Analysis: Final Climb 2014 – Men

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 05 Jan 2014@16:25

The Final Climb turned into a Norwegian celebration also in the Men’s class with Martin Johnsrud Sundby on top ahead of Chris Jespersen – but the Austrian Johannes Duerr impressed again with best stage time, best climb time and taking the third place overall in the Tour de Ski!

The above illustration is a graphical analysis of the race development based on the split times. A line which is flat means that a skier has the same time as Martin Johnsrud Sundby for the split (Sundby’s line is flat all the way on the top). A line which goes down represents slower speed – a line which goes up represents faster speed. Key moments are marked on the illustration.

Key moments

Looking at the illustration above you see the key moments in the race:

  • Sundby alone in the lead all the way. Steadily loosing time to Jespersen, but never in danger.
  • Jespersen catches Northug at around 6 km (bottom of the hill) and leaves him soon after. Jespersen is faster than Sundby nearly all the way – closing the gap down to 36 seconds in the end.
  • Duerr forms a group with Chernousov and Halfvarsson. The group looses time in the flat part until 6 km – nearly 45 seconds is lost. Legkov and Roethe catch the group just at the bottom of the hill.
  • At the start of the hill, Duerr speeds up and only Chernousov dares to keep up his speed for some hundred meters. However the speed increase is too tough for Chernousov, and after Chernousov has to let Duerr go, he looses a lot of time and is passed by both Roethe and Legkov.
  • Duerr continues to have the highest speed in the field all the way to the top – and passes Northug to take the third spot in the overall.
  • Roethe leaves Legkov early in the hill, finishing in 7th. Rothe nearly caught Northug – but had a few seconds left when arriving at the top of Aple Cermis.

Looking at the stage times (see list below), Johannes Duerr won the stage 4 seconds ahead of Chris Jespersen – even with the slow start. In the climb itself, Duerr was exceptionally fast – winning the climb in 16:46 – 45 seconds ahead of Babikov with Roethe a few seconds behind.

GPS analysis

FIS has again published GPS-data for the race – making it possible to follow the race development in detail. Below parts of the race development is described based on the GPS-data.

Fight for victory: Sundby versus Jespersen

This illustration which is based on the GPS-data shows a comparison between Sundby and Jespersen. The red line shows how far Jespersen is behind Sundby as a function of time. From the illustration one can see how Jespersen closes in on Sundby all the way until 5 km. The gap is constant between 5 km and 8 km – and then Jespersen closes in another 25-30 second the last km (at this time Sundby probably knew that the victory was his – while Jespersen was still securing his second spot).

Fight for second spot: Northug versus Jespersen

Here you see how Jespersen starts 35 seconds behind Northug, and catches him just after 5 km. They ski together the first part of the hill (until 7 km), where Northug has to let Jespersen go.

Fight for second spot: Duerr versus Jespersen

Duerr had a small possibility to catch Jespersen and take second spot, but lost too much time in the flat part. If the Duerr-group would have worked well together in the flat part, this could have been a second spot for Duerr. However, Duerr was too much of a favourite in the climb – the others were not interested in helping him.

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Northug

Duerr loses a few seconds to Northug the first 7 km (the flat part and the first part of the hill), and then is a lot faster when the hill really starts. Duerr speeds down briefly when catching Northug around 8.3 km – but then races on towards Jespersen.

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Chernousov

Chernousov stayed with Duerr until the hill started to get really steep around 7 km – then it was good bye!

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Legkov

Legkov worked hard in the flat part to catch Duerr – and eventually managed to catch the Austrian at the start of the hill around 6 km. Legkov managed to keep up in the flatter part of the hill – but then it was good bye to Legkov a bit before Chernousov.

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Røthe

Røthe looked like he could be fighting for third place when he nearly caught Duerr at the bottom of the hill around 6 km – but in the hill Røthe didn’t have a chance!

Fight for 4th spot: Røthe versus Northug

Røthe skied well all the way, and nearly, nearly managed to catch Northug. In the end Røthe was a few seconds too late…

Climb times (only last hill, unofficial from live timing)
1. 16:46 Johannes DUERR AUT
2. 17:31 +00:45 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
3. 17:32 +00:47 Sjur ROETHE NOR
4. 17:36 +00:50 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
5. 17:40 +00:54 Martin JAKS CZE
6. 17:41 +00:56 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
7. 17:41 +00:56 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
8. 17:48 +01:02 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
9. 17:50 +01:04 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
10. 17:55 +01:10 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
11. 17:57 +01:11 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
12. 17:59 +01:13 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
16. 18:08 +01:22 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
37. 18:54 +02:09 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
Alpe Cermis stage times (unofficial results from live timing)
1. 31:55 Johannes DUERR AUT
2. 31:59 +00:04 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
3. 32:05 +00:11 Sjur ROETHE NOR
4. 32:14 +00:19 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
5. 32:14 +00:20 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
6. 32:18 +00:24 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
7. 32:22 +00:28 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
8. 32:26 +00:32 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
9. 32:27 +00:32 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
10. 32:32 +00:38 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
11. 32:36 +00:41 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
12. 32:43 +00:49 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
13. 32:44 +00:50 Martin JAKS CZE
14. 32:48 +00:53 Martin BAJCICAK SVK
15. 32:50 +00:55 Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY NOR
16. 32:52 +00:57 Jiri MAGAL CZE
17. 33:02 +01:07 Michail SEMENOV BLR
18. 33:02 +01:08 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
19. 33:06 +01:12 Sergei DOLIDOVICH BLR
20. 33:11 +01:16 Jonas DOBLER GER
21. 33:12 +01:17 Petr SEDOV RUS
22. 33:12 +01:18 Lari LEHTONEN FIN
23. 33:13 +01:18 Didrik TOENSETH NOR
24. 33:13 +01:18 Ivan PERRILLAT BOITEUX FRA
25. 33:16 +01:22 Ville NOUSIAINEN FIN
26. 33:25 +01:30 Alexander LASUTKIN BLR
27. 33:25 +01:30 Noah HOFFMAN USA
28. 33:26 +01:32 Andy KUEHNE GER
29. 33:30 +01:36 Konstantin GLAVATSKIKH RUS
30. 33:35 +01:41 Hannes DOTZLER GER
31. 33:40 +01:46 Ilia CHERNOUSOV RUS
32. 33:41 +01:47 Andrey LARKOV RUS
33. 33:47 +01:52 Martin JOHANSSON SWE
34. 33:47 +01:53 Jens FILBRICH GER
35. 33:49 +01:54 Toni LIVERS SUI
Split 1
1. 04:04 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
2. 04:06 +00:02 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
3. 04:06 +00:02 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
4. 04:08 +00:04 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
5. 04:08 +00:04 Ilia CHERNOUSOV RUS
6. 04:08 +00:04 Jonas DOBLER GER
7. 04:08 +00:05 Calle HALFVARSSON SWE
8. 04:09 +00:05 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
9. 04:10 +00:06 Sjur ROETHE NOR
10. 04:10 +00:06 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
11. 04:10 +00:06 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
13. 04:12 +00:08 Johannes DUERR AUT
15. 04:12 +00:08 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
17. 04:13 +00:09 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
18. 04:13 +00:09 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
19. 04:13 +00:10 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
26. 04:18 +00:14 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
Split 2
1. 04:28 Thomas BING GER
2. 04:29 +00:01 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
3. 04:30 +00:02 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
4. 04:32 +00:04 Michail SEMENOV BLR
5. 04:33 +00:05 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
6. 04:33 +00:06 Jiri MAGAL CZE
7. 04:34 +00:07 Martin BAJCICAK SVK
8. 04:35 +00:07 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
9. 04:36 +00:08 Jonas BAUMANN SUI
10. 04:36 +00:08 Jonas DOBLER GER
11. 04:36 +00:08 Karel TAMMJARV EST
17. 04:37 +00:10 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
20. 04:38 +00:10 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
25. 04:41 +00:13 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
28. 04:42 +00:15 Sjur ROETHE NOR
31. 04:45 +00:17 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
41. 04:49 +00:21 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
49. 04:54 +00:27 Johannes DUERR AUT
Split 3
1. 05:33 Thomas BING GER
2. 05:34 +00:01 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
3. 05:36 +00:03 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
4. 05:40 +00:07 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
5. 05:40 +00:08 Gustav ERIKSSON SWE
6. 05:40 +00:08 Martin BAJCICAK SVK
7. 05:41 +00:08 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
8. 05:41 +00:08 Ivan PERRILLAT BOITEUX FRA
9. 05:41 +00:08 Sjur ROETHE NOR
10. 05:42 +00:09 Jonas BAUMANN SUI
11. 05:42 +00:09 Carl QUICKLUND SWE
23. 05:48 +00:15 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
24. 05:48 +00:16 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
28. 05:50 +00:17 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
29. 05:50 +00:17 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
38. 05:55 +00:22 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
41. 05:57 +00:24 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
48. 06:03 +00:30 Johannes DUERR AUT
Split 4
1. 02:49 Johannes DUERR AUT
2. 02:49 +00:01 Ilia CHERNOUSOV RUS
3. 02:53 +00:04 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
4. 02:53 +00:04 Sjur ROETHE NOR
5. 02:56 +00:07 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
6. 02:57 +00:08 Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY NOR
7. 02:58 +00:09 Ivan PERRILLAT BOITEUX FRA
8. 02:58 +00:09 Jiri MAGAL CZE
9. 02:58 +00:10 Martin BAJCICAK SVK
10. 02:58 +00:10 Michail SEMENOV BLR
11. 02:59 +00:10 Andrey LARKOV RUS
12. 02:59 +00:10 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
13. 02:59 +00:10 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
15. 03:00 +00:11 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
16. 03:00 +00:11 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
17. 03:01 +00:12 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
21. 03:02 +00:13 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
22. 03:02 +00:14 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
28. 03:03 +00:14 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
30. 03:04 +00:15 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
Split 5
1. 05:29 Johannes DUERR AUT
2. 05:38 +00:09 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
3. 05:38 +00:09 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
4. 05:43 +00:14 Sjur ROETHE NOR
5. 05:44 +00:15 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
6. 05:46 +00:17 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
7. 05:46 +00:17 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
8. 05:47 +00:18 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
9. 05:48 +00:19 Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY NOR
10. 05:50 +00:22 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
11. 05:51 +00:22 Alexander UTKIN RUS
19. 05:56 +00:28 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
31. 06:06 +00:37 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
Split 6
1. 04:27 Johannes DUERR AUT
2. 04:38 +00:11 Martin JAKS CZE
3. 04:40 +00:13 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
4. 04:44 +00:16 Sjur ROETHE NOR
5. 04:44 +00:17 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
6. 04:44 +00:17 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
7. 04:47 +00:20 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
8. 04:49 +00:22 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
9. 04:49 +00:22 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
10. 04:51 +00:24 Ville NOUSIAINEN FIN
11. 04:52 +00:25 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
15. 04:55 +00:28 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
24. 05:03 +00:36 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
28. 05:05 +00:38 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
Split 7
1. 04:01 Johannes DUERR AUT
2. 04:02 +00:01 Martin JAKS CZE
3. 04:03 +00:02 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
4. 04:06 +00:05 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
5. 04:07 +00:06 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
6. 04:08 +00:07 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
7. 04:08 +00:07 Ville NOUSIAINEN FIN
8. 04:09 +00:08 Chris JESPERSEN NOR
9. 04:10 +00:09 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
10. 04:11 +00:10 Didrik TOENSETH NOR
11. 04:11 +00:10 Niklas DYRHAUG NOR
12. 04:11 +00:10 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
14. 04:13 +00:12 Sjur ROETHE NOR
15. 04:15 +00:14 Sami JAUHOJAERVI FIN
19. 04:17 +00:16 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
43. 04:43 +00:42 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR

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