CROSS COUNTRY, TOUR DE SKI. Swiss Olympic champion finished first on the top of the Alpe Cermis capturing his second Tour de Ski victory in his career.

Switzerland's Dario Cologna reacts at the finish line as he wins a Tour de Ski, cross-country men's 9-kilometer World Cup pursuit event, in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

Dario Cologna (SUI) was the first to cross the finish line at the top of Alpe Cermis, and took his second Tour de Ski victory. Starting 1:19 minutes ahead of Petter Northug (NOR), Cologna kept a nice pace throughout the race and finished 27.3 seconds ahead of Northug. Lukas Bauer, who started with bib number 10, had an amazing speed and finished third, 1:44.1min behind Cologna.

Switzerland's Dario Cologna climbs up the hill on his way to win a Tour de Ski, cross-country men's 9-kilometer World Cup pursuit event, in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

From the very beginning of the stage, Petter Northug had an explosive speed, and decreased his gap to Cologna by every kilometer. At 6 kilometers, the gap was only 36 seconds, and Northug seemed to give all he had. Starting to climb Alpe Cermis, Cologna did not slow down, and the gap down to Northug increased again. Northug finally finished 27.3 seconds behind the Tour winner, having improved his gap with almost 1 minute.

The fastest athlete of the day was Lukas Bauer (CZE). Starting as number 10, more than 3 minutes behind Cologna, he managed to get contact with the main group after 5 kilometers. Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA) and Martin Jaks (CZE) tried to keep up with him, but had to let him go right after the climb started. Bauer had an amazing speed up the hill, and came third to the finish line.

The overall Tour sprint standing didn’t change today. Cologna won clearly ahead of Northug and on third position was Marcus Hellner.

Olympic Champion Cologna is now in a clear lead of the overall World Cup standing with 1197 points in total. Petter Northug is second (706 points) and third is Alexander Legkov (RUS), who came sick in Toblach and didn’t finish the Tour de Ski.

Switzerland's Dario Cologna, center, the winner, celebrates with Norway's Petter Northug, left, second placed, and Czech Lukas Bauer, third, on the final podium of the Tour de Ski competition, after a cross-country men's 9-kilometer World Cup pursuit event, in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Elvis Piazzi)

Quotes:

Dario Cologna (SUI):

“I was a bit nervous about Northug, because it is not normal to lose that much time in only 6 kilometers. In Cortina Toblach I did not lose any time, so my skis might not have been that good today. In the final climb I felt comfortable and understood I would win.

My goal for the Championship in Oslo is of course to be on the podium, I will do my best to have the same shape there. Right now I look forward to recover, give my body some time to relax and then come back in the World Cup and Championship”.

Petter Northug (NOR):

“My plan was to attack Dario, and that was my only goal. The difference down to Martin Jaks (third) was 2 minutes, and I had to attack Dario. I attacked the whole way to Alpe Cermis. After 1 kilometer in the hill I was really tired, and I had to go back to my normal pace. Dario increased the gap again, but I managed to win a couple of further seconds in the last hill.

I will relax and take it easy when I get back home. I will probably race in Otepää and of course the Championship in Oslo. We will send my little brother to the World Cup in Liberec next weekend, so he will do my job there.

My second biggest goal this season was to fight for the podium in Tour de Ski. I wanted of course to win, as I have been second three times. After a bad start in Oberhof, and considering Dario was really strong I realized it would be harder than I had first thought”.

Lukas Bauer (CZE):

“Right after the start I did not have a good feeling about my performance. I had problems to catch up with the group in front of me, but in the beginning of Alpe Cermis I felt better and better and in the end I guess I was more lucky than the others. Being the fastest one today is very good for me considering I won Tour de Ski last year. The stage victory to me is super.

Tour de Ski was my first goal of this season, in the beginning I had several problems, in the end I was lucky that my dream about being top three in the Tour was reality. I know that I have some reserve, especially in classical style in the distance races, which I will do my best to work on before the Championship in Oslo”.

FIScrosscoutry.com
Sunday 9 January 2011

Switzerland's Dario Cologna, left, winner of a Tour de Ski, cross-country men's 9-kilometer World Cup pursuit event, poses with the winner of the women's event Justyna Kowalczyk, of Poland, in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)