Preview: Alpe Cermis Final Climb 2013

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 05 Jan 2013@15:30


The Final Climb up Alpe Cermis is the toughest race in the Cross Country Skiing World Cup – this is the stage where legends are made and the Tour de Ski is decided. Norwegian skier Therese Johaug is the Queen of the Alpe Cermis with three stage wins – winning with nearly one minute margin two times in a row. In the men’s class Lukas Bauer  (CZE) has impressed several times – so has Alexander Legkov (RUS), Marcus Hellner (SWE) and Ivan Babikov (CAN).

In addition to Johaug’s two crushing stage wins in 2011 and 2012, the most impressive race up Alpe Cermis was Bauer in the legendary 2010 edition. The Czech started the stage 10 seconds behind Petter Northug (NOR) and crushed Northug up the Final Climb – winning the overall Tour de Ski with 1:16 down to Northug.  Instead of enjoying his big lead and certain victory, he pushed all the way to the finish line, and also won the Alpe Cermis stage!

The Alpe Cermis has a height difference of 425 meters – and the total climb on the stage is 495 meters. The women and men race the same course (9 km skating). Before the climb starts, there is a 5.5 km “warm-up” down the valley.

2013 preview: Men

Northug has an extreme ability to get the maximum out when it is needed – so don’t write off Northug until the winner has crossed the finish line

With the tough race profile of Alpe Cermis, motivation and position in the field relative to other skiers is often just as important as pure strength. The two first in the overall Tour standings, Dario Cologna (SUI) and Alexander Legkov (+6.5 seconds) , have both shown that they can be among the very fastest up the Alpe Cermis if it is necessary in order to fight for the victory.  Legkov has been the strongest so far, but a Cologna under pressure may very well challenge Legkov.

Northug: Steady improvement year by year

Third in the overall, Petter Northug (at + 11.5 seconds), has improved steadily year by year in Alpe Cermis – the closest being 39 seconds behind the stage winner in 2011. On paper the Norwegian is probably still some seconds slower than the very best – but Northug has an extreme ability to get the maximum out when it is needed – so don’t write off Northug until the winner has crossed the finish line. Fourth in the overall Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS, + 16.3 seconds) has a 9th place from 2009 as his best result up Alpe Cermis – 32 seconds behind the stage winner. The Alpe Cermis has not been Vylegzhanin’s race so far – but with the shape the Russian has shown in this Tour, he should not be written off.

Stage win: Look out for Babikov and Hellner

Lukas Bauer (2 wins), Alexander Legkov (1 win, once  5 seconds behind), Ivan Babikov (1 win, once 5 seconds behind) and Marcus Hellner (twice 2 seconds behind) are the four skiers on the start in this year’s Tour who have at least two top races up Alpe Cermis (see the table below or the full table for all skiers here). In addition there are several other 2013 starters who have proved that they are excellent climbers by being within 10-15 seconds of the winner. This includes Dario Cologna, Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA), Giorgio Di Centa (ITA), Tom Reichelt (GER), Matti Heikkinen (FIN)  and Roland Clara (ITA). These will probably be the ones fighting for the stage win along with Cologna, Legkov and Babikov. Legkov, Hellner, Cologna, Heikkinen and Babikov have showed the best shape in this Tour.

2013 preview: Women

Johaug caught nearly 2 minutes on Kowalczyk in 2011, but Kowalczyk did not push all the way to the finish in that race

With her 2 minute lead in the overall standings, Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) is the biggest favourite for the overall Tour de Ski victory. Based on previous results (see the table below or the full table for all skiers here), Johaug should be able to catch up 40-60 seconds on Kowalczyk if they both have a normal day. Johaug caught nearly 2 minutes on Kowalczyk in 2011, but Kowalczyk did not push all the way to the finish in that race. Johaug’s only chance for overall victory seems to be a really bad day for Kowalczyk. Actually the fight for second place between Johaug and Kristin Størmer Steira (NOR) might be just as interesting with Steira starting only 10 seconds behind Johaug.

Johaug for the stage win?

Therese Johaug is the big favourite for the stage win after crushing the field twice in a row.  The other big names for the stage win are Kristin Størmer Steira (NOR) who won the stage in 2010 and has three races within 10 seconds of the stage winner and Valentina Shevchenko (UKR) who took the Alpe Cermis stage win in 2008.  Justyna Kowalczyk has seldom been under pressure up Alpe Cermis – but has shown that she has the ability to race very well when it is needed – finishing 4th only 25 seconds down on Steira in 2010.  The secret tip for a top 3 on this stage is the young Norwegian Heidi Weng – an excellent climber who is in Johaug class on her best days. Although Charlotte Kalla has not performed well in the Final Climb earlier, she could very well fight for a top three on the stage if everything goes her way. Also don’t forget Katrin Zeller and Krista Lähteenmäki – both have shown excellent shape in the latest races, and have previously proved that they are strong climbers. Note that the Norwegian Marthe Kristoffersen (NOR) – fourth and third the two last years – has quit the Tour.

Men – starters Tour de Ski 2012/2013
Name 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Best Average
BAUER Lukas +0:52.8
31:31.1 (8)
+0:00.0
30:28.3 (1)
+0:00.0
33:43.4 (1)
+0:15.2
34:06.4 (5)
+0:46.0
33:45.1 (7)
+0:00.0 +0:22.8
BABIKOV Ivan +1:00.2
31:38.4 (11)
+0:47.1
31:15.4 (6)
+0:05.2
33:48.7 (4)
+0:00.0
33:51.2 (1)
+0:00.0 +0:28.1
LEGKOV Alexander +0:00.0
30:38.2 (1)
+1:12.7
35:03.9 (16)
+1:20.1
34:19.2 (18)
+0:04.9
32:12.7 (2)
+0:00.0 +0:39.4
REICHELT Tom +1:03.2
31:31.5 (10)
+1:47.5
35:30.9 (25)
+0:01.5
33:52.7 (2)
+2:20.8
34:28.6 (37)
+0:01.5 +1:18.2
HELLNER Marcus +0:01.7
30:39.9 (3)
+1:57.4
32:25.7 (23)
+0:02.3
33:45.8 (2)
+1:16.3
34:15.3 (14)
+2:01.5
34:09.3 (31)
+0:01.7 +1:03.8
GAILLARD Jean Marc +1:01.4
31:29.7 (9)
+0:02.5
33:45.9 (3)
+0:21.7
34:12.9 (6)
+1:04.3
33:12.1 (10)
+0:02.5 +0:37.4
DI CENTA Giorgio +0:57.7
31:35.9 (9)
+1:16.0
31:44.3 (14)
+0:39.1
34:22.6 (8)
+0:03.2
33:54.4 (3)
+0:35.4
33:34.4 (4)
+0:41.4
32:49.2 (3)
+0:03.2 +0:42.1
COLOGNA Dario +1:05.8
31:44.1 (16)
+1:29.8
31:58.1 (18)
+0:09.0
33:52.4 (5)
+1:20.8
35:12.0 (22)
+1:28.1
34:27.2 (21)
+0:09.0 +1:06.7
HEIKKINEN Matti +0:34.0
31:12.3 (6)
+0:56.5
34:39.9 (12)
+0:12.0
34:03.2 (4)
+0:12.0 +0:34.1
CLARA Roland +0:16.2
30:54.4 (4)
+0:32.4
31:00.7 (2)
+0:45.5
34:28.9 (10)
+0:31.3
34:22.6 (8)
+0:16.2 +0:31.3
MORIGGL Thomas +0:30.7
31:08.9 (5)
+0:58.0
31:26.3 (8)
+0:51.5
34:35.0 (11)
+0:30.7 +0:46.7
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim +1:16.3
31:54.5 (20)
+0:32.6
34:23.8 (9)
+1:52.6
34:51.6 (30)
+0:32.6 +1:13.8
LIVERS Toni +0:32.8
34:24.1 (10)
+1:54.1
34:01.9 (29)
+0:32.8 +1:13.5
PERL Curdin +1:45.0
32:23.2 (31)
+0:33.8
31:02.1 (3)
+1:17.4
35:00.8 (13)
+1:35.8
35:27.1 (30)
+0:33.7 +1:18.0
NORTHUG Petter jr. +1:28.5
32:06.7 (24)
+0:39.0
31:07.3 (5)
+1:24.6
35:08.1 (16)
+0:56.3
34:47.6 (13)
+1:37.1
34:36.2 (25)
+1:59.9
34:07.7 (30)
+0:39.0 +1:20.9
GOERING Franz +0:39.5
33:38.5 (5)
+1:33.8
33:41.6 (19)
+0:39.5 +1:06.6
MAGAL Jiri +0:43.4
34:26.8 (9)
+0:48.1
34:39.3 (11)
+1:37.6
33:45.4 (21)
+0:43.4 +1:03.0
FREEMAN Kris +1:45.7
32:23.9 (32)
+0:53.9
31:22.2 (7)
+0:53.9 +1:19.8
DYRHAUG Niklas +0:58.8
31:37.0 (10)
+0:58.7 +0:58.7
JAKS Martin +1:00.3
31:38.5 (12)
+1:23.2
31:51.5 (16)
+1:09.5
34:08.6 (12)
+1:00.2 +1:11.0
HOFER David +1:02.7
31:40.9 (13)
+1:25.3
35:16.5 (25)
+1:02.7 +1:14.0
ANGERER Tobias +1:20.8
31:59.1 (23)
+1:04.0
34:03.1 (10)
+1:31.7
33:39.5 (18)
+1:04.0 +1:18.8
CHERNOUSOV Ilia +1:04.2
31:42.4 (15)
+2:43.3
36:26.7 (34)
+3:22.8
36:21.8 (51)
+1:48.3
33:56.1 (26)
+1:04.2 +2:14.6
DUVILLARD Robin +1:34.8
32:13.0 (26)
+1:04.5
31:32.8 (11)
+1:35.1
35:18.6 (18)
+1:04.5 +1:24.8
CHECCHI Valerio +1:32.2
35:15.7 (17)
+2:06.3
35:57.5 (35)
+1:06.7
34:05.7 (11)
+1:06.7 +1:35.0
SEMENOV Michail +1:07.8
31:46.0 (17)
+1:07.7 +1:07.7
KERSHAW Devon +1:08.5
31:46.8 (18)
+1:09.5
31:37.8 (12)
+1:41.7
35:25.1 (21)
+1:20.6
35:11.8 (21)
+1:08.5 +1:20.0
VELICHKO Yevgeniy +1:09.0
31:47.2 (19)
+1:45.1
35:28.5 (23)
+1:33.2
35:24.4 (29)
+1:09.0 +1:29.0
GJERDALEN Tord Asle +1:10.2
31:38.5 (13)
+1:40.8
35:24.2 (20)
+1:23.6
35:14.8 (24)
+1:50.2
34:49.2 (28)
+1:10.2 +1:31.1
FISCHER Remo +1:17.0
31:45.3 (15)
+1:17.0 +1:17.0
PASINI Fabio +1:44.5
32:22.7 (30)
+2:41.3
36:24.7 (33)
+1:17.6
35:08.8 (19)
+1:17.6 +1:54.4
BESSMERTNYKH Alexander +1:17.8
31:56.0 (22)
+2:25.2
32:53.5 (30)
+1:17.7 +1:51.5
FILBRICH Jens +1:36.5
32:14.8 (27)
+2:12.9
32:41.2 (27)
+1:39.4
35:22.8 (19)
+1:27.6
35:18.8 (26)
+1:36.0
34:35.0 (24)
+1:28.1
33:35.9 (16)
+1:27.6 +1:40.1
RICKARDSSON Daniel +1:30.1
31:58.4 (19)
+1:41.7
35:25.1 (21)
+2:38.8
36:30.0 (40)
+3:41.4
36:40.4 (54)
+1:30.1 +2:23.0
JAPAROV Dmitriy +1:34.7
32:12.9 (25)
+2:24.1
32:52.4 (29)
+1:34.7 +1:59.4
BING Thomas +1:40.8
32:19.0 (29)
+1:40.7 +1:40.7
DOLIDOVICH Sergei +1:46.7
32:24.9 (34)
+1:40.9
33:48.7 (23)
+1:40.9 +1:43.8
HARVEY Alex +2:14.4
32:52.6 (40)
+1:41.7
32:10.0 (20)
+2:34.1
36:17.5 (31)
+1:41.7 +2:10.0
TEICHMANN Axel +2:56.2
33:34.4 (48)
+1:46.0
35:29.4 (24)
+1:49.5
35:40.7 (33)
+1:41.9
34:40.9 (27)
+1:41.9 +2:03.3
REHEMAA Aivar +2:53.8
33:32.0 (47)
+1:48.0
35:39.2 (32)
+1:47.9 +2:20.8
OESTENSEN Simen +2:13.7
35:57.1 (29)
+3:40.2
36:39.2 (53)
+2:06.5
34:14.3 (33)
+2:06.5 +2:40.1
LASUTKIN Alexander +2:07.4
32:45.6 (36)
+2:07.3 +2:07.3
TURYSHEV Sergey +2:08.8
32:47.0 (38)
+2:08.7 +2:08.7
CHEBOTKO Nikolay +3:18.7
33:56.9 (52)
+3:07.6
36:51.0 (36)
+2:54.0
36:45.2 (42)
+2:13.2
35:12.2 (38)
+2:13.1 +2:53.3
JOENSSON Emil +2:15.3
32:53.5 (41)
+2:15.2 +2:15.2
LEHTONEN Lari +2:19.7
32:57.9 (43)
+2:19.7 +2:19.7
SCOLA Fulvio +2:21.2
34:29.0 (38)
+2:21.2 +2:21.2
RAZYM Ales +2:24.0
36:15.2 (37)
+2:23.9 +2:23.9
KUEHNE Andy +2:26.0
33:04.2 (44)
+2:26.0 +2:26.0
AKHMADIYEV Yerdos +2:33.3
33:11.5 (45)
+2:33.2 +2:33.2
MUSGRAVE Andrew +2:41.1
33:19.3 (46)
+2:41.0 +2:41.0
MIRANDA Cyril +2:48.2
36:39.4 (41)
+2:48.2 +2:48.2
EINARSSON Snorri +2:57.6
33:25.9 (32)
+2:57.6 +2:57.6
SHVIDKIY Oleksiy +3:08.2
33:46.4 (50)
+3:08.2 +3:08.2
KARP Algo +3:13.3
33:51.5 (51)
+3:13.6
37:04.8 (45)
+3:13.2 +3:13.4
KRECZMER Maciej +3:40.7
34:09.0 (34)
+3:40.7 +3:40.7
NOECKLER Dietmar +4:22.2
35:00.4 (54)
+4:22.2 +4:22.2
MATVIYENKO Gennadiy +4:35.5
35:13.7 (55)
+4:35.4 +4:35.4
STOCKINGER Martin +4:48.1
38:39.3 (51)
+4:48.1 +4:48.1
DARRAGON Roddy +5:37.8
39:29.0 (52)
+5:37.7 +5:37.7
Women – starters Tour de Ski 2012/2013
Name 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Best Average
JOHAUG Therese +0:00.0
34:17.7 (1)
+0:00.0
33:14.4 (1)
+0:00.0
35:07.7 (1)
+1:16.4
35:22.7 (4)
+0:00.0 +0:19.1
SHEVCHENKO Valentina +1:13.9
35:31.6 (5)
+2:06.8
35:21.2 (5)
+2:24.2
38:14.0 (30)
+0:44.3
35:52.0 (3)
+0:00.0
34:06.2 (1)
+0:05.4
34:29.9 (3)
+0:00.0 +1:05.7
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer +0:00.0
35:49.8 (1)
+0:08.7
35:16.4 (2)
+0:55.3
35:01.5 (2)
+0:01.4
34:25.9 (2)
+0:00.0 +0:16.3
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa +1:50.9
36:08.6 (9)
+2:49.2
36:03.6 (13)
+0:03.0
35:52.8 (2)
+1:07.9
36:15.6 (7)
+1:29.1
35:35.3 (8)
+0:03.0 +1:28.0
KOWALCZYK Justyna +0:51.3
35:09.0 (2)
+1:59.3
35:13.7 (4)
+0:25.0
36:14.8 (4)
+0:47.1
35:54.8 (4)
+2:12.1
36:18.3 (18)
+1:08.5
35:33.0 (13)
+0:25.0 +1:13.8
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa +2:11.4
36:29.1 (13)
+3:44.6
36:59.0 (21)
+0:55.6
36:45.5 (7)
+1:54.7
37:02.4 (14)
+2:56.7
37:02.9 (25)
+0:55.6 +2:20.6
HAAG Anna +0:58.4
36:06.1 (6)
+0:58.4 +0:58.4
BOEHLER Stefanie +1:10.8
36:18.5 (8)
+1:17.3
35:23.5 (5)
+1:16.4
35:40.9 (15)
+1:10.8 +1:14.8
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe +1:10.8
35:28.5 (4)
+1:53.9
35:08.3 (3)
+1:14.5
37:04.3 (11)
+1:10.8 +1:26.4
ZELLER Katrin +1:19.6
35:37.3 (6)
+2:20.8
35:35.2 (7)
+1:17.0
37:06.9 (13)
+2:32.8
37:40.5 (24)
+1:24.9
35:31.2 (6)
+1:17.0 +1:47.0
LAHTEENMAKI Krista +1:25.5
35:43.2 (7)
+2:12.7
35:27.1 (6)
+1:25.5 +1:49.0
KALLA Charlotte +2:49.7
37:07.4 (16)
+2:47.1
36:01.5 (12)
+1:30.7
35:36.9 (9)
+1:30.7 +2:22.5
STEPHEN Elizabeth +1:33.0
35:50.7 (8)
+1:33.0 +1:33.0
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt +1:54.8
36:12.5 (10)
+2:42.0
35:56.4 (10)
+1:54.8 +2:18.4
TCHEKALEVA Yulia +2:00.8
37:50.6 (22)
+2:00.7 +2:00.7
HUGUE Coraline +4:04.3
38:22.0 (37)
+2:07.9
37:57.7 (24)
+2:07.8 +3:06.0
AGREITER Debora +2:10.9
36:28.6 (12)
+2:10.9 +2:10.9
LINDBORG Sara +2:50.9
37:58.6 (25)
+2:41.5
37:06.0 (36)
+2:41.5 +2:46.2
FAIVRE PICON Anouk +2:44.5
37:02.2 (14)
+2:44.5 +2:44.5
KOROSTELEVA Natalia +5:00.5
39:06.7 (42)
+3:00.1
37:24.6 (38)
+3:00.0 +4:00.2
AHERVO Laura +3:00.9
37:18.6 (17)
+3:00.9 +3:00.9
JEZERSEK Barbara +3:02.3
37:20.0 (19)
+4:27.0
38:33.2 (39)
+4:37.7
39:02.2 (43)
+3:02.3 +4:02.3
KOLOMINA Yelena +3:04.3
37:22.0 (21)
+3:04.3 +3:04.3
RANDALL Kikkan +3:04.9
37:22.6 (22)
+3:53.2
37:07.6 (23)
+3:04.9 +3:29.0
DE MARTIN TOPRANIN Virginia +3:07.0
37:24.7 (24)
+4:55.5
38:09.9 (29)
+3:07.0 +4:01.2
MEDVEDEVA Polina +3:07.4
37:25.1 (25)
+3:07.4 +3:07.4
MATROSSOVA Marina +3:07.8
37:25.5 (26)
+3:55.2
39:45.0 (38)
+3:07.8 +3:31.5
IKSANOVA Alija +3:08.8
37:26.5 (27)
+3:08.8 +3:08.8
ANTSYBOR Maryna +3:10.2
37:27.9 (28)
+3:10.2 +3:10.2
SHAIDUROVA Larisa +3:12.7
37:30.4 (29)
+5:03.6
38:18.0 (30)
+3:12.7 +4:08.1
IVANOVA Julia +3:16.3
37:34.0 (30)
+5:39.7
40:47.4 (36)
+4:47.2
38:53.4 (41)
+3:16.3 +4:34.4
BROOKS Holly +3:20.4
37:38.1 (31)
+3:20.4 +3:20.4
FESSEL Nicole +3:32.0
37:49.7 (33)
+3:47.0
38:11.5 (39)
+3:32.0 +3:39.5
NISKANEN Kerttu +3:34.8
37:52.5 (34)
+3:34.8 +3:34.8
JEAN Aurore +3:55.2
38:12.9 (35)
+3:37.5
36:51.9 (15)
+3:37.5 +3:46.3
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad +4:33.4
38:51.1 (42)
+3:41.8
36:56.2 (18)
+3:41.7 +4:07.5
SMUTNA Katerina +5:12.4
39:30.1 (45)
+4:18.8
39:26.5 (29)
+3:49.4
37:55.6 (34)
+3:49.3 +4:26.8
MACIUSZEK Paulina +3:55.1
37:09.5 (24)
+3:55.0 +3:55.0
MANNIMA Tatjana +4:28.4
39:36.1 (31)
+3:59.3
38:05.5 (37)
+3:59.2 +4:13.8
OSSIPOVA Tatyana +4:10.0
38:27.7 (38)
+4:10.0 +4:10.0
KYLLOENEN Anne +4:12.8
38:30.5 (39)
+4:12.8 +4:12.8
DOTSENKO Anastasia +4:15.5
38:33.2 (40)
+4:15.5 +4:15.5
FABJAN Vesna +5:11.4
40:19.1 (35)
+4:40.4
38:46.6 (40)
+7:01.9
41:26.4 (47)
+4:40.3 +5:37.9
YATSKAYA Oxana +5:10.4
39:28.1 (44)
+5:10.4 +5:10.4

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.