CROSS COUTRY, TOUR DE SKI. Justyna Kowalczyk confirmed her great shape and won today's second stage of the Tour de Ski with clear dominance.

Kowalczyk claimed victory with 27.5 seconds ahead of the surprise of the day: Krista Lahteenmaki (FIN) and 30.5 seconds ahead of Marianna Longa (ITA). The Tour favourites are now compact among the first ten with Aino Kaisa Saaringen (FIN, 4th), Petra Majdic (SLO, 5th) Riitta Lisa Roponen (FIN,6th), Charlotte Kalla (SWE, 7th ) and Arianna Follis on the 8th place.  
Kowalczyk showed a great performance and attacked from the beginning to increase her lead of 6,5 seconds. Not even the light snowfall prevented her from this goal. Until the end, Kowalczyk made a total gap of 27,5 seconds and is now leading the Tour thanks to additional 15 bonus seconds with 32,5 seconds ahead of Krista Lahteenmaki.

In the Tour sprint ranking Kowalczyk is leading with a total of 30 points. Kirsta Lahteemaki (FIN) and Charlotte Kalla (SWE) share the second place.

Third stage of thr Tour with a classical sprint is on tomorrows schedule in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Weather conditions: -4 degrees, light snow
Snow conditions: hard packed snow
Spectators: 4500

Quotes:

Justyna Kowalczyk: 
" My tactic was to go very fast in the start, and to finish first. The tracks were really good as well as the snow, it is all I need for skiing well. My service men did a good job, my skis were great both in up and downhill. My goal for tomorrow is to have a good race. I remember Oberstdorf have really good tracks and I look forward to continue the Tour. Toblach will be my hardest race during the Tour. Charlotte Kalla is right when she says that there she has the best possibilities to beat me. It is important for me to stay concentrated and healthy in order to win the Tour, so the Tour is not over yet.”

FIScrosscountry.com
Saturday 1 January 2011

Dario Cologona strongest in the final spurt and wins stage 2 in Oberhof

Switzerland's Dario Cologna showed biggest strength in the final spurt and won second stage of the Tour de Ski in Oberhof over 15 km Classic handicap start.

The Swiss Olympic Champion claimed victory with 0.5 seconds ahead of Canadian Devon Kershaw. Alexander Legkov from Russia finished only 0.8 seconds behind the winner on third position. Ilia Chernousov (RUS) took the fourth spot (+4.2 seconds) followed by Petter Northug (NOR) 5.4 seconds behind, and Sami Jauhojaervi (+5.5 seconds) .

It was a tight race, Marcus Hellner, the yesterday’s winner tried to stay ahead of the big bunch but the chasers caught him after 5 km. Ilia Chernousov were attacked on the last lap to tight the gap and was able to reduce the group of a couple of skiers. Legkov, Cologna, Kershaw, Harvey, Jauhojärvi and Heikkinen followed him. Petter Northug made it  into this leading group a bit later but  had no power left in the final sprint. Cologna took his fifth stage win in his career, and his second win in the 15 km handicap start in classical style in Oberhof.

In the overall Tour standing, Dario Cologna is leading with the current time: 47:33.1 minutes, 5,5 seconds ahead of Devon Kershaw from Canada. Alexander Legkov has currently a gap of 10,8 seconds.

Hellner and Cologna currently share the black bib as they are both the sprint ranking leader with 15 points each.

Tomorrow the Tour will continue with a classical sprint in Oberstdorf.

Weather conditions: -4 degrees, light snow
Snow conditions: hard packed snow
Spectators: 4500

Quotes:

Dario Cologna:

" I'm of course satisfied, I had a good feeling. I didn't want to push too much as it is a long race, but in the last hill I gave it all. It was good winning here today. I won here already in 2008 and afterwards I was the winner of the Tour – so that is a good sign.I was not afraid of loosing contact with the Russians, I was pleased the speed was higher. It is always good to be in front, and to cover first position.

I am not afraid of Northug, I knew that I was in the first position and that was more important. I thought Northug was coming, but luckily he didn't. My goal is to take as many bonus points as possible in the Tour. The sprint is important, and I want to be in the semi finals tomorrow".

FIScrosscountry.com
Saturday 1 January 2011