TOUR DE SKI. Alexander Legkov could celebrate his first stage win in Tour de Ski, taking 15 bonus seconds at finish and thereby climbing up on the overall Tour de Ski standing, ranked as third. Legkov who started as the 5th last athlete, showed great performance, edging out Eldar Roenning with 1.7 seconds at the finish.

Russian's Alexander Legkov celebrates on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Tour de Ski nordic ski race in Toblach, Italy, on Tuesday. Legkov won the fourth leg of the Tour de Ski ahead of Norway's Eldar Roenning and Swiss title-holder Dario Cologna. (AFP Photo/Giuseppe Cacace)

Dario Cologna finished third, 2 seconds behind Legkov, and took another 5 important bonus seconds, and secured the overall Tour de Ski Lead, 15.7 seconds ahead of Northug and 39.2 seconds ahead of Legkov.

Swiss Dario Cologna competes in the men's Tour de Ski 5 km classic individual in Toblach on January 3, 2011. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE

Roenning who took 10 bonus seconds in today’s classic race is currently ranked 9th in the overall standing, 1:54.4 minute behind Cologna.

Russian's Alexander Legkov celebrates on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Tour de Ski nordic ski race in Toblach, Italy, on Tuesday. Legkov won the fourth leg of the Tour de Ski ahead of Norway's Eldar Roenning and Swiss title-holder Dario Cologna. (AFP Photo/Giuseppe Cacace)

Starting second in today’s race, Axel Teichmann did an impressing start of the fifth Tour de Ski stage in Toblach. Having the best time at the intermediate time at 1.8 km and at finish, it took another 52 athletes to finish before his time was beaten. Eldar Roenning who finished second was leading the stage win until Legkov rushed into his finish.

Petter Northug could not compete against the time of Legkov or Roenning this day, finishing 12th, 13.8 seconds behind Legkov, having lost severe time in the last part of the course. Northug is now ranked second in the overall Tour de Ski standing, 15.7 seconds behind Cologna, and will have to ski fast in the two next events in Toblach to still have the chance to fight for victory in Tour de Ski.

With a new competition format in Tour de Ski, 5 km classic, the format seemed to fit Alexander Legkov very well. On a day where waxing conditions were hard, and most of the athletes chose no-wax skis, Legkov was very pleased with his performance. 4 Russians in total came into top-10, with Ilia Chernousov finishing 5th, Dmitry Japarov 7th and Nikita Kriukov 8th.

Bjoergen strikes back and takes the stage win in Toblach, Justyna keeps the overall lead

Marit Bjoergen was the fastest woman in the 3.3 km classic race in Toblach . Winning the race with 3.9 seconds over Kowalczyk, and securing 15 bonus seconds at the finish line, Bjoergen decreased the gap between her and Kowalczyk in the Overall standing. Kowalczyk who finished second, is now leading the overall Tour de Ski with 17.7 seconds ahead of Bjoergen. Third fastest today was Astrid Urenholdt Jacobsen who had a strong time, 15.1 seconds behind Bjoergen.

First placed Marit Bjoergen, of Norway, makes her way during a cross-country ski women's 5kilometer Wold Cup event, fifth stage of the Tour de Ski competition, in Toblach, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

As the sun went down, and the temperature fell, it was perfect conditions at the women’s race. Even though the two favourites started within the last 3 athletes, there was a great atmosphere at Toblach Nordic Stadium, with thousands of cheering fans. Nicole Fessel and Stefanie Boehler (both Germany), finishing 4th and 5th, and Katerina Smutna, the only Austrian Cross-Country skier in this tour, finished 8th, showed that they have not given up on a good placement in the overall Tour.

Therese Johaug lost a few seconds in today’s race, but keeps her third spot in the overall Tour ranking, +1:33.9 behind Kowalczyk.

Norway'S Marit Bjoergen celebrates on the podium after winning the 3.3 km classic individual race, the fourth stage of the women's Nordic Skiing Tour de Ski, in Toblach on January 3, 2011. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE

Tour de Ski continues tomorrow with its sixth stage, free sprint. With a free technique sprint tomorrow, where the top 30 athletes will get bonus seconds, with the winner taking 60, there can easily be a lot of changes in the Overall Tour standing after the race. Qualifications starts at 10:45 CET, finals at 12:15.

FIScrosscountry.com
Tuesday 3 January 2012