. I had also problems with my technique. Paticularly to race straight and keep my head up. When Justyna caught me I was fighting a lot to stick to her. I managed this in first two laps. The 3rd one was over my possibilities today. I had to stay behind. To race against Justyna it is always dificult. My waxing team is the best but even them they make small mistakes and I could not rely on my skis in the uphills. Speed of my skiis was excellent though. My plan for this afternoon is to get some rest, recharge my batteries. I will start thinking about tomorrow‘ race in the evening. I like the Sprint Leader Bib very much but I want the Tour Leader Bib back from Justyna."

FIScrosscountry.com
Saturday 2 January 2010