CROSS COUNTRY SKI WORLD CUP. Marit Bjoergen clinched victory in 15 km mass start race in free technique in La Clusaz. The overall World Cup leader finished in the final sprint just 1 second ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland. The third spot took Kristin Steira from Norway, 10,9 seconds behind the winner.

Marit Bjoergen of Norway, center, celebrates after winning the Women's 15 km Cross Country race at the La Clusaz's World Cup event, ahead Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, who finished second, and Kristin Stoermer Steira of Norway, right, who finished third, in La Clusaz, French Alps, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Bjoergen has won all World Cup races that took place before Christmas an dominated the first part of the World Cup. In today's race she quickly opened up a gap on the rest of the start field. Only Justyna Kowalczyk and Kristin Steira could keep up with Bjoergen. The trio skied together the whole race and increased the gap on group of chasers led by Arianna Folllis and Marianna Longa (both ITA).

On the second last uphill, Steira made an attack but the group was not split and on the final hill Kowalczyk searched her luck but Bjoergen followed her until the final straight were Bjoergen showed their strength and claimed her 42th World Cup win.

Marit Bjoergen of Norway, left, performs ahead the pack on her way to win the Women's 15 km Cross Country race at the La Clusaz's World Cup event, in La Clusaz, French Alps, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Marit Bjoergen will go now in her Christmas break with 760 points in the overall World Cup ranking. Justyna Kowalczyk, who won in total by winning both intermediate sprints and getting second today 110 points, is second with overall 539 World Cup points. On third place is Arianna Follis with 414 points.

In the overall distance World Cup, Bjoergen is leading 95 points ahead of Kowalczyk and third is Therese Johaug, already 233 points behind Bjoergen.

Marit Bjoergen (NOR)
I’m very happy it is amazing. I have 42 victories, as Bente Skari and I will hopefully beat her. I felt great my skis were excellent and my shape was very good today. I am also happy for Kristin to be on the podium. She attacked in the uphill in the last lap as well as Kowalczyk and I had to fight hard. We created quite fast a gap on the rest of the field.

Justyna Kowalcyzk (POL)
I was really tired in the last meters of the race. I’m satisfied with my performance today as I captured first podium over 15 km Free. The race was quite hard. My plan for this year is to win the overall World Cup standing and I need ever point. Therefore I decided to fight for the bonus points today.

Tomorrow I will start in the relay and will ski the second leg. It will be a good training for Tour de Ski.

Kristin Steira (NOR)
I like La Clusaz very much. This year it is special and maybe I am happier than two years ago when I won. As Marit said we had opened up a gap quite fast and worked hard to maintain the difference. We talked little bit about tactics and decided not go for bonus points but focus on the final result. We always hope for a victory in the relay, but Swedish girls will be strong as well as Italians.

FIScrosscoutry.com
Saturday 18 December 2010

Maxim Vylegzhanin wins 30 km Mass Start Free in La Clusaz

Maxim Vylegzhanin won by 0,1 seconds the 30 km mass start free technique in La Clusaz as he beats Petter Northug in last meters in the sprint.

On third place finished Alexander Legkov with only 0,4 seconds behind his team mate and winner.  It was a tight race which was animate by four intermediate bonus World Cup points sprints. The top athletes Legkov, Lukas Bauer (CZE), Daniel Rickardsson (SWE), Dario Cologna (SUI), Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS) and Anders Soedergren (SWE) were often in front and tried to split the group but in the final lap still about 10 athletes were together. Vylegzhanin and Legkov attacked in second last uphill and opened a small gap. But Petter Northug and Dario Cologna could react on the Russian attack and came close. In the last meters in the finishing straight Vylegzhanin, Northug and Legkov were fighting for victory but it was Vylgzhanin who outsprinted the two and claimed victory.

Alexander Legkov took over the lead in the overall World Cup ranking with his tough fights for bonus sprints today. He is now leading 22 points ahead of Dario Cologna. Maxim Vylegzhanin is now third.

In the distance World Cup, Legkov is also leading but already with a gap of 49 points ahead Swiss Dario Cologna. Also here Maxim Vylegzhanin is currently third, only nine points behind Cologna.

Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS)
I'm very satisfied with my result today. I claimed my first World Cup victory and it is amazing. The course here is really tough and you have to work hard all the time. Tomorrow I will be the finish man of the Russian relay and I hope we can get another good result.

Petter Northug (NOR)
I am happy I made it on the podium today and came back. I did very good training in past weeks and I feel my shape has been rising. I will do more training over Christmas and I believe my shape will be even better. I would like to win Tour de Ski and I hope I will be among the best. Atmosphere in La Clusaz was excellent. The audience was cheering on us and that helps on such a tough course.

Alexander Legkov (RUS)
It is a great feeling to be back in the yellow bib. I like it very much. It was a good day today for me. I had very good skis and felt strong. I'm happy I made in on the podium again. For tomorrow I hope to have a good race again and hopefully we can be top three, but Norwegians and Swedish will be strong.

FIScrosscoutry.com
Saturday 18 December 2010