CROSS COUNTRY, TOUR DE SKI. The fifth edition of Tour de Ski has finally started! In the morning you could really feel the nervousity in the team area, wax tests, running around, doing the final preparations and then the Tour started.

The first athlete on the course was a young German lady (Helene Jacob) just 18 years old, and she did a good job. This was her first race on the World Cup level. The ladies race was exciting as the gaps were tight and most of the favorites are on the first page of the results. The German Denise Hermann was a bit of surprise, who finished 7th, 8.7 seconds behind Kowalczyk. Also among the top 10, Laure Barthelemy (FRA) finished 9th, but she had an incredible finish as she was 29th after 1.4 km and moved up into te top 10 on the last few metres. Kikkan Randall celebrated her Birthday competing today, turning 28 - congratulations!

After a busy break with Press Conference with top 3 and interviews by the press, the men started at 15:00 (CET). In total 75 athletes tacled the challenge and crossed the finish line. Vincent Vittoz made his comeback after being injured since Gällivare and finished in a good time with a 25th place. The overall Tour contenders are in the first part of the results and no big surprises came out of todays race. Loris Frasnelli from Italy showed a strong performance and moved into the top 5 by having good sprint skills. In total, 25 men are within 15 seconds - a gap that will guarantee for an exciting handicap start tomorrow.

The ladies will start at 11:50 (CET) and the men at 12:45 (CET). The conditions can be challenging for tomorrows classic pursuit, as the weather changes a bit and the snow keep falling.

FIScrosscountry.com
Friday 31 December 2010

Justyna Kowalczyk charged to first Tour stage victory

Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) won the ladies Prologue in Oberhof over 2,8 km in free technique today.

The polish ski star, who is currently second in the overall World Cup ranking, finished 1.5 seconds ahead of Charlotte Kalla (SWE). Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (NOR) took the third spot, 4.8 seconds behind the winner.

Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) with bib number 34 had the third best time at 1.4 km and was leading the race for a while. Saarinen ended on 6th place, right behind Yulia Tchekaleva (RUS, 5th spot) and Riitta-Liisa Roponen (FIN, 4th place).

For Kowalczyk it was the fourth stage win in her career and the third in the Tour de Ski (one time she claimed victory in the World Cup Final).

Kowalczyk is now the current Tour de Ski leader, and will wear the red bib in tomorrow’s 10 km classical Pursuit. Due to the bonus seconds which were awarded today in the finish, she will start 6.5 seconds ahead of Charlotte Kalla and 14.8 seconds ahead of Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen.

In the Tour sprint ranking, Kowalczyk collected 15 points, Charlotte Kalla, 10 points and Astrid Jacobsen with 5 points.

Weather conditions: -3 degrees, light snow
Snow conditions: packed snow
Spectators: 2000

Quotes

Justyna Kowalczyk (POL)

"It was really hard before the finish and my coach told me I was 1 second behind Charlotte, so I was surprised when I saw the result. You start and finish like in a sprint, and I am very satisfied that I am in the top. It is really nice to be number 1 in the Tour, definitely a good start. I see Charlotte, Astrid and Majdic as my strongest contenders for the rest of the Tour. I don't have any specific strategy for tomorrow, I will think about it tonight and you will see tomorrow".

Charlotte Kalla (SWE)

"I am very happy with today's race because I did not feel that strong in La Clusaz. I think Christmas at home helped me relax and to focus on the Tour. It’s a big difference from 2 years ago when I won the tour and now, but I hope I will have a good shape throughout the Tour. Justyna will definitely be strong during the whole Tour, and she is my hardest contender. I hope to do a good race and get a good feeling tomorrow, as 10 km classic suits me well".

Astrid Jacobsen (NOR)

"I think I did a strong race, my legs were strong, I started hard but not too hard. I am happy with the race, first of all for my confident. My two previous seasons have not been the strongest, and it is a reason for it, but now I know it is possible again. Tomorrow will be hard, but at least I can start before the chicken farm comes. My wish is that my legs will be as strong as they were today, and then attack. I don't plan to wait for anyone. My goal during the Tour will be to not have any crazy bad days. I think I am able to ski well in all stage’s except for the last one. I think I can fight close to the top the whole time".

FIScrosscountry.com
Friday 31 December 2010

Marcus Hellner captures Tour stage victory in Oberhof

Swedish Marcus Hellner claimed stage victory today in Oberhof over 3.75 km Free.

The Swede was after the first 1.4 km third, 3.8 sec behind Petukhov. In the second part of the prologue he speeded up and clinched victory by a margin of 2 sec over Alexei Petukhov (RUS). Petter Northug finished third +2.9 behind Hellner. Hellner is ranked fourth in the overall World Cup Standing, Petukhov 11th and Northug 18th.

Hellner is the current Tour de Ski leader, and will wear the red bib in tomorrows 15 km Classical Pursuit. In the Tour sprint ranking, Hellner collected 15 points, Pethukov, 10 points and Northug 5 points.

Hellner will start 7 seconds ahead of Pethukov and 12.9 seconds ahead of Northug. Perthukov had the best time at 1.4 km followed by Jesper Modin (SWE) who took the 33rd place. Dario Cologna finished 7th, followed by Robin Duvillard (FRA), Loris Frasnelli (ITA) and Alexander Legkov who finished 4th.

Weather conditions: -4 degrees, light snow
Snow conditions: hard packed snow
Spectators: 2000

Marcus Hellner:

"The red color is good, but I like the black one better. It was a good race, and I feel like I am in better shape than the last week before Christmas.

Over Christmas I have trained a bit, eaten a lot of Christmas food and relaxed, I guess it did me well. I thought about everyone's chasing me tomorrow, and I know that there are a lot of very good skiers behind me but I will do my best to maintain my position. I was 4th last Tour de Ski, Iam hoping to be in the top lead this year, but on the other hand I know it is hard for me with all the classic disciplines":

Alexel Petukhov:

"I'm quite happy with the race. I had teeth problems over Christmas, and they are not so good. Today I felt strong and it feels good. For the overall Tour I know I have no chance, and my focus will be on sprint points. I will leave the Tour after Toblach's sprint".

Petter Northug:

"It was a good race, I had a good feeling. I feel my shape is good now and I look forward to continue the Tour. I started hard today but felt that I could continue throughout the race. I've trained a lot in the start of December, over Christmas I relaxed but I'm in a good shape now.

Tactic for tomorrow: Legkov is starting behind me, then we all know what's going to happen. I need to follow him to the finish line tomorrow, and I think he will race good tomorrow as well.

Tour de Ski continues tomorrow with Pursuit classic technique. The women will ski 10 km and the men 15 km. The weather will be similar to today, light snow, cloudy and -4 degrees.

FIScrosscountry.com
Friday 31 December 2010