Race preview: Tour de Ski Val Müstair Sprint

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 31 Dec 2012@10:00


The 2012/2013 edition of Tour de Ski has only one sprint race on the program – the skating sprint in the new Tour location Val Müstair in Switzerland.  Thus few of the sprint specialists have chosen to start in the Tour, leaving the table mostly open to the all rounders.

This stage is a key stage for the overall Tour – especially in the men’s class as it will lay the foundation for the 35 km long Cortina-Toblach stage. History has shown that it is not important to be among the very first ahead of the Cortina-Toblach stage – but if you are too far down on the start list to get into the fast groups on this long, tough stage, the tour may very well be lost.

Men: Cologna on home ground?

Also look out for overall Tour leader Maxim Vylegzhanin who has some good results from earlier Tour skating sprints

With most sprint specialists – including last year’s winner in the Tour’s skating sprint Nikolay Morilov –  not on the start list, Emil Jönsson is probably the biggest favourite in the men’s class. However, Jönsson did not succeed in the corresponding sprint in Toblach last year (finishing 8th) – instead Petter Northug finished 2nd and Dario Cologna 3rd.

In the 2010/2011 edition of Tour de Ski, Devon Kershaw took the victory in the Toblach sprint after two of the big sprinters Jönsson and Petukhov had pulled out of the Tour.  Kershaw only narrowly sneaked into the final, taking the second lucky loser spot, but then impressed in the final with by getting a 20 meters gap up the last hill. Again Northug and Cologna took the next two places on the podium – but this time Cologna was the fastest of the duo.

Cologna on home ground for the first time in the Tour de Ski history will be especially motivated to take out the maximum in the Val Müstair sprint – but Northug will not let the Swiss beat him easily. Also look out for overall Tour leader Maxim Vylegzhanin who has some good results from earlier Tour skating sprints. Outsiders are Swedish Marcus Hellner and the Canadians  Harvey and Kershaw.

Note also that the course has an uphill finish – being an advantage for the all rounders rather than the pure sprint specialists.



Dario Cologna – Photo WorldofXC.com



Maxim Vylegzhanin – Photo WorldofXC.com

Women: Randall again?

Kowalczyk has had a weak point in skating sprints in the Tour previously

In the women’s class, Kikkan Randall is the big favourite after strong performance in the sprints in Canada. Kowalczyk has had a weak point in skating sprints in the Tour previously – before last year’s third place she was out of the Top 10 three times in a row. Still, Kowalczyk is definitely among the favourites in Val Müstair. Also count in Denise Herrmann from Germany – surprisingly on a strong 4th place overall after 2 stages – with 4th places from last years skating sprint in Toblach and good sprint results from the Canada World Cup round.

Outsiders are Finland’s new star Anne Kyllönen, Swiss Laurien Van der Graff and Norway’s Ingvild Flugstad Østberg who also did very well in Canada. And maybe the 2010 Tour de Ski skating sprint winner Natalia Korosteleva can find back to her old shape? Her 6th place in the Quebec skating sprint pointed in the right direction…  Charlotte Kalla and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen are both big question marks – they have both shown good results in the discipline in the past, but not lately…

In the overall, Kowalczyk will get another big step closer to overall victory if she does not fail in the Val Müstair sprint. To get excitement into the women’s class, a strong chasing group is needed in the Toblach pursuit race. That means that Norway’s big star Therese Johaug should get some  bonus points out of the sprint – a group with Johaug, Herrmann, Kyllönen and Jacobsen would maybe be able to get some seconds off Kowalczyk…?



Kikkan Randall – photo WorldofXC.com

Set up your predictions

Set up your predictions and see results here:

Race profile

Women – historical results
Name 2012
Canmore
2012-12-15
SP F Final
2012
Quebec
2012-12-08
SP F Final
2012
Toblach
2012-01-04
SP F Final
2011
Toblach
2011-01-05
SP F Final
2010
Prag
2010-01-04
SP 1.2 km F Final
2008
Prague
2008-12-29
SP 1.3 km F Final
2007
Prague
2007-12-30
SP 1 km F Final
RANDALL Kikkan 2nd 1st 2nd 5th
KOROSTELEVA Natalia 35th 6th 14th 1st 10th
KOWALCZYK Justyna 21st 3rd 22nd 19th 11th 6th
HERRMANN Denise 4th 9th 4th 17th 28th
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 5th 4th 7th 31st
FABJAN Vesna 16th 26th 5th 9th 6th 9th 26th
KYLLOENEN Anne 12th 7th 20th 23rd
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe 6th 15th 18th 5th
KOLB Hanna 17th 30th 8th
JEAN Aurore 18th 9th 27th
DOTSENKO Anastasia 15th 19th 16th
ZELLER Katrin 24th 19th 7th 47th 19th 19th
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa 32nd 18th 5th 2nd 14th
KALLA Charlotte 11th 13th 16th
VAN DER GRAAFF Laurien 8th 31st
LAHTEENMAKI Krista 13th 14th
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 17th 21st 12th 20th
WENG Heidi 12th
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa 24th 26th 11th 8th 12th
NISKANEN Kerttu 15th 33rd
HAAG Anna 38th 34th 12th 16th
FESSEL Nicole 26th 27th 14th
BOEHLER Stefanie 32nd 28th 13th 34th
Men – historical results
Name 2012
Canmore
2012-12-15
SP F Final
2012
Quebec
2012-12-08
SP F Final
2012
Toblach
2012-01-04
SP F Final
2011
Toblach
2011-01-05
SP F Final
2010
Prag
2010-01-04
SP 1.2 km F Final
2008
Prague
2008-12-29
SP 1.3 km F Final
2007
Prague
2007-12-30
SP 1 km F Final
JOENSSON Emil 1st 1st 8th 1st
NORTHUG Petter jr. 2nd 3rd 45th 7th 5th
KERSHAW Devon 50th 34th 13th 1st 21st 26th 27th
COLOGNA Dario 3rd 2nd 11th 8th 14th
NEWELL Andrew 5th 5th 8th 6th
HELLNER Marcus 21st 4th 2nd 21st 22nd
HOFER David 21st 29th 4th 9th 31st 34th
OESTENSEN Simen 5th 3rd 2nd
HARVEY Alex 52nd 21st 6th 14th 19th
PELLEGRINO Federico 6th 28th 28th
TRITSCHER Bernhard 12th 26th 17th 11th
CHEBOTKO Nikolay 39th 14th 12th 25th 22nd 26th
VALJAS Len 7th 46th
DARRAGON Roddy 20th 11th 9th 17th
JAKS Martin 16th 7th 61st 32nd
NOECKLER Dietmar 10th
CHERNOUSOV Ilia 11th 30th 56th
PASINI Fabio 37th 71st 14th 15th 41st
SCOLA Fulvio 54th 15th 32nd 22nd
DI CENTA Giorgio 18th 23rd 26th 11th 10th
PERL Curdin 26th 12th 31st 47th
RICKARDSSON Daniel 41st 10th 55th 44th 60th
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 37th 7th 30th 6th
GAILLARD Jean Marc 60th 30th 16th 3rd 30th
GJERDALEN Tord Asle 15th 39th 12th 9th
MIRANDA Cyril 43rd 16th 41st 14th
RAZYM Ales 64th 13th

Oberhof Pursuit Predictions: Results

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 30 Dec 2012@22:34

Sportsamuel has taken the lead in the overall Tour de Ski predictions after a shared 5th place in the Oberhof Pursuit predictions. Best in the pursuit race today was Kvikkjokk. Congratulations!

Still tight in the top, and with 5 more races to go in addition to the overall nothing is yet decided. Full results Oberhof Pursuit are available here – and overall Tour de Ski prediction results here.

Top 10: Tour de Ski 2012/2013 overall

Click the points in the table below in order to see the predictions for each of the races. Click the ‘x’ to see the predictions for the overall Tour de Ski.

1. Sportsamuel 1453 740 x 713
2. Magnus Mellbye Larsen 1440 770 x 670
3. Team Northug 1438 738 x 700
4. Amanda 1417 735 x 682
5. Johan 1407 694 x 713
6. Redjacket 1382 703 x 679
7. Siegerjc 1380 683 x 697
8. alpridz 1378 695 x 683
9. qstoffe 1377 745 x 632
10. Olle Bull 1376 670 x 706
Top 6: Oberhof Pursuit predictions
1. 747 Kvikkjokk Petter jr. NORTHUG 60 Alexander LEGKOV 110 Dario COLOGNA 50
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Anne KYLLOENEN 80
2. 729 LMG Petter jr. NORTHUG 60 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN 100 Alexander LEGKOV 80
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN40
3. 722 Folino Petter jr. NORTHUG 60 Alexander LEGKOV 110 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN 100
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Charlotte KALLA 24
4. 716 Ingy Dario COLOGNA 50 Alexander LEGKOV 110 Petter jr. NORTHUG 80
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Charlotte KALLA 24
5. 713 Johan Petter jr. NORTHUG 60 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN 100 Dario COLOGNA 50
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Kikkan RANDALL 18
5. 713 Sportsamuel Petter jr. NORTHUG 60 Dario COLOGNA 50 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN 100
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Kikkan RANDALL 18
5. 713 susette Petter jr. NORTHUG 60 Dario COLOGNA 50 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN 100
Justyna KOWALCZYK150 Therese JOHAUG 110 Kikkan RANDALL 18

Race Preview: Tour de Ski Pursuit Oberhof

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 29 Dec 2012@17:49


Petter Northug and Kikkan Randall start out first – but will they come first to the finish? The second stage of Tour de Ski 2012/2013 is the 15/10 km Handicap start in Oberhof – based on the Prologue results. The Prologue results were tight – but the 15, 10 and 5 bonus seconds for the top three skiers makes the chase a bit more interesting…

Note! We are predicting the order the skiers get to the finish at Stage 2 – not the individual times for Stage 2!

Results Tour de Ski Prologue Predictions

Magnus Mellbye Larsen is in the lead in the Tour de Ski WhoWins predictions after hitting the jackpot with the complete women podium correct – and also the correct winner and third placed in the men’s class. Congratulations! But it is still tight in the top, and with 6 more races to go in addition to the overall nothing is yet decided. Full results are available here – and overall Tour de Ski prediction results here.

Men: Another Northug show?

In the men’s class the four top overall Tour favourites – Petter Northug, Marcus Hellner, Alexander Legkov and Dario Cologna – are already to be found in the top four places. Northug’s lead down to Cologna in fourth is  a seemingly enormous 25 seconds. However, based on previous editions of Tour de Ski, it is to be expected that these gaps are too small to be decisive for the Pursuit results.

- I plan to take it easy in the start, and will probably be caught by the others pretty fast, Northug said to the Norwegian TV channel NRK after the race.

- Then it will be everybody against everybody – and a tough fight for the first places, Northug predicts.

Just look at how Teichmann surprisingly got away in the last curve in last year’s Oberhof Pursuit

Going another 25 seconds down on the results list from Cologna, you get to number 60 on the start list! With 60 skiers starting in 50 seconds, there will probably be a group of 30-40 skiers or more forming before half of the race is done as in previous editions of Tour de Ski.

Thus a sprint finish is a probably outcome – with the early starters saving some energy. Looking back at previous years, Northug, Cologna, Legkov, Kershaw and Teichmann are the ones who have regularly been up there – with Ilia Chernousov, Maxim Vylegzhanin, Matti Heikkinen and Lukas Bauer also shown strong results. Except for Teichmann, Kershaw and Heikkinen, all of these skiers have shown excellent shape this year, and should all be counted among the favourites. Northug is, however, the big favourite after his excellent Prologue – but everything can happen in the end of such a tight chasing start. Just look at how Teichmann surprisingly got away in the last curve in last year’s Oberhof Pursuit…

Women: Kowalczyk showing her strength again?

In the women’s class, it is a lot more open! Can Justyna Kowalczyk get away from the others alone – as she has done so often before?

Kowalczyk will probably race full speed from the start, trying to catch up with the skiers in front and get a gap on Johaug

In the Prologue, Kowalczyk lost 14 seconds to leader Kikkan Randall – with Charlotte Kalla squeezed in between them. One of the other big overall favourites, Therese Johaug, is 18 seconds down from Kowalczyk. This means that Kowalczyk will probably race full speed from the start, trying to catch up with the skiers in front and get a gap on Johaug and the others racing from behind. While the Prologue was skied in skating, the Pursuit is skied in Kowalczyk’s favourite style – classic.

- I am uncertain about my shape in skating, but I know I am very strong in classic style, Justyna Kowalczyk said to NRK before the Prologue.

Looking at historical results, Kowalczyk has three victories in a row on the Oberhof Pursuit – and is clearly the big favourite this year again. Johaug caught up a lot of time on Kowalczyk last year – finishing second. The Finns – Saarinen and Lahteenmaaki – have consistently races in the top 6 the last year – but are they strong enough this year? Kikkan Randall and Charlotte Kalla have not had their best results in the Oberhof Pursuit earlier, but they should both be counted among the favourites after excellent Prologue results.

Set up your predictions

Set up your predictions and see results here:

Men – historical results
Name 2011
Oberhof
2011-12-30
15 km C Pursuit
2011
Oberhof
2011-01-01
15 km C Pursuit
2010
Oberhof
2010-01-02
15 km C Pursuit
2008
Oberhof
2008-12-28
15 km C Pursuit
COLOGNA Dario 3rd 1st 12th 1st
NORTHUG Petter jr. 2nd 5th 1st 9th
TEICHMANN Axel 1st 10th 6th 2nd
KERSHAW Devon 15th 2nd 10th 3rd
LEGKOV Alexander 4th 3rd 15th 37th
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 22nd 2nd 41st
HEIKKINEN Matti 14th 7th 3rd 33rd
CHERNOUSOV Ilia 8th 4th 37th
BAUER Lukas 7th 13th 4th 15th
JAUHOJAERVI Sami 13th 6th 7th 4th
ROENNING Eldar 5th 22nd 25th
DI CENTA Giorgio 6th 11th 20th 8th
ANGERER Tobias 12th 5th 5th
FILBRICH Jens 10th 17th 8th 22nd
NOUSIAINEN Ville 19th 8th 24th
RICKARDSSON Daniel 20th 15th 14th 10th
GAILLARD Jean Marc 21st 14th 17th 7th
HARVEY Alex 27th 9th 27th
TURYSHEV Sergey 9th
HELLNER Marcus 29th 21st 9th 24th
MAE Jaak 49th 6th
Women – historical results
Name 2011
Oberhof
2011-12-30
10 km C Pursuit
2011
Oberhof
2011-01-01
10 km C Pursuit
2010
Oberhof
2010-01-02
10 km C Pursuit
2008
Oberhof
2008-12-28
10 km C Pursuit
KOWALCZYK Justyna 1st 1st 1st 3rd
LAHTEENMAKI Krista 5th 2nd
JOHAUG Therese 2nd 9th 17th 14th
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa 4th 4th 2nd 5th
BJOERGEN Marit 3rd 2nd
LONGA Marianna 3rd 7th 8th
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer 15th 3rd 17th
MAJDIC Petra 5th 10th 6th
KUITUNEN Virpi 4th 1st
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa 16th 6th 13th 9th
FOLLIS Arianna 8th 5th 4th
KALLA Charlotte 11th 7th
RANDALL Kikkan 6th 22nd
ISHIDA Masako 10th 16th
NISKANEN Kerttu 7th 26th
KOROSTELEVA Natalia 21st 6th
TCHEKALEVA Yulia 10th 18th
ZELLER Katrin 9th 30th 27th 19th
BOEHLER Stefanie 8th 31st 36th 29th
SKOFTERUD Vibeke W 8th
SAVIALOVA Olga 9th 18th
MURANEN Pirjo 11th 7th
SACHENBACHER -STEHLE Evi 15th 10th

Race Preview: Tour de Ski Overall & Prologue – Set up Your Predictions

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 28 Dec 2012@8:00


Tour de Ski is the biggest highlight of the 2012/2013 season along with the World Championships – 7 tough stages in 3 countries will show who is the best overall cross country skier in the World Cup circus. The secret behind a victory is not to have a single bad day – just ask Petter Northug who lost the overall tour due to one or two bad stages in the previous editions of Tour de Ski!

The XC-Predictions were a big hit in the previous Tour de Ski editions – this year we  expect more than 200 setting up their predictions for Tour de Ski stages. Remember that the overall Tour de Ski predictions are to be set up ahead of the first stage!

Set up your predictions

Set up your predictions here – or read the preview article below first:

Race previews – Tour de Ski overall

Norway has dominated the World Cup this year – but is still chasing its first overall Tour de Ski victory – both in the women’s and men’s classes. Marit Bjørgen was more a favourite than ever – but had to skip Tour de Ski due to health problems. However, Norway still have very good chances for a first overall victory with Petter Northug in the men’s class and Therese Johaug in the women’s class.

Being in a World Championships year, the Tour de Ski is reduced from 9 to 7 stages. Only one sprint race is included in the race series now – this is a significant advantage for non-sprinters like Therese Johaug and Lukas Bauer. Also, the Skiathlon is removed compared to last year’s edition. Is this what it takes to get a Norwegian overall Tour de Ski victory – after many attempts? Or will Cologna, Bauer, Kowalczyk or some of the dark horses take home the biggest title of the year within Cross Country skiing?

The predictions for the overall Tour de Ski are to be set up ahead of the Prologue – so it is time to take a look at the overall favourites:

Women

  • Justyna Kowalczyk: Always slow to get in shape at the start of the season – but won both the mass start and skiathlon races in Canmore – and showed impressive shape there even if some of the best skiers were not on the start line. Thus the shape is there for Tour de Ski this year again. and with Bjørgen not at the start line Kowalczyk is the big favourite.
  • Therese Johaug: Sprint is her weak point – the last uphill her strong point. Johaug has improved on the sprint – and in addition there is only one sprint in this edition of Tour de Ski. Can it be enough for an overall Tour de Ski victory? Last year Johaug had a bad day in the pursuit in Toblach – with no bad days in this edition of Tour de Ski Johaug may very well be the winner at the top of Alpe Cermis!
  • Kikkan Randall: Impressive season so far – improving a lot in distance races. The only woman to finish in the Top 10 in all World Cup races so far this year(!) – of those 7 times Top 6! Compare that to 4 times Top 6 for Kowalczyk or for Johaug. However, the last hill up Alpe Cermis will be tough for Randall – and removing a sprint race is not an advantage. It will be a surprise if Randall will take the overall victory – but a place in the Top 3 is within reach.
  • Heidi Weng: The young Norwegian has been compared to Petter Northug – and Therese Johaug has named her one of the favourites to win the overall Tour this year. Weng finished 3rd in the Kuusamo mini tour this year – and has shown that she can deliver good results in all disciplines. She is also strong in the Alpe Cermis. But can she deliver in 9 races in a row?
  • Anna Kyllönen: Kyllönen surprised with two 2nd places in the Canmore World Cup rounds (mass start and skiathlon), and has also showed that she can perform in sprint (4th place in Kuusamo classic sprint). Will be interesting to see if this Finnish skier can fight with Kowalczyk and Johaug in the overall Tour de Ski.
  • Charlotte Kalla: The Swedish hope – the Tour de Ski winner from 2008 – started the season with a 4th spot in Gällivare but had problems after that. Still an outsider in Tour de Ski if everything goes well!
  • Outsiders: Kristin Størmer Steira are outsiders – but a lot must happen in the top if one of these women will top the Tour de Ski results list this year…
  • Marit Bjørgen would have been the big favourite in the women’s class, but is not on the start list due to health problems. Vibeke Skofterud is also not on the start list.

Men

  • Petter Northug: Northug is again the biggest favourite in this edition of Tour de Ski after impressing performance earlier in the season. Northug has three 2nd places in a row and a 3rd place in the the last editions of Tour de Ski – and is very hungry for an overall victory. Northug won the Kuusamo mini tour earlier this year without any trouble at all – and will want to repeat this in Tour de Ski. In the  last editions of Tour de Ski Northug has not managed to deliver stable performances all stages –  the Cortina-Toblach stage, classic races and some of the sprint races have been troublesome for the Norwegian in the last editions.
  • Dario Cologna: Cologna is the second big favourite in this Tour edition although his season opening has not been the best with a 4th place in the Kuusamo mini-tour as his best. However, Cologna has earlier shown that he is a complete skier who can win in all disciplines – and he has the ability to perform consistently well in many races in a row.  Three Tour de Ski victories says it all! Also, Cologna has an edge over Northug up the last stage in Alpe Cermis.
  • Alexander Legkov: Legkov is very strong in the distance races, but varies in the sprints. But with only one sprint on the program this year, Legkov is a strong contender for Cologna and Northug.  As for Northug, Legkov has had trouble with stability on multi-day events. However, Legkov is one of the strongest skiers in the last uphill up Alpe Cermis, so if he is close before that race…
  • Marcus Hellner: The Swedish hope finished 2nd last year after a very good last stage. Hellner has previously shown that he can perform well in all disciplines – from sprint to the long Cortina-Toblach stage – but the Swede has not impressed in the season opening which gave a 12th place in the Kuusamo mini-tour and a 3rd place in Gällivare. Still one of the big outsiders!
  • Maxim Vylegzhanin: The dark horse who can actually take the overall victory if everything goes his way. Has not showed stabil results over many races previously – that might be his problem this year as well. However, the Russian impressed with a second spot in the Kuusamo mini tour.
  • Lukas Bauer: Bauer has two Tour de Ski victories, but in addition to not showing optimal shape so far this year, he has two problems: His weakness in sprint and in man-to-man fights. Bauer’s way to victory goes through a good race on Stage 6 from Cortina to Toblach: Here Bauer can fight his way all the way up to the top and gain the time he has lost in the sprint if everything goes his way – and then even an overall Tour victory is possible…
  • Outsiders: Roland Clara – strong in Alpe Cermis and showed that the shape is approaching with 2nd spot in the Canmore skiathlon. The Canadians Harvey and Kershav are also among the outsiders althoug they have not performed well so far this year – can do well in both sprint and distance races.
Prologue Preview

This prologue marks the start of the 7th edition of the Tour de Ski – 7 competitions in 9 days in two countries. The prologue is approximately the double length of a regular sprint – 3 km for the women and 4 km for the men (increased by 250 meters from last year).

  • The women start from 13:15 CET – the men start from 14:30 CET
  • In the 2011/2012 prologue, the big favourites showed their faces already from the start among the men. Petter Northug won ahead of Dario Cologna. The 2010/2011 winner Marcus Hellner finished 4th. Among the women, Justyna Kowalczyk won ahead of Marit Bjørgen with Hanna Brodin (Sweden) in third.
  • In the 2010/2011 prologue, Marcus Hellner won the men’s class ahead of a surprisingly strong sprint-specialist Alexey Petukhov (Russia) with Northug in third. Among the women Kowalczyk was again strongest – this time with Charlotte Kalla in second spot.
  • In the 2009/2010 prologue, Petter Northug won ahead of Marcus Hellner, Axel Teichmann, Dario Cologna and Sergey Shiriaev among the men. Petra Majdic won ahead of Natalia Korosteleva, Justyna Kowalczyk, Arianna Follis and Miriam Gössner among the women.
  • In the 2008/2009 prologue, Axel Teichmann won ahead of Dario Cologna, Petter Northug, Aivar Rehemaa and Devon Kershaw among the men. In the womens class Claudia Nystad won ahead of Arianna Follis, Petra Majdic, Justyna Kowalczyk and Marit Bjørgen.
  • Race profile Men:
  • Race profile Women:
Men – previous editions
Name
2012
Tour de Ski
2012-01-08
110 km M
2011
Tour de Ski
2011-01-09
102 km M
2010
Tour de Ski
2010-01-10
102 km M
2009
Tour de Ski
2009-01-04
102 km M
2008
Tour de Ski
2008-01-06
102 km M
2007
Tour de Ski
2007-01-07
102 km M
COLOGNA Dario
1st
1st
3rd
1st
30th
NORTHUG Petter jr.
3rd
2nd
2nd
2nd
8th
4th
HELLNER Marcus
2nd
14th
4th
36th
50th
BAUER Lukas
6th
3rd
1st
10th
1st
KERSHAW Devon
4th
7th
16th
20th
LEGKOV Alexander
5th
33rd
20th
2nd
CLARA Roland
19th
5th
21st
27th
PERL Curdin
35th
4th
15th
29th
GAILLARD Jean Marc
6th
5th
6th
36th
MANIFICAT Maurice
7th
17th
19th
JAKS Martin
9th
8th
11th
DI CENTA Giorgio
15th
13th
10th
4th
3rd
20th
HARVEY Alex
12th
10th
22nd
FILBRICH Jens
13th
15th
11th
12th
24th
9th
ANGERER Tobias
11th
14th
1st
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim
8th
15th
21st
CHERNOUSOV Ilia
10th
24th
42nd
18th
RICKARDSSON Daniel
9th
8th
23rd
47th
SOMMERFELDT Rene
6th
2nd
15th
TEICHMANN Axel
39th
7th
3rd
13th
BABIKOV Ivan
27th
21st
9th
35th
GJERDALEN Tord Asle
16th
13th
22nd
4th
JOHNSRUD SUNDBY Martin
20th
8th
OESTENSEN Simen
25th
28th
3rd
ROTCHEV Vassili
5th
PILLER COTTRER Pietro
7th
7th
27th
HETLAND Tor Arne
42nd
5th
5th
DEMENTIEV Eugeniy
9th
9th
JAUHOJAERVI Sami
33rd
9th
34th
7th
GOERING Franz
6th
6th
SVARTEDAL Jens Arne
10th
21st
DEMENTIEV Eugeni
8th
PANKRATOV Nikolai
10th
Women – previous editions
Name
2012
Tour de Ski
2012-01-08
63 km M
2011
Tour de Ski
2011-01-09
60 km M
2010
Tour de Ski
2010-01-10
60 km M
2009
Tour de Ski
2009-01-04
60 km M
2008
Tour de Ski
2008-01-06
60 km M
2007
Tour de Ski
2007-01-07
60 km M
KOWALCZYK Justyna
1st
1st
1st
4th
7th
11th
BJOERGEN Marit
2nd
10th
2nd
JOHAUG Therese
3rd
2nd
6th
14th
MAJDIC Petra
6th
2nd
3rd
18th
6th
LONGA Marianna
3rd
8th
5th
15th
FOLLIS Arianna
4th
3rd
8th
3rd
16th
LAHTEENMAKI Krista
4th
8th
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe
5th
7th
10th
KALLA Charlotte
7th
5th
1st
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa
9th
13th
4th
2nd
17th
4th
KUITUNEN Virpi
1st
2nd
1st
ZELLER Katrin
6th
12th
9th
17th
9th
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa
11th
11th
6th
11th
10th
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt
8th
10th
16th
SHEVCHENKO Valentina
14th
16th
19th
14th
4th
3rd
RANDALL Kikkan
10th
21st
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer
5th
9th
11th
7th
ELDEN Marte
9th
SAVIALOVA Olga
7th
21st
14th
SIDKO Alena
9th
29th
ROTCHEVA Olga
19th
5th
HAAG Anna
7th
13th
NYSTAD Claudia
16th
6th
NEUMANNOVA Katerina
5th
SACHENBACHER -STEHLE Evi
8th
SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi
8th
SKOFTERUD Vibeke W
9th
BAUER Viola
10th

XC-Predictions: Quebec Sprint Free on Saturday evening!

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 07 Dec 2012@8:00

The Quebec weekend of team sprint and sprint free replaces the traditional Düsseldorf weekend which had its 10th anniversary last season. The sprint is set to go on Saturday evening CET – with the qualification starting at 19:15 CET.

The course has some similarities to the Düsseldorf course though – flat but with even more curves. In addition the organizers included a “ski jump” – so there should be enough excitement for both skiers and spectators.

Big names not appearing

There are some big names taking off both the Canadian weekends as they are preparing for Tour de Ski. This includes Marit Bjørgen, Justyna Kowalczyk, Charlotte Kalla, Petter Northug, Dario Cologna and many other of the top distance skiers. Startlists for the sprint were not out when this preview was written, but startlists for the team relay were ready and there was also a list of participants for the sprint.

Men: Morilov or Peterson?

This is the first sprint free of the season, and thus the skiers have not had the possibility to show their shape on the international level yet. Based on last years results, Devon Kershaw (finished 1st and 3rd in the two last free sprints in the World Cup – is now on home ground) will be a very interesting man to follow. In addition look out for Eirik Brandsdal (winner of Milano last year), Ola Vigen Hattestad (not the best season start, but finished the previous season well), Teodor Peterson (four finals – one victory in sprint free last year), Morilov (the Russian was very strong all of the season last year – in the final in nearly all sprint free races) and Petukuv (four sprint free finals – one victory). Peterson, Brandsdal Morilov is my guess!

Women: Time for Randall?

In the womens class the lack of Bjørgen and Kowalczyk makes it more open. Maiken Caspersen Falla had four times top 3 last year – and will be fighting hard against Ida Ingemarsdotter (claiming to not be in top shape on her blog, but we will see about that) and Kikkan Randall (wanting to perform well on North American soil). Chandra Crawford is the home favourite – if she can repeat the season opening of last year on home ground (4th in Düsseldorf free sprint, 2nd in Roggla free sprint), the spectator will go crazy! It will also be interesting to see the big surprise of last years pre-christmas season – the Swiss Laurien van der Graaff!

Note! The usual tables with previous results are below the course preview!

Course Preview

It is a long course – 1720 meters long according to the race program. Here you can see a race preview video and Christoph Eigenmann has posted some pictures of the course on his blog:

Animated course – FIS Cross-country World Cup from Sprint Québec on Vimeo.

There is no snow in the surrounding area, but the organizing committee could produce almost 10.000 m3 of snow in the past weeks thanks to cold temperatures. Here is a video posted by Emil Jönnson going through the course with a camera yesterday:

Men
Name
2012
Szklarska Poreba
2012-02-17
SP F Final
2012
Moscow
2012-02-02
SP 1.5 km F Final
2012
Milano
2012-01-14
SP F Final
2012
Toblach
2012-01-04
SP F Final
2011
Rogla
2011-12-18
SP F Final
2011
Davos
2011-12-11
SP F Final
2011
Duesseldorf
2011-12-03
SP F Final
BRANDSDAL Eirik
10th
10th
1st
6th
10th
KERSHAW Devon
1st
3rd
13rd
15th
4th
18th
HATTESTAD Ola Vigen
3rd
52nd
6th
5th
53rd
1st
MORILOV Nikolay
2nd
4th
4th
1st
2nd
6th
34th
PETUKHOV Alexey
12nd
14th
5th
5th
9th
1st
2nd
PETERSON Teodor
7th
1st
3rd
9th
8th
2nd
5th
COLOGNA Dario
8th
3rd
1st
7th
NORTHUG Petter jr.
2nd
5th
GLOEERSEN Anders
6th
2nd
13rd
3rd
17th
26th
WENZL Josef
30th
11st
2nd
7th
37th
27th
17th
JOENSSON Emil
62nd
16th
8th
3rd
GOLBERG Paal
20th
30th
4th
8th
3rd
STRANDVALL Matias
4th
8th
7th
45th
46th
7th
HOFER David
37th
20th
4th
12nd
13rd
59th
PENTSINEN Anssi
21st
40th
22nd
23rd
30th
4th
DARRAGON Roddy
5th
21st
27th
36th
32nd
27th
RETIVYKH Gleb
5th
14th
11st
HARVEY Alex
27th
9th
6th
19th
9th
PELLEGRINO Federico
9th
34th
9th
28th
7th
12nd
6th
DAHL John Kristian
6th
36th
20th
PETTERSEN Oeystein
7th
35th
16th
14th
29th
SCOLA Fulvio
8th
32nd
60th
57th
TAMBORNINO Eligius
26th
13rd
31st
11st
26th
8th
KINDSCHI Joeri
28th
17th
29th
33rd
18th
9th
PASINI Renato
61st
32nd
10th
35th
38th
33rd
HAMILTON Simeon
29th
31st
19th
10th
33rd
VOLOTKA Denis
33rd
54th
10th
44th
NOECKLER Dietmar
54th
29th
48th
10th
43rd
Women
Name
2012
Szklarska Poreba
2012-02-17
SP F Final
2012
Moscow
2012-02-02
SP 1.5 km F Final
2012
Milano
2012-01-14
SP F Final
2012
Toblach
2012-01-04
SP F Final
2011
Rogla
2011-12-18
SP F Final
2011
Davos
2011-12-11
SP F Final
2011
Duesseldorf
2011-12-03
SP F Final
FALLA Maiken Caspersen
2nd
16th
3rd
1st
3rd
8th
BJOERGEN Marit
22nd
1st
7th
INGEMARSDOTTER Ida
1st
8th
1st
27th
3rd
48th
KOWALCZYK Justyna
16th
1st
3rd
24th
8th
RANDALL Kikkan
3rd
7th
2nd
2nd
6th
1st
1st
KOROSTELEVA Natalia
31st
2nd
26th
14th
5th
18th
24th
CRAWFORD Chandra
38th
36th
7th
2nd
9th
4th
MATVEEVA Natalia
6th
13rd
4th
23rd
14th
2nd
2nd
VAN DER GRAAFF Laurien
14th
18th
10th
8th
5th
3rd
DOTSENKO Anastasia
44th
3rd
16th
37th
22nd
36th
BRODIN Hanna
7th
40th
13rd
41st
4th
5th
HERRMANN Denise
11st
31st
19th
4th
16th
13rd
37th
BARTHELEMY Laure
4th
23rd
36th
31st
16th
43rd
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad
13rd
10th
7th
4th
24th
10th
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa
4th
32nd
12nd
27th
FABJAN Vesna
8th
27th
8th
5th
7th
11st
20th
LAHTEENMAKI Krista
20th
5th
13rd
19th
20th
KYLLOENEN Anne
21st
14th
5th
20th
42nd
28th
17th
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt
5th
17th
17th
26th
10th
WENG Heidi
15th
20th
17th
12nd
6th
23rd
SARASOJA-LILJA Riikka
11st
14th
21st
13rd
26th
6th
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe
34th
6th
11st
EIDE Mari
35th
6th
56th
12nd
DIGGINS Jessica
23rd
6th
18th
MALVALEHTO Mona-Lisa
50th
11st
21st
17th
7th
KOLB Hanna
17th
29th
8th
15th
14th
11st
GAIAZOVA Daria
30th
22nd
25th
9th
30th
46th
ZELLER Katrin
9th
19th
36th
40th
SOEMSKAR Linn
32nd
9th
35th
36th
26th
FESSEL Nicole
19th
9th
26th
ERIKSSON Mia
48th
16th
57th
9th
JEAN Aurore
25th
15th
20th
9th
23rd
40th
VISNAR Katja
28th
45th
21st
10th
21st
13rd
PROCHAZKOVA Alena
10th
39th
46th
NYVLTOVA Eva
26th
10th
48th
37th
53rd