CROSS COUNTRY SKI. Dario Cologna showed again to be allround skier. After yesterday's second place in 15 km Classic the defending World Cup winner dominated today's sprint free.

<ЕМ>Switzerland's Dario Cologna (R) celebrates as he crosses first the finish line of the the men's cross country sprint event ahead of Anders Gloeersen of Norway (L) during the FIS ski cross-country World Cup event in Rogla on December 18, 2011. (Photo credit: Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images)

Cologna claimed victory ahead of qualification winner Nikolay Morilov (RUS) and Anders Gloeersen (NOR). It was the first victory of Dario Cologna in a sprint. The Swiss top skiers seems ready for the Tour de Ski.

Only 24 hours after the second place in Saturday's 15 km Classic Mass Start Cologna scored third best qualification time. The Swiss made it clearly all the way up to the finals where he met four Norwegians and qualification winner Nikolay Morilov of Russia.

Cologna showed his dominance in the climb towards the stadium and came unchallenged in the finish to score his first sprint World Cup victory. Petter Northug skipped today's sprint and Cologna came closer to the Norwegian in the overall World Cup standings to 92 points.

Dario Cologna SUI

 It was a great day. It's my first sprint victory. It looks like I'm in good shape now in the right moment before Tour de Ski. It was a very good weekend and I'm looking forward to Tour de Ski. My goal is to win it for the third time. I will go home and relax little bit enjoy Christmas and do some training. It's nice to have other Swiss skiers in the tope 30. It is good for summer training. It's good for the whole team.

Nikolay Morilov RUS

I like the course in Rogla, it is long and I prefer to go only one round and not two as in Davos. Dario Cologna was faster today than me. I'm not so fast now because last year I was training with distance specialists. Maybe next time I will be faster. I'm going to Moscow to celebrate Christmas and then I will take part in Tour de Ski. If I get good results and I am in good shape I will ski the whole Tour.

Anders Gloeersen NOR

I was feeling very good today and in the last weeks too. I was more lucky than in competitions before. I am happy I showed I was still in a good shape. I'm focused on the Sprint World Cup. I want to ski as many races as possible. Today it was a good step in the right direction.

Maiken Caspersen Falla takes victory in Rogla

Norway's Maiken Caspersen Fall took victory in today's free technique sprint in Rogla. Canada's Chandra Crawford nothed second place. Ida Ingemarsdotter of Sweden secured third place.

Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway (L) and Ingvild Flugstad Oestenberg of Norway react in the finish line after the women's 1km free sprint at the FIS Ski Cross-Country World Cup in Rogla on December 18, 2011. (Photo credit: Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images)

Maiken Caspersen Falla was superior in today's free technique sprint and celebrates first sprint World Cup win in her career. Falla was on the ski tails of Russia's Natalia Korosteleva who was doing the donkey work for the big part of the final heat. Falla attacked in the last uphill before the stadium opened a gap and her competitor were without a chance.

Chandra Crawford was following Falla closely but the sprint Olympic champion from 2006 did not have enough power to pass the Norwegian. Qualification winner Ida Ingemarsdotter crossed the finish line in third place.

Maiken Caspersen Falla NOR

I'm extremely happy today. It is a dream come true for me. I was hoping to fit with Marit and Kikkan in the finishing straight and I'm sorry for Kikkan she fell. I was lucky I wasn't involved in any accident. I was feeling really strong and fast. We have been traveling since December 2 and I'm looking forward now to going home and enjoying Christmas

Chandra Crawford CAN

It was a great race today. I just tried to follow Maiken and I was hoping to pass her in the finishing straight but she was too fast. I'm looking forward to next sprints to come especially in Milano and Moscow. I'm traveling to Canada now.

Ida Ingemarsdotter SWE

I felt little bit sick two days ago and so we decided to skip the distance race and it proved to be the right decision. At the beginning of the season I did not get the results I wanted. I will take part in Tour de Ski and I hope I will have some good races there as well. I hope I will carry on this good feeling in next competitions.

FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 18 December 2011