XC-Predictions: Dagger wins overall Tour de Ski!

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 06 Jan 2013@18:12

Congratulations to Dagger who took the overall victory in the WhoWins Tour de Ski XC-Predictions 2012/2013 – 7 stages plus the overall – after a close fight with Johan and Siegerjc. Only 16 points down to Johan and another 8 down to Siegerjc. Thanks to all for joining in and making it even more fun to watch Tour de Ski.

In the predictions for the Tour de Ski overall, Ekaterina RedStar took the first place – tipping both winners correctly.  There were also a few who managed Top 2 correct among both men and women (Per Graptain and Mattias), but they still got a few points less on the other predictions.

In the predictions for the Alpe Cermis stage, skeila was best tipping the two best men and the best woman correctly. It was a tricky day to predict, though, due to all the tactics in the lead group.

(Please consider these results as unofficial for now – let me know if you find any errors.)

Place Name Points #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8
1. dagger 5152 675 677 494 778 694 549 583 702
2. Johan 5136 694 713 532 752 659 476 589 721
3. Siegerjc 5128 683 697 496 725 709 459 636 723
4. Team Northug 5071 738 700 467 771 691 460 561 683
5. qstoffe 5039 745 632 451 768 611 558 553 721
6. Sportsamuel 5002 740 713 431 752 643 409 643 671
7. Amanda 4984 735 682 502 752 577 490 553 693
8. Davide Bragagna 4971 615 601 528 752 639 526 607 703
9. Anna F 4939 643 682 536 768 640 490 537 643
10. Roberto Dallavalle 4924 663 658 527 752 641 432 642 609
11. Adam 4905 724 566 477 676 681 522 614 645
12. leehawk 4876 663 612 453 752 613 479 581 723
13. tolsrav 4865 595 689 447 740 642 530 501 721
14. Manne 4857 656 663 417 756 611 472 599 683
15. Linda 4850 503 672 440 798 543 492 647 755
16. Маша И Слоник 4849 670 678 550 660 688 474 448 681
17. Hanne 4849 640 706 377 768 660 488 537 673
18. skeila 4845 708 647 489 735 587 392 685 602
19. Jossa 4844 694 590 395 748 705 514 586 612
20. JanK 4840 645 670 420 765 607 445 567 721

Analysis: Final Climb 2013 Men

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 06 Jan 2013@16:50

Alexander Legkov (RUS) decided the Tour de Ski 2012/2013 on the steep part between 7.1 and 8.1 km – skiing 13(!) seconds faster than everybody else for this kilometer – and 26 seconds seconds faster than Dario Cologna (SUI). This kilometer cost Legkov a lot – Cologna was faster for the rest of the race, but 26 seconds was more than enough to keep Cologna behind until the top of Alpe Cermis.

The above graphical race analysis illustrates how incredibly fast Legkov skied between 7.1 km and 8.1 km. Even Swedish Marcus Hellner, who was faster than Legkov on all the other splits, was 21 seconds behind Legkov between 7.1 and 8.1 km!

The graphical illustration is based on the split times. A line which is flat means that a skier has the same time as Alexander Legkov for the split (Legkov’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. See the full interactive illustration here.

From 8.1 km to the finish Hellner was just as impressive as Legkov was between 7.1 km and 8.1 km. Hellner was 17 seconds faster than Ivan Babikov (CAN) with Austrian Johannes Duerr 4 seconds behind. Fourth on this stretch was the overall number two, Dario Cologna – 24 seconds behind Hellner. Alexander Legkov skied without big pressure on this stretch, and lost 32 second to the strong Swedish climber.

Climb times

The Alpe Cermis stage is a lot about tactics until the climb starts – so therefore it is of special interest to look at the climb times. Last year Roland Clara (ITA) won the climb in 16:34 with Maurice Manificat (FRA) 14 seconds behind. This time Marcus Hellner won with 16:57 – 13 seconds ahead of Johannes Duerr (AUT). Legkov was third up the climb with 17:14. See all climb times in the official results.

1. 16:57 Marcus HELLNER SWE
2. 17:10 +00:13 Johannes DUERR AUT
3. 17:14 +00:17 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
4. 17:16 +00:20 Roland CLARA ITA
5. 17:16 +00:20 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
6. 17:25 +00:29 Lukas BAUER CZE
7. 17:26 +00:29 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
8. 17:28 +00:31 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
9. 17:30 +00:34 Johan OLSSON SWE
10. 17:33 +00:36 Dario COLOGNA SUI
11. 17:54 +00:57 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
12. 17:55 +00:58 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
21. 18:20 +01:23 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
Three Italians in the Top 6 on the stage

The Austrian Johannes Duerr was the big surprise on the Alpe Cermis stage this year. Starting in a small vacuum as number 30, he skied most of the stage alone and finished with the 4th best stage time only 20 seconds behind Marcus Hellner. Other strong climbers today where Ivan Babikov (2nd best stage time, +14 seconds), Roland Clara (ITA, 3rd best stage time, +15 seconds), Thomas Moriggl (ITA, 5th best stage time, +32 seconds) and the veteran Giorgio di Centa (ITA, 6th best stage time, +42 seconds).

Legkov finished the stage down on 10th place – after playing cat-and-mouse with Northug, Cologna and Vylegzhanin in the first flat part of the stage.

Sorry, no GPS analysis

Unfortunately GPS data was not published this year (GPS was shown in TV broadcasts, but data was not published like last year) – that means that the analysis is not as detailed and interesting as it was last year. Very unfortunate – I think many enjoyed the GPS data in last year’s edition of Tour de Ski!

Stage results (unofficial results from live timing)
1. 30:00 Marcus HELLNER SWE
2. 30:14 +00:14 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
3. 30:15 +00:15 Roland CLARA ITA
4. 30:20 +00:20 Johannes DUERR AUT
5. 30:32 +00:32 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
6. 30:42 +00:42 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
7. 30:43 +00:43 Johan OLSSON SWE
8. 30:43 +00:43 Lukas BAUER CZE
9. 30:54 +00:54 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
10. 30:57 +00:58 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
11. 31:01 +01:01 Jiri MAGAL CZE
12. 31:02 +01:02 Remo FISCHER SUI
13. 31:06 +01:06 Devon KERSHAW CAN
14. 31:07 +01:07 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
15. 31:08 +01:08 Ilia CHERNOUSOV RUS
16. 31:13 +01:13 Curdin PERL SUI
17. 31:19 +01:20 Noah HOFFMAN USA
18. 31:22 +01:22 Dario COLOGNA SUI
19. 31:28 +01:28 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
20. 31:31 +01:31 Lari LEHTONEN FIN
21. 31:32 +01:32 Andreas KATZ GER
22. 31:34 +01:34 Finn Haagen KROGH NOR
23. 31:37 +01:37 Mathias WIBAULT FRA
24. 31:38 +01:39 Tobias ANGERER GER
25. 31:39 +01:39 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
26. 31:40 +01:40 Calle HALFVARSSON SWE
27. 31:41 +01:41 Jens FILBRICH GER
28. 31:56 +01:56 Tom REICHELT GER
29. 32:00 +02:00 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
30. 32:08 +02:08 Andrew MUSGRAVE GBR
31. 32:13 +02:13 Konstantin GLAVATSKIKH RUS
32. 32:16 +02:16 Aivar REHEMAA EST
33. 32:16 +02:16 Sergey TURYSHEV RUS
34. 32:16 +02:16 Dmitriy JAPAROV RUS
35. 32:17 +02:17 Michail SEMENOV BLR

All Alpe Cermis times are available in the official results.

Split 1
1. 03:24 Tobias ANGERER GER
2. 03:25 +00:01 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
3. 03:26 +00:02 Calle HALFVARSSON SWE
4. 03:28 +00:04 Finn Haagen KROGH NOR
5. 03:28 +00:04 Ilia CHERNOUSOV RUS
6. 03:28 +00:04 Johan OLSSON SWE
7. 03:29 +00:05 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
8. 03:29 +00:05 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
9. 03:30 +00:06 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
10. 03:30 +00:06 Devon KERSHAW CAN
11. 03:30 +00:06 Jens FILBRICH GER
15. 03:32 +00:07 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
16. 03:33 +00:09 Marcus HELLNER SWE
17. 03:34 +00:09 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
29. 03:39 +00:15 Dario COLOGNA SUI
30. 03:39 +00:15 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
32. 03:40 +00:16 Roland CLARA ITA
33. 03:40 +00:16 Lukas BAUER CZE
39. 03:43 +00:19 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
53. 03:46 +00:22 Johannes DUERR AUT
Split 2
1. 03:45 Finn Haagen KROGH NOR
2. 03:46 +00:01 Devon KERSHAW CAN
3. 03:46 +00:02 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
4. 03:47 +00:02 Jens FILBRICH GER
5. 03:48 +00:03 Tobias ANGERER GER
6. 03:48 +00:04 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
7. 03:48 +00:04 Marcus HELLNER SWE
8. 03:48 +00:04 Calle HALFVARSSON SWE
9. 03:49 +00:04 Toni LIVERS SUI
10. 03:49 +00:05 Martin JOHANSSON SWE
11. 03:49 +00:05 Thomas BING GER
22. 03:50 +00:06 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
27. 03:51 +00:06 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
28. 03:51 +00:06 Roland CLARA ITA
38. 03:52 +00:08 Johannes DUERR AUT
44. 03:55 +00:11 Lukas BAUER CZE
55. 04:00 +00:15 Johan OLSSON SWE
58. 04:03 +00:18 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
59. 04:04 +00:19 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
60. 04:05 +00:20 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
61. 04:05 +00:20 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
62. 04:06 +00:21 Dario COLOGNA SUI
Split 3
1. 05:29 Roland CLARA ITA
2. 05:30 +00:01 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
3. 05:31 +00:03 Noah HOFFMAN USA
4. 05:31 +00:03 Alexey POLTORANIN KAZ
5. 05:31 +00:03 Jiri MAGAL CZE
6. 05:32 +00:03 Finn Haagen KROGH NOR
7. 05:32 +00:03 Thomas BING GER
8. 05:32 +00:03 Michail SEMENOV BLR
9. 05:32 +00:04 Aivar REHEMAA EST
10. 05:33 +00:04 Johannes DUERR AUT
11. 05:34 +00:05 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
29. 05:40 +00:11 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
36. 05:41 +00:13 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
39. 05:42 +00:14 Marcus HELLNER SWE
43. 05:43 +00:14 Lukas BAUER CZE
46. 05:45 +00:16 Johan OLSSON SWE
59. 06:05 +00:36 Dario COLOGNA SUI
60. 06:06 +00:37 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
61. 06:06 +00:37 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
62. 06:07 +00:38 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
Split 4
1. 02:39 Roland CLARA ITA
2. 02:39 +00:00 Jiri MAGAL CZE
3. 02:40 +00:01 Johannes DUERR AUT
4. 02:40 +00:01 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
5. 02:40 +00:02 Marcus HELLNER SWE
6. 02:41 +00:02 Lukas BAUER CZE
7. 02:42 +00:03 Michail SEMENOV BLR
8. 02:43 +00:04 Calle HALFVARSSON SWE
9. 02:44 +00:05 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
10. 02:44 +00:05 Noah HOFFMAN USA
11. 02:44 +00:05 Remo FISCHER SUI
13. 02:45 +00:06 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
14. 02:46 +00:07 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
15. 02:46 +00:07 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
17. 02:47 +00:08 Johan OLSSON SWE
18. 02:47 +00:08 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
19. 02:47 +00:08 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
21. 02:47 +00:09 Dario COLOGNA SUI
Split 5
1. 05:25 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
2. 05:38 +00:13 Johannes DUERR AUT
3. 05:40 +00:15 Roland CLARA ITA
4. 05:43 +00:18 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
5. 05:43 +00:18 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
6. 05:43 +00:18 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
7. 05:44 +00:19 Ilia CHERNOUSOV RUS
8. 05:46 +00:20 Johan OLSSON SWE
9. 05:46 +00:21 Marcus HELLNER SWE
10. 05:46 +00:21 Lukas BAUER CZE
11. 05:50 +00:24 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
12. 05:52 +00:26 Dario COLOGNA SUI
15. 05:59 +00:34 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
16. 06:00 +00:35 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
Split 6 + 7 (many skiers missed split 6 – therefore these are shown together)
1. 08:31 Marcus HELLNER SWE
2. 08:48 +00:17 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
3. 08:52 +00:21 Johannes DUERR AUT
4. 08:54 +00:24 Dario COLOGNA SUI
5. 08:57 +00:27 Roland CLARA ITA
6. 08:58 +00:28 Johan OLSSON SWE
7. 08:59 +00:28 Lukas BAUER CZE
8. 08:59 +00:29 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
9. 08:59 +00:29 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
10. 09:02 +00:32 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
11. 09:13 +00:42 Curdin PERL SUI
12. 09:16 +00:45 Robin DUVILLARD FRA
14. 09:17 +00:47 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
28. 09:33 +01:02 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR

Analysis: Final Climb 2013 – Women

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 06 Jan 2013@13:04

Fantastic race by Therese Johaug – the Norwegian crushed everybody up the Final Climb in Tour de Ski 2012/2013. Johaug was again 40 seconds faster than the next up Alpe Cermis – Elizabeth Stephen (USA) being closest and Heidi Weng (NOR) in third.

The illustration above is a graphical illustration of the race development based on the split times. A line which is flat means that a skier has the same time as Justyna Kowalczyk for the split (Kowalczyk’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. See the full interactive illustration here.

From the illustration you can see how Johaug gained time on Kowalczyk on every single split (Johaug’s curve rises all the way) – even on the flat first part. Kowalczyk actually skied a good race – the 7th best total time up Alpe Cermis is better than the Polish Tour de Ski winner has done in skating lately. In the end it was also enough to take home yet another Tour de Ski title – but as you can see by extrapolating Johaug’s curve, another kilometer uphill and anything could have happened…

Kristin Størmer Steira gained time on Kowalczyk on the flat part (Steira’s curve rises the first splits), but lost time up the climb (curve is going down).

Sorry, no GPS analysis

Unfortunately GPS data was not published this year (GPS was shown in TV broadcasts, but data was not published like last year) – that means that the analysis is not as detailed and interesting as it was last year. Very unfortunate – I think many enjoyed the GPS data in last year’s edition of Tour de Ski!

Alpe Cermis climb times (unofficial results from live timing)
1. 34:12 Therese JOHAUG NOR
2. 34:52 +00:40 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
3. 35:24 +01:11 Heidi WENG NOR
4. 35:46 +01:34 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
5. 35:46 +01:34 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
6. 35:48 +01:36 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
7. 35:53 +01:40 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
8. 35:55 +01:42 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
9. 35:57 +01:45 Debora AGREITER ITA
10. 36:07 +01:55 Katrin ZELLER GER
11. 36:13 +02:01 Aurore JEAN FRA
12. 36:15 +02:03 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
13. 36:22 +02:10 Julia IVANOVA RUS
14. 36:30 +02:17 Charlotte KALLA SWE
15. 36:32 +02:19 Coraline HUGUE FRA
16. 36:37 +02:25 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
17. 36:45 +02:32 Ekaterina RUDAKOVA BLR
18. 36:47 +02:34 Emma WIKEN SWE
19. 36:49 +02:36 Irina KHAZOVA RUS
20. 36:50 +02:38 Jessica DIGGINS USA
21. 36:53 +02:40 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
22. 37:01 +02:49 Maryna ANTSYBOR UKR
23. 37:04 +02:51 Alija IKSANOVA RUS
24. 37:08 +02:55 Veronica CAVALLAR ITA
25. 37:08 +02:56 Anouk FAIVRE PICON FRA
26. 37:09 +02:57 Stefanie BOEHLER GER
27. 37:18 +03:06 Laura AHERVO FIN
28. 37:28 +03:15 Paulina MACIUSZEK POL
29. 37:45 +03:33 Eva VRABCOVA – NYVLTOVA CZE
30. 37:46 +03:34 Denise HERRMANN GER
31. 37:46 +03:34 Anna HAAG SWE
32. 37:47 +03:34 Kerttu NISKANEN FIN
33. 37:49 +03:37 Kikkan RANDALL USA
34. 37:53 +03:41 Anastasia DOTSENKO RUS
35. 37:58 +03:46 Sara LINDBORG SWE
Split 1
1. 03:53 Kikkan RANDALL USA
2. 03:54 +00:01 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
3. 03:55 +00:02 Therese JOHAUG NOR
4. 03:57 +00:04 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
5. 03:57 +00:04 Charlotte KALLA SWE
6. 04:00 +00:08 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
7. 04:03 +00:10 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
8. 04:04 +00:11 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
9. 04:04 +00:11 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
10. 04:04 +00:11 Katrin ZELLER GER
11. 04:04 +00:11 Virginia DE MARTIN TOPRANIN ITA
17. 04:06 +00:13 Heidi WENG NOR
Split 2
1. 04:04 Irina KHAZOVA RUS
2. 04:06 +00:02 Tatyana OSSIPOVA KAZ
3. 04:06 +00:02 Ekaterina RUDAKOVA BLR
4. 04:07 +00:03 Polina MEDVEDEVA RUS
5. 04:07 +00:03 Sara LINDBORG SWE
6. 04:07 +00:03 Debora AGREITER ITA
7. 04:07 +00:04 Coraline HUGUE FRA
8. 04:08 +00:04 Anouk FAIVRE PICON FRA
9. 04:08 +00:04 Oxana YATSKAYA KAZ
10. 04:08 +00:04 Laura AHERVO FIN
11. 04:08 +00:04 Stefanie BOEHLER GER
21. 04:09 +00:06 Therese JOHAUG NOR
23. 04:10 +00:06 Heidi WENG NOR
26. 04:10 +00:06 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
34. 04:13 +00:09 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
37. 04:16 +00:12 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
40. 04:16 +00:12 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
Split 3
1. 05:55 Therese JOHAUG NOR
2. 05:57 +00:01 Heidi WENG NOR
3. 05:57 +00:02 Irina KHAZOVA RUS
4. 05:58 +00:03 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
5. 05:59 +00:03 Debora AGREITER ITA
6. 05:59 +00:03 Denise HERRMANN GER
7. 06:00 +00:04 Mia ERIKSSON SWE
8. 06:01 +00:06 Jessica DIGGINS USA
9. 06:02 +00:07 Coraline HUGUE FRA
10. 06:03 +00:08 Aurore JEAN FRA
11. 06:03 +00:08 Stefanie BOEHLER GER
25. 06:09 +00:14 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
38. 06:13 +00:18 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
42. 06:14 +00:19 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
Split 4
1. 03:10 Therese JOHAUG NOR
2. 03:14 +00:04 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
3. 03:14 +00:04 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
4. 03:17 +00:07 Debora AGREITER ITA
5. 03:19 +00:09 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
6. 03:20 +00:10 Aurore JEAN FRA
7. 03:21 +00:11 Charlotte KALLA SWE
8. 03:21 +00:11 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
9. 03:24 +00:14 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
10. 03:24 +00:14 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
11. 03:25 +00:15 Katrin ZELLER GER
23. 03:31 +00:21 Heidi WENG NOR
Split 5
1. 06:30 Therese JOHAUG NOR
2. 06:53 +00:23 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
3. 06:59 +00:30 Heidi WENG NOR
4. 07:00 +00:30 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
5. 07:01 +00:32 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
6. 07:12 +00:42 Katrin ZELLER GER
7. 07:14 +00:44 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
8. 07:18 +00:48 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
9. 07:19 +00:49 Debora AGREITER ITA
10. 07:20 +00:51 Aurore JEAN FRA
11. 07:21 +00:52 Charlotte KALLA SWE
12. 07:21 +00:52 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
15. 07:22 +00:52 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
Split 6
1. 05:44 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
2. 05:47 +00:04 Therese JOHAUG NOR
3. 05:54 +00:10 Heidi WENG NOR
4. 05:54 +00:11 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
5. 05:55 +00:11 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
6. 05:58 +00:14 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
7. 05:59 +00:15 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
8. 05:59 +00:15 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
9. 05:59 +00:16 Katrin ZELLER GER
10. 06:05 +00:22 Charlotte KALLA SWE
11. 06:08 +00:24 Debora AGREITER ITA
Split 7
1. 04:37 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
2. 04:42 +00:05 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
3. 04:46 +00:09 Therese JOHAUG NOR
4. 04:47 +00:10 Heidi WENG NOR
5. 04:47 +00:11 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
6. 04:49 +00:12 Julia IVANOVA RUS
7. 04:49 +00:13 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
8. 04:49 +00:13 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
9. 04:53 +00:16 Ekaterina RUDAKOVA BLR
10. 04:53 +00:16 Emma WIKEN SWE
11. 04:55 +00:19 Anna HAAG SWE

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

Race preview: Val di Fiemme Classic Mass start

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 04 Jan 2013@13:55

The second last stage in this 7th edition of Tour de Ski is a tough classic mass start race in Val di Fiemme. With 60 bonus seconds to fight for in the men’s race and 45 seconds in the women’s race, this race will be decisive for the starting order in the final race up Alpe Cermis.

Note! Although the men’s race is shortened from 20 km to 15 km compared to the last years, it is a really tough stage with 570 meters uphill for the men and 360 meters for the women. For the men this is actually more uphill than in the final climb up Alpe Cermis! And 60 bonus seconds = very decisive stage. For the women the length stays the same as previous years – 10 km – with 45 bonus seconds to fight for.

Alexander Legkov probably still has nightmares about the 2012 edition of the Val di Fiemme classic mass start – the Russian lost nearly 2 minutes

This race has been the playground of Petter Northug and Dario Cologna in the men’s class the last years – while Justyna Kowalczyk has dominated the women’s class. Alexander Legkov probably still has nightmares about the 2012 edition of the Val di Fiemme classic mass start – the Russian lost nearly 2 minutes and finished in 27th place after having very slippery skis and using too much power to fight for bonus seconds early in the race (earning him meager 16 bonus seconds).

Tactics, tactics, tactics …

In this type of race, bonus seconds at the intermediate points have proven to be even more important than the stage win in some cases – the challenge is to find the right balance between fighting for bonus points at intermediate points and getting too tired to stay with the leaders all the way to the finish. Who will go for intermediate bonus seconds? Will the Norwegian team try to help Petter Northug and Therese Johaug? Will there be cooperation in the strong Russian team in the men’s class?

There are three intermediate points with bonus points for the men and two for the women during the race. Bonus seconds for intermediate points will be 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 seconds for the first ten athletes. In addition the top three of the Stage will get bonus seconds (15, 10 and 5 seconds). The schemes for the bonus seconds have changed the last years – this year there are 30 less bonus seconds to be achieved in the men’s class compared to the last two year.

Men

Of the ones of the start line in 2013, the five strongest historically seen in the Val di Fiemme classic style mass start race have been Cologna, Northug and Bauer in addition to the two Canadians Harvey and Kershaw (see tables below). However, Harvey and Kershaw did not impress on the short classic Val di Fiemme stage on Friday. On the other hand, Alexey Poltaranin raced a very impressive race on the short classic Val di Fiemme stage – and so did Russian Dmitriy Japarov and Swedish Calle Halfvarsson.

Challenge for the Russian overall favourites

The Val di Fiemme classic mass start has never been the best race for the Russians Alexander Legkov and Maxim Vylegzhanin.  Vylegzhanin had his best race in 2012, finishing 18th – 23 seconds down on Rønning – but with respectable 27 bonus seconds. Legkov has never performed well in this race – his best result the last 5 years being the 23rd place in 2008. Both did also have some trouble on the short Val di Fiemme classic stage. On the other hand, except for the fight for bonus seconds, this race should not be that different from the Oberhof classic pursuit race where Vylegzhanin and Legkov impressed!

Looking back at 2012, Eldar Rønning (not starting this year) took the stage win – but Dario Cologna (placed 3rd, 31 bonus seconds more than Rønning) and Petter Northug (placed 4th, 30 bonus seconds more) were the “actual winners” of the race in terms of the overall Tour standings. Lukas Bauer only finished 10th in 2012, but with 37 bonus seconds the Czech skier still had the third best result in terms of the overall standing.

In 2011, Petter Northug dominated the race – taking home all bonus seconds (a total of 90), and also taking the stage win. Dario Cologna actually did a better race than in 2012 and took 60 bonus seconds – finishing 2nd.  The bonus second scheme was different in 2011, though, with bonus seconds only to the top three at each intermediate point.

Women

Justyna Kowalczyk has been dominant in this race the last two years. Even with Marit Bjørgen on the start list Kowalczyk has taken all 45 bonus seconds and the victory both in 2012 and 2011. Therese Johaug has shown that she can perform well in this race (2nd spot and 30 bonus seconds in 2011), but she has also had bad races like the 11th place last year – 51 seconds down on Kowalczyk with only 7 bonus seconds.

A bad day may ruin the chances for an overall Top 5 place in the Tour de Ski 2012/2013 for any of them

The same goes for Charlotte Kalla – classic races are hit or miss for the Swede who impressed everybody at the Toblach pursuit race on Thursday. As long as the tracks are hard and well groomed like on the short classic Val di Fiemme stage, this should be possible for Kalla.

Historically, neither Størmer Steira, Randall, Jacobsen, Herrmann or Kyllönen have performed well in the Val di Fiemme mass start – all loosing significant time. However, they have all shown strong classic races lately – especially Jacobsen and Kyllönen, and depending on the tactics they choose they may all be up there fighting for both bonus seconds and a Top 3 finish. A bad day may ruin the chances for an overall Top 5 place in the Tour de Ski 2012/2013 for any of them… Also look out for the Finnish Krista Lähtenemäki and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen who have gradually raced better and better in the classic races in this Tour de Ski – Lähtenemäki finishing second in the short classic Val di Fiemme stage.

Set up your predictions

Set up your predictions and see results here:

Men starters – historical results
Name 2012

Val di Fiemme

2012-01-07

20 km C Mst

 2011

Val di Fiemme

2011-01-08

20 km C Mst

 2010

Val di Fiemme

2010-01-09

20 km C Mst

 2009

Val di Fiemme

2009-01-03

20 km C Mst

 2008

Val di Fiemme

2008-01-05

20 km C Mst
NORTHUG Petter jr. +0:01.5

1:00:03.7 (4)

Bonus 55

 +0:00.0

57:17.2 (1)

Bonus 90

 +0:31.5

59:35.0 (2)

Bonus 65

 +0:06.7

55:25.9 (8)

 +0:20.3

1:00:38.2 (13)
HARVEY Alex +0:01.1

1:00:03.3 (2)

Bonus 27

 +0:02.9

57:20.1 (5)

 +0:58.0

1:00:01.6 (13)
COLOGNA Dario +0:01.3

1:00:03.5 (3)

Bonus 56

 +0:01.8

57:19.0 (2)

Bonus 60

 +0:33.3

59:36.8 (4)

Bonus 5

 +0:01.8

55:21.0 (4)

Bonus 30

 +2:50.0

1:03:07.8 (44)
KERSHAW Devon +0:03.2

1:00:05.4 (6)

Bonus 23

 +0:02.2

57:19.4 (3)

Bonus 10

 +1:34.5

1:00:38.0 (22)

 +2:01.3

57:20.5 (37)
BAUER Lukas +0:10.8

1:00:13.0 (12)

Bonus 37

 +0:10.5

57:27.7 (13)

 +0:00.0

59:03.5 (1)

Bonus 60

 +1:16.5

56:35.7 (25)

Bonus 10

 +0:07.5

1:00:25.3 (7)

Bonus 45
TURYSHEV Sergey +0:02.3

1:00:04.5 (5)

Bonus 15
JAKS Martin +0:12.2

1:00:14.4 (14)

 +0:02.6

57:19.8 (4)

Bonus 10

 +0:43.5

1:01:01.3 (27)
TEICHMANN Axel +2:38.9

1:02:41.1 (39)

 +0:32.3

59:35.8 (3)

Bonus 5

 +0:00.0

55:19.2 (1)

Bonus 50

 +0:05.5

1:00:23.3 (5)
FILBRICH Jens +0:11.3

1:00:13.5 (13)

Bonus 6

 +0:03.9

57:21.1 (7)

 +0:48.0

59:51.5 (10)

 +0:04.0

55:23.2 (7)

 +0:25.1

1:00:43.0 (19)
CLARA Roland +0:18.4

1:00:20.6 (15)

 +0:03.7

57:20.9 (6)

 +2:23.4

1:01:26.9 (32)

 +0:44.6

56:03.8 (23)
DYRHAUG Niklas +0:05.1

1:00:07.3 (7)
JAPAROV Dmitriy +0:05.9

1:00:08.1 (9)

Bonus 10

 +1:52.0

59:09.2 (22)
ANGERER Tobias +0:05.8

1:00:08.0 (8)

 +0:10.1

1:00:28.0 (9)
HELLNER Marcus +0:08.6

1:00:10.8 (11)

Bonus 29

 +1:53.4

59:10.6 (23)

 +0:53.6

59:57.2 (11)

 +1:47.0

1:02:04.8 (38)
RICKARDSSON Daniel +0:05.1

57:22.3 (10)

 +0:37.0

59:40.6 (5)

 +0:22.5

55:41.7 (14)

 +1:48.6

1:02:06.4 (39)
DI CENTA Giorgio +1:35.2

1:01:37.4 (22)

Bonus 15

 +0:20.2

57:37.4 (17)

 +1:28.5

1:00:32.0 (21)

 +0:43.6

56:02.8 (21)

 +0:22.1

1:00:40.0 (16)

Bonus 30
GAILLARD Jean Marc +0:05.6

57:22.8 (11)

Bonus 5

 +0:42.0

59:45.5 (6)

Bonus 15

 +0:33.1

55:52.3 (17)

Bonus 20
PERL Curdin +3:49.6

1:03:51.8 (48)

 +0:04.5

57:21.7 (8)

Bonus 5

 +1:28.1

1:00:31.7 (19)

 +1:54.8

57:14.0 (31)
PASINI Fabio +0:19.2

1:00:21.4 (16)

 +3:52.6

1:02:56.1 (40)

 +1:45.9

57:05.1 (26)
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim +0:23.0

1:00:25.2 (18)

Bonus 27

 +0:03.9

55:23.1 (6)

Bonus 5

 +1:31.1

1:01:49.0 (34)
GJERDALEN Tord Asle +0:15.3

57:32.5 (14)

 +0:54.6

59:58.2 (12)

 +1:56.5

57:15.7 (34)

 +0:05.1

1:00:23.0 (4)

Bonus 10
DUVILLARD Robin +0:39.0

1:00:41.2 (21)

 +1:58.3

59:15.5 (25)

 +4:49.8

1:03:53.3 (41)
CHERNOUSOV Ilia +0:30.7

1:00:32.9 (20)

Bonus 1

 +1:28.4

1:00:31.9 (20)

 +4:40.5

1:04:58.3 (56)
BESSMERTNYKH Alexander +0:29.5

1:00:31.7 (19)

 +3:27.0

1:00:44.2 (32)
REICHELT Tom +0:07.0

57:24.2 (12)

 +1:35.6

1:00:39.2 (23)

 +2:00.2

57:19.4 (36)
CHEBOTKO Nikolay +3:57.2

1:03:59.4 (49)

 +1:16.5

1:00:20.1 (17)

 +0:01.3

55:20.5 (3)

Bonus 5

 +3:13.9

1:03:31.7 (48)
MORIGGL Thomas +1:59.8

1:02:02.0 (26)

 +1:47.1

59:04.3 (20)

 +2:56.4

1:01:59.9 (39)
VELICHKO Yevgeniy +1:54.0

1:01:56.2 (24)

 +1:09.5

1:00:13.0 (14)

 +1:46.5

57:05.7 (28)
MIRANDA Cyril +0:19.6

57:36.8 (16)

 +2:22.1

1:01:25.6 (30)

 +1:57.7

57:16.9 (35)
EINARSSON Snorri +0:44.2

58:01.4 (18)
GOERING Franz +0:03.1

1:00:21.0 (3)

Bonus 5
LEGKOV Alexander +1:59.9

1:02:02.1 (27)

Bonus 16

 +3:18.6

58:37.8 (46)

 +0:36.5

1:00:54.4 (23)
FISCHER Remo +1:56.9

59:14.1 (24)
CHECCHI Valerio +1:15.1

1:00:18.7 (16)

 +0:33.4

55:52.6 (19)

 +0:09.0

1:00:26.8 (8)
BABIKOV Ivan +2:18.5

1:02:20.7 (32)

 +2:29.7

59:46.9 (27)

 +1:37.6

1:00:41.2 (25)

Bonus 5

 +4:51.9

1:00:11.1 (47)
REHEMAA Aivar +2:32.6

1:02:34.8 (38)

 +0:13.8

55:33.0 (10)
KARP Algo +3:48.3

1:03:50.5 (47)

 +2:15.5

1:01:19.0 (29)

 +0:43.2

56:02.4 (20)
OESTENSEN Simen +1:50.7

1:00:54.2 (27)

 +0:36.2

1:00:54.1 (22)
LIVERS Toni +0:53.5

56:12.7 (24)
Women starters – historical results
Name 2012

Val di Fiemme

2012-01-07

10 km C Mst

 2011

Val di Fiemme

2011-01-08

10 km C Mst

 2010

Val di Fiemme

2010-01-09

10 km C Mst

 2009

Val di Fiemme

2009-01-03

10 km C Mst

 2008

Val di Fiemme

2008-01-05

10 km C Mst
KOWALCZYK Justyna +0:00.0

25:49.8 (1)

Bonus 45

 +0:00.0

30:27.6 (1)

Bonus 45

 +0:15.5

34:21.9 (22)

Bonus 15

 +0:53.2

31:03.5 (15)

 +1:10.4

33:58.5 (26)
JOHAUG Therese +0:51.2

26:41.0 (11)

Bonus 7

 +0:06.3

30:33.9 (2)

Bonus 30

 +0:37.1

30:47.4 (9)

 +0:29.4

33:17.5 (15)
KALLA Charlotte +0:31.0

26:20.8 (3)

Bonus 20

 +2:16.2

32:43.8 (15)

 +0:04.5

32:52.6 (2)

Bonus 10
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa +0:33.6

26:23.4 (4)

Bonus 16

 +1:14.0

31:41.6 (5)

Bonus 10

 +0:29.4

34:35.8 (27)

 +0:20.5

30:30.8 (3)

Bonus 15

 +0:59.2

33:47.3 (23)

Bonus 10
IVANOVA Julia +0:42.3

26:32.1 (5)

Bonus 2

 +1:49.3

31:59.6 (27)

 +1:23.2

34:11.3 (31)
ZELLER Katrin +0:46.5

26:36.3 (6)

Bonus 9

 +1:28.1

31:55.7 (8)

 +0:06.0

34:12.4 (10)

 +0:47.5

30:57.8 (11)

 +0:05.5

32:53.6 (5)

Bonus 10
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe +0:49.9

26:39.7 (10)

Bonus 6

 +1:25.1

31:52.7 (7)

 +0:34.1

34:40.6 (30)

 +1:28.5

31:38.8 (21)
LAHTEENMAKI Krista +0:49.2

26:39.0 (9)

Bonus 10

 +2:16.8

32:44.4 (16)
MEDVEDEVA Polina +0:48.0

26:37.8 (8)
SMUTNA Katerina +1:12.1

27:01.9 (15)

 +2:27.5

32:55.1 (18)

 +0:14.1

34:20.6 (21)

 +1:07.5

31:17.8 (16)

 +0:20.5

33:08.6 (12)
KYLLOENEN Anne +1:00.1

26:49.9 (13)

 +2:55.2

33:22.8 (22)
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa +1:22.1

27:11.9 (18)

 +2:03.8

32:31.4 (14)

 +0:07.9

34:14.3 (16)

 +1:41.2

31:51.5 (23)

 +0:37.2

33:25.3 (20)
RANDALL Kikkan +0:58.9

26:48.7 (12)

Bonus 8

 +3:54.8

34:22.4 (27)
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt +1:25.4

27:15.2 (20)

 +1:53.8

32:21.4 (12)

 +1:50.1

32:00.4 (29)
NISKANEN Kerttu +1:12.5

27:02.3 (16)

 +2:33.0

33:00.6 (20)
IKSANOVA Alija +1:19.5

27:09.3 (17)
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad +1:55.7

27:45.5 (32)

 +1:33.3

32:00.9 (10)
KOLOMINA Yelena +1:24.0

27:13.8 (19)
HAAG Anna +1:59.3

32:26.9 (13)

 +0:36.5

30:46.8 (8)
SHAIDUROVA Larisa +1:33.1

27:22.9 (22)

 +5:59.2

36:26.8 (36)
AHERVO Laura +1:38.1

27:27.9 (23)
FESSEL Nicole +1:38.9

27:28.7 (24)
DE MARTIN TOPRANIN Virginia +1:40.2

27:30.0 (25)

 +4:01.7

34:29.3 (30)
SHEVCHENKO Valentina +1:54.2

27:44.0 (30)

 +3:26.3

33:53.9 (24)

 +0:20.7

34:27.2 (24)

 +0:49.3

30:59.6 (13)

 +0:32.9

33:21.0 (17)
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer +2:01.6

27:51.4 (38)

 +0:09.4

34:15.8 (18)

Bonus 5

 +0:39.0

30:49.3 (10)

 +0:13.0

33:01.1 (9)
BOEHLER Stefanie +0:35.6

30:45.9 (7)

 +1:30.5

34:18.7 (34)
TCHEKALEVA Yulia +0:10.1

34:16.6 (20)
LINDBORG Sara +1:25.0

31:35.3 (19)
KOROSTELEVA Natalia +0:34.5

33:22.6 (18)

Race Preview: Short classic Toblach stage

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 03 Jan 2013@17:00


The short classic style race in Toblach was a new addition to the Tour de Ski last year. This year it has been put after the long pursuit race, and will therefore become more important for the overall standings – every second gained here will be important for the Final Climb! The race length is around 30% longer than a typical prologue – 3.3 km for the women and 5 km for the men.

Even if the race is short, this should not be dismissed as an unimportant stage in the Tour.  With a tough course (see the men’s race profile above – the women further down) and 15/10/5 bonus seconds to the three first skiers, a skier with a bad day can easily loose up to 30 seconds like Northug did last year.

The course is of the “classic” type – with “long, beautiful inviting uphill slopes” as Anna Haag put it last year.  When comparing to other races in the World Cup, the Falun prologue of 3.3 km / 2.5 km in classic style is the closest to compare with. Results from the Falun prologue and the Toblach classic races the two last years (longer in 2010) are included below.

Men: Important bonus seconds!

Northug has previously shown that he can master this type of race very well

Last year Alexander Legkov took a somewhat surprising victory in the 5 km classic race in Toblach – with Eldar Rønning (not starting this year) in second and Dario Cologna in third only 2 seconds down. Petter Northug had a bad day, and finished on a 12th place – 14 seconds down from Legkov – 29 seconds when counting in the bonus seconds. However, Northug has previously shown that he can master this type of race very well – with 2nd and 4th places in the somewhat shorter classic Falun Prologue. Vylegzhanin can be very strong in these short classic races – finishing only 11th last year, but with two 3rd places in the Falun Prologue.

Another strong skier in this type of race is Lukas Bauer (4th last year) – can he wake up for real on this short classic race? Daniel Rickardsson could also do well here, although the race might be just a little bit short for the Swede.

Skiers often struggling in this kind of race include Marcus Hellner and Alex Harvey – they need to work hard to limit their losses if they want to fight for the Top 5 in the overall…

Women: Another Kowalczyk show?

The only one beating Kowalczyk in these short classic races the last years has been Marit Bjørgen

While Justyna Kowalczyk had big trouble in the Toblach 15 km skating race, the Polish superwomen looks unbeatable in classic technique these days – at least when Marit Bjørgen is not on the start line. The only one beating Kowalczyk in these short classic races the last years has been Marit Bjørgen – who is not on the start in this year’s Tour. In last year’s 3 km classic race, Bjørgen and Kowalczyk crushed the field – Bjørgen winning 4 seconds ahead of Kowalczyk with Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen in third 15 seconds down (25 seconds including the bonus seconds). The German’s Nicole Fessel and Stefanie Böhler finished 4th and 5th with Therese Johaug in 6th, 21 seconds down. This will be a perfect opportunity for Kowalczyk to gain some valuable seconds on Johaug and the rest of the field. But also Uhrenholdt Jacobsen can use this excellent opportunity to get closer to the Top 4.

Randall and Kyllönen?

Kristin Størmer Steira, Kikkan Randall, Denise Herrmann and Anne Kyllönen have all struggled in these short classic races before – but they have all shown exceptional good shape in classic lately, and it is to expected that a least one or two of them will shine on the short Toblach classic race – maybe all four? My bet is on  Randall and Kyllönen.

The short classic races are also not Charlotte Kalla’s favourite, but she has earlier shown that she can do well if she has good skis and good shape – so she might even mix in on the fight for bonus seconds. There is no reason to doubt that Kalla is in top shape!

Race profile Women:

Men starters – historical results
Name 2012
Toblach
2012-01-03
5 km C		 2011
Falun
2011-03-18
3.3 km C		 2010
Falun
2010-03-19
3.3 km C Prologue		 2010
Cortina – Toblach
2010-01-07
10 km C
LEGKOV Alexander +0:00.0
13:49.5 (1)		 +0:18.3
11:10.1 (14)
CHERNOUSOV Ilia +0:04.0
13:53.5 (5)		 +0:00.0
10:51.8 (1)		 +0:35.6
10:30.9 (38)		 +1:02.0
24:16.5 (23)
COLOGNA Dario +0:02.0
13:51.5 (3)		 +0:22.0
11:13.8 (16)		 +0:00.0
9:55.3 (1)		 +0:35.5
23:50.0 (8)
NORTHUG Petter jr. +0:13.8
14:03.3 (12)		 +0:02.9
10:54.7 (2)		 +0:10.0
10:05.3 (4)		 +0:06.2
23:20.7 (3)
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim +0:13.2
14:02.7 (11)		 +0:04.2
10:56.0 (3)		 +0:06.0
10:01.3 (3)
BAUER Lukas +0:03.5
13:53.0 (4)		 +0:12.1
11:03.9 (9)		 +0:17.2
10:12.5 (14)		 +0:01.7
23:16.2 (2)
RICKARDSSON Daniel +0:37.5
14:27.0 (29)		 +0:13.9
11:05.7 (11)		 +0:14.4
10:09.7 (11)		 +0:00.0
23:14.5 (1)
TEICHMANN Axel +0:06.0
13:55.5 (6)		 +0:10.4
10:05.7 (5)		 +0:13.4
23:27.9 (4)
JAPAROV Dmitriy +0:09.5
13:59.0 (7)
HEIKKINEN Matti +0:26.6
14:16.1 (22)		 +0:11.9
11:03.7 (8)		 +0:20.8
10:16.1 (22)		 +0:28.5
23:43.1 (6)
TURYSHEV Sergey +0:10.1
13:59.6 (9)
PASINI Fabio +0:12.3
14:01.8 (10)		 +1:05.4
24:19.9 (29)
DI CENTA Giorgio +0:20.0
14:09.5 (16)		 +0:30.5
11:22.3 (27)		 +0:30.7
10:26.0 (34)		 +0:31.5
23:46.1 (7)
FILBRICH Jens +0:18.4
14:07.9 (15)		 +0:34.1
11:25.9 (31)		 +0:46.4
24:00.9 (10)
BESSMERTNYKH Alexander +0:17.5
14:07.0 (14)
GAILLARD Jean Marc +0:31.0
14:20.5 (26)		 +0:21.7
11:13.5 (15)		 +0:12.5
10:07.8 (9)		 +0:53.3
24:07.8 (15)
JOENSSON Emil +0:47.2
14:36.7 (42)		 +0:12.2
11:04.0 (10)		 +0:18.9
10:14.2 (18)
HELLNER Marcus +0:51.1
14:40.6 (48)		 +0:11.9
10:07.2 (7)		 +0:25.5
23:40.0 (5)
HARVEY Alex +0:37.5
14:27.0 (29)		 +0:28.2
11:20.0 (25)		 +0:20.2
10:15.5 (21)		 +0:42.4
23:56.9 (9)
ANGERER Tobias +0:56.3
14:45.8 (56)		 +0:30.6
11:22.4 (28)		 +0:15.2
10:10.5 (12)
OLSSON Johan +0:13.2
10:08.5 (10)
Women starters – historical results
Name 2012
Toblach
2012-01-03
3 km C		 2011
Falun
2011-03-18
2.5 km C		 2010
Falun
2010-03-19
2.5 km C Prologue		 2010
Cortina – Toblach
2010-01-07
5 km C
KOWALCZYK Justyna +0:03.8
10:53.1 (2)		 +0:10.6
9:12.2 (2)		 +0:00.0
8:07.9 (1)		 +0:00.0
12:37.6 (1)
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt +0:15.0
11:04.3 (3)		 +0:26.1
9:27.8 (9)
JOHAUG Therese +0:21.1
11:10.4 (6)		 +0:12.9
9:14.5 (3)		 +0:57.3
9:05.2 (28)		 +1:09.4
13:47.0 (29)
FESSEL Nicole +0:17.0
11:06.2 (4)		 +0:24.5
9:26.1 (6)
BOEHLER Stefanie +0:17.1
11:06.4 (5)		 +0:54.5
9:56.1 (30)		 +0:38.3
8:46.2 (15)
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa +0:33.0
11:22.3 (15)		 +0:26.5
9:28.1 (11)		 +0:32.6
8:40.5 (9)		 +0:11.6
12:49.2 (2)
HAAG Anna +0:38.0
11:27.2 (23)		 +0:17.4
9:19.0 (4)		 +0:28.9
8:36.8 (5)
KALLA Charlotte +0:34.0
11:23.2 (17)		 +0:25.6
9:27.3 (8)		 +0:16.9
8:24.8 (3)
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe +0:25.0
11:14.2 (9)		 +0:28.1
9:29.7 (12)		 +2:12.4
10:20.3 (47)		 +0:35.4
13:13.0 (8)
LAHTEENMAKI Krista +0:23.1
11:12.4 (7)		 +0:41.4
9:43.0 (18)
ZELLER Katrin +0:30.0
11:19.3 (12)		 +0:26.3
9:27.9 (10)		 +0:47.4
8:55.3 (21)		 +0:36.9
13:14.5 (9)
SMUTNA Katerina +0:23.9
11:13.1 (8)		 +0:55.0
9:56.6 (32)		 +0:41.8
8:49.7 (19)		 +0:57.5
13:35.1 (23)
DOTSENKO Anastasia +0:26.3
11:15.5 (10)		 +0:48.9
9:50.5 (23)
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer +0:38.6
11:27.9 (24)		 +0:35.3
9:36.9 (14)		 +0:52.7
9:00.6 (26)		 +0:25.6
13:03.2 (4)
NISKANEN Kerttu +0:33.4
11:22.6 (16)		 +0:36.1
9:37.7 (16)		 +0:36.5
8:44.4 (12)
MEDVEDEVA Polina +0:27.4
11:16.6 (11)
HERRMANN Denise +0:30.4
11:19.6 (13)		 +1:27.6
10:29.3 (52)
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa +0:34.4
11:23.6 (18)		 +0:34.0
8:41.9 (10)		 +0:42.1
13:19.8 (14)
KOROSTELEVA Natalia +0:34.4
11:23.6 (18)		 +0:51.5
8:59.4 (23)
IVANOVA Julia +0:34.4
11:23.6 (18)		 +0:57.9
9:59.5 (35)
KYLLOENEN Anne +0:35.9
11:25.1 (22)		 +0:50.5
9:52.1 (25)
DE MARTIN TOPRANIN Virginia +0:34.8
11:24.0 (21)
TCHEKALEVA Yulia +0:43.9
9:45.5 (21)		 +0:29.6
13:07.2 (7)
RANDALL Kikkan +0:43.0
11:32.2 (29)		 +0:41.6
9:43.3 (19)		 +1:08.2
9:16.1 (36)
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad +0:41.0
11:30.2 (25)		 +0:53.8
9:55.4 (29)		 +1:45.2
9:53.1 (46)
SHEVCHENKO Valentina +1:02.1
11:51.4 (39)		 +0:51.8
9:53.4 (26)		 +0:52.4
9:00.3 (25)		 +1:01.0
13:38.6 (24)
LINDBORG Sara +0:51.8
9:53.4 (26)		 +0:52.9
13:30.5 (20)

Tour de Ski Toblach Women 15km: Analysis

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 03 Jan 2013@16:39

Thanks to a fantastic race by Swedish Charlotte Kalla, the women’s 15 km race in Toblach got a lot more interesting than expected. Justyna Kowalczyk was beat by 1:15 by the fast Swede today – and now the overall Tour de Ski in the women’s class looks wide open with 4 skiers within a little more than 30 seconds.

The illustration above is a graphical illustration of the race development based on the split times. A line which is flat means that a skier has the same time as Justyna Kowalczyk for the split (Kowalczyk’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. See the full interactive illustration here.

Kowalczyk’s lead is now reduced to 23 seconds – It looks like this will be the most interesting Tour de Ski so far in the women’s class

As you can see from the illustration, Kalla (green curve from the start – then below Steira’s black curve from 5.7 km) was faster than Kowalczyk on all splits. Steira on the other hand had a bad start, but when Kalla came around 5 km, she managed to keep up with the fast Swedish skier all the way until the end. Towards the end of the race they also caught up with Therese Johaug. All three finished within 20 seconds of Justyna Kowalczyk – due to bonus seconds (15 / 10 / 5 to the first three) Kowalczyk’s lead is now reduced to 23 seconds – It looks like this will be the most interesting Tour de Ski so far in the women’s class.

Another locomotive: Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen

Behind this trio, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen raced very well. Starting only a few seconds behind Kalla, she did not manage to catch her from the start. Instead she caught up Kyllönen, Herrmann and Randall – and with Jacobsen in front the quartet managed to get well within one minute behind Kowalczyk. The race time of Jacobsen was only around 20 seconds down on Kalla in the end.

With this everything is open in the women’s class again!

Split 1
1. 01:42 Denise HERRMANN GER
2. 01:44 +00:02 Katrin ZELLER GER
3. 01:46 +00:03 Sandra RINGWALD GER
4. 01:46 +00:04 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
5. 01:47 +00:04 Charlotte KALLA SWE
6. 01:47 +00:04 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
7. 01:47 +00:04 Therese JOHAUG NOR
8. 01:47 +00:04 Jennie OEBERG SWE
9. 01:47 +00:05 Anna HAAG SWE
10. 01:48 +00:05 Anouk FAIVRE PICON FRA
11. 01:48 +00:06 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
15. 01:48 +00:06 Emma WIKEN SWE
28. 01:50 +00:08 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
31. 01:51 +00:08 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
Split 2
1. 02:52 Charlotte KALLA SWE
2. 02:52 +00:01 Elizabeth STEPHEN USA
3. 02:53 +00:01 Katrin ZELLER GER
4. 02:53 +00:01 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
5. 02:53 +00:02 Katerina SMUTNA AUT
6. 02:54 +00:02 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
7. 02:54 +00:02 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
8. 02:54 +00:03 Eva VRABCOVA – NYVLTOVA CZE
9. 02:54 +00:03 Kornelia KUBINSKA POL
10. 02:54 +00:03 Anouk FAIVRE PICON FRA
11. 02:54 +00:03 Anna HAAG SWE
15. 02:55 +00:04 Emma WIKEN SWE
19. 02:56 +00:04 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
38. 02:59 +00:07 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
Split 3
1. 08:29 Charlotte KALLA SWE
2. 08:29 +00:01 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
3. 08:30 +00:02 Emma WIKEN SWE
4. 08:31 +00:02 Katerina SMUTNA AUT
5. 08:31 +00:02 Katrin ZELLER GER
6. 08:31 +00:02 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
7. 08:32 +00:03 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
8. 08:35 +00:06 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
9. 08:36 +00:08 Jessica DIGGINS USA
10. 08:37 +00:08 Marthe KRISTOFFERSEN NOR
11. 08:38 +00:09 Heidi WENG NOR
Split 4
1. 02:54 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
2. 02:54 +00:00 Charlotte KALLA SWE
3. 02:55 +00:02 Denise HERRMANN GER
4. 02:58 +00:04 Emma WIKEN SWE
5. 02:58 +00:04 Katrin ZELLER GER
6. 02:58 +00:04 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
7. 02:58 +00:05 Kikkan RANDALL USA
8. 02:59 +00:05 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
9. 02:59 +00:05 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
10. 02:59 +00:05 Katerina SMUTNA AUT
11. 03:00 +00:07 Therese JOHAUG NOR
13. 03:01 +00:08 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
Split 5
1. 08:31 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
2. 08:34 +00:03 Katrin ZELLER GER
3. 08:35 +00:05 Emma WIKEN SWE
4. 08:41 +00:11 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
5. 08:42 +00:11 Jessica DIGGINS USA
6. 08:42 +00:12 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
7. 08:43 +00:12 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
8. 08:43 +00:12 Charlotte KALLA SWE
9. 08:43 +00:13 Kikkan RANDALL USA
10. 08:44 +00:14 Valentina SHEVCHENKO UKR
11. 08:46 +00:15 Katerina SMUTNA AUT
Split 6
1. 02:57 Charlotte KALLA SWE
2. 02:57 +00:00 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
3. 02:59 +00:03 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS
4. 03:00 +00:03 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
5. 03:00 +00:04 Katrin ZELLER GER
6. 03:01 +00:04 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
7. 03:01 +00:05 Heidi WENG NOR
8. 03:01 +00:05 Justyna KOWALCZYK POL
9. 03:02 +00:05 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
10. 03:02 +00:05 Emma WIKEN SWE
11. 03:02 +00:05 Kikkan RANDALL USA
13. 03:02 +00:06 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
Split 7
1. 08:18 Krista LAHTEENMAKI FIN
2. 08:19 +00:01 Emma WIKEN SWE
3. 08:21 +00:03 Heidi WENG NOR
4. 08:22 +00:03 Katrin ZELLER GER
5. 08:22 +00:04 Charlotte KALLA SWE
6. 08:22 +00:04 Riitta-Liisa ROPONEN FIN
7. 08:22 +00:04 Kristin Stoermer STEIRA NOR
8. 08:26 +00:08 Jessica DIGGINS USA
9. 08:27 +00:09 Denise HERRMANN GER
10. 08:28 +00:10 Anne KYLLOENEN FIN
11. 08:28 +00:10 Therese JOHAUG NOR
14. 08:30 +00:12 Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN NOR
22. 08:36 +00:18 Yulia TCHEKALEVA RUS

Tour de Ski Queen Stage 2013: Analysis

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 03 Jan 2013@15:31


Everybody knew that there would be several big fields racing from Cortina to Toblach in today’s Tour de Ski Queen stage from Cortina to Toblach – the question was who would make it into which group. In the end the top 24 skiers raced most of the stage in three big fields. The graphical analysis above shows the development from start until finish.

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

Legkov on the other hand proved to have a very good day today

As expected, Alexander Legkov (Russia) and Alex Harvey (Canada) raced full speed from the start to try to catch up with Maxim Vylegzhanin (Russia), Dario Cologna (Switzerland) and Petter Northug (Norway). Already after a few kilometers skiing, Legkov/Harvey managed to catch up after a strong effort by Legkov – but had it cost too much?

Unfortunately for Harvey, it had – and he fell off the top quartet. Legkov on the other hand proved to have a very good day today – and managed to keep up with Vylegzhanin/Northug/Cologna all the way until the end.

- I knew Legkov would catch us – that is his way of racing. He raced hard until he caught us. Myself I did not get a good rhythm the first 5 km, but after that it went well, Northug said after the race.

Slowed down

The leading group slowed down the last kilometers – letting the other groups catch up some time. Northug won the sprint on the homestretch ahead of Legkov 0.7 seconds behind, and Cologna in third was 0.9 seconds back. With 15 / 10 / 5 bonus seconds to the top 3, Northug will have a +5.7 second lead going into tomorrow’s 5 km short classic race.

- In Oberhof I was at 80 percent, in Val Müstair 90 percent, and today 100 percent, a happy Northug said after his win.

The Cortina-Toblach stage is the stage were Northug has effectively lost the Tour de Ski the last two years. Northug now goes into the last three stages with a lot of self confidence after the win today.

24 skiers within 2:15

Harvey on the other hand was caught by the Chernousov/Bauer/Hellner group – turning the trio into another quartet around 15 km into the race. This group gradually lost time to the leading quartet, finishing 1:25 behind the leaders (1:40 including bonus seconds).

According to Sweden’s coach Arild Monsen, Marcus Hellner did all the work in this quartet.

- The others did not help Marcus at all. Don’t they want to get closer to the lead, or what was this? And even after that, they sprinted in the end, Monsen said to Sweski.com.

- We had a deal with Bauer, and he did not help at all, a furious Monsen commented.

The rest of the skiers did not make the cut into the first two groups – and 16 of them gathered into a big group – racing very fast in the last 7-8 km of the race. In the end this group finished only 20 seconds behind the Chernousov/Bauer/Hellner/Harvey group. Thus now we have 24 skiers within 2:15 in the overall.

Set up your predictions for the remaining stages

Set up your predictions and see results here:

Split 1
1. 13:59 Lukas BAUER CZE
2. 14:00 +00:00 Marcus HELLNER SWE
3. 14:00 +00:01 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
4. 14:01 +00:02 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
5. 14:04 +00:05 Roland CLARA ITA
6. 14:04 +00:05 Alex HARVEY CAN
7. 14:09 +00:10 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
8. 14:10 +00:10 Remo FISCHER SUI
9. 14:10 +00:11 Tobias ANGERER GER
10. 14:11 +00:12 Michail SEMENOV BLR
11. 14:12 +00:13 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
12. 14:12 +00:13 Devon KERSHAW CAN
28. 14:23 +00:24 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
Split 2
1. 16:49 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
2. 16:51 +00:02 Tobias ANGERER GER
3. 16:53 +00:04 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
4. 16:57 +00:08 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
5. 16:59 +00:11 Roland CLARA ITA
6. 17:00 +00:11 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
7. 17:00 +00:11 Johannes DUERR AUT
8. 17:01 +00:12 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
9. 17:01 +00:12 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
10. 17:01 +00:12 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
11. 17:02 +00:13 Dario COLOGNA SUI
18. 17:12 +00:23 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
19. 17:12 +00:23 Devon KERSHAW CAN
Split 3
1. 08:00 Jean Marc GAILLARD FRA
2. 08:04 +00:04 Remo FISCHER SUI
3. 08:07 +00:08 Valerio CHECCHI ITA
4. 08:09 +00:09 Johannes DUERR AUT
5. 08:18 +00:18 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
6. 08:18 +00:19 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
7. 08:19 +00:19 Tobias ANGERER GER
8. 08:19 +00:20 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
9. 08:19 +00:20 Curdin PERL SUI
10. 08:20 +00:20 Dario COLOGNA SUI
11. 08:20 +00:20 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
13. 08:20 +00:21 Devon KERSHAW CAN
16. 08:20 +00:21 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
18. 08:20 +00:21 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
28. 08:27 +00:28 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
Split 4
1. 11:35 Dario COLOGNA SUI
2. 11:37 +00:01 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
3. 11:37 +00:02 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
4. 11:38 +00:02 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
5. 11:38 +00:03 Calle HALFVARSSON SWE
6. 11:41 +00:06 Devon KERSHAW CAN
7. 11:41 +00:06 Len VALJAS CAN
8. 11:42 +00:07 Sergey TURYSHEV RUS
9. 11:42 +00:07 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
10. 11:43 +00:08 Jens FILBRICH GER
11. 11:44 +00:08 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
12. 11:44 +00:08 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
13. 11:44 +00:09 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
15. 11:44 +00:09 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
24. 11:47 +00:12 Tobias ANGERER GER
Split 5
1. 07:34 Maxim VYLEGZHANIN RUS
2. 07:35 +00:01 Petter jr. NORTHUG NOR
3. 07:35 +00:01 Alexander LEGKOV RUS
4. 07:36 +00:02 Tobias ANGERER GER
5. 07:37 +00:03 Dario COLOGNA SUI
6. 07:37 +00:03 Len VALJAS CAN
7. 07:39 +00:05 Michail SEMENOV BLR
8. 07:39 +00:05 Dmitriy JAPAROV RUS
9. 07:40 +00:06 Sergey TURYSHEV RUS
10. 07:40 +00:06 Remo FISCHER SUI
11. 07:40 +00:06 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
16. 07:41 +00:07 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
17. 07:41 +00:07 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
19. 07:41 +00:07 Devon KERSHAW CAN
21. 07:41 +00:07 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
28. 07:42 +00:08 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
Split 6
1. 10:01 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
2. 10:02 +00:01 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
3. 10:04 +00:03 Dmitriy JAPAROV RUS
4. 10:04 +00:03 Curdin PERL SUI
5. 10:04 +00:03 Sergey TURYSHEV RUS
6. 10:04 +00:03 Johan OLSSON SWE
7. 10:04 +00:03 Alexey POLTORANIN KAZ
8. 10:04 +00:03 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
9. 10:05 +00:04 Finn Haagen KROGH NOR
10. 10:05 +00:04 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
11. 10:06 +00:04 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
13. 10:06 +00:05 Devon KERSHAW CAN
15. 10:07 +00:06 Tobias ANGERER GER
Split 7
1. 03:49 Ivan BABIKOV CAN
2. 03:50 +00:01 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR
3. 03:50 +00:01 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
4. 03:50 +00:01 Devon KERSHAW CAN
5. 03:51 +00:02 Curdin PERL SUI
6. 03:51 +00:02 Jens FILBRICH GER
7. 03:51 +00:02 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
8. 03:51 +00:02 Johan OLSSON SWE
9. 03:51 +00:02 Dmitriy JAPAROV RUS
10. 03:52 +00:02 Alexey POLTORANIN KAZ
11. 03:52 +00:02 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
12. 03:52 +00:03 Tobias ANGERER GER
Split 8
1. 02:44 Ales RAZYM CZE
2. 02:46 +00:02 Dietmar NOECKLER ITA
3. 02:46 +00:02 Thomas MORIGGL ITA
4. 02:47 +00:03 Giorgio DI CENTA ITA
5. 02:47 +00:03 Valerio CHECCHI ITA
6. 02:47 +00:03 Andreas KATZ GER
7. 02:47 +00:03 Daniel RICHARDSSON SWE
8. 02:47 +00:03 Jens FILBRICH GER
9. 02:47 +00:03 Nikolay CHEBOTKO KAZ
10. 02:47 +00:03 Finn Haagen KROGH NOR
11. 02:47 +00:03 Remo FISCHER SUI
12. 02:47 +00:03 Tobias ANGERER GER
19. 02:48 +00:04 Devon KERSHAW CAN
20. 02:48 +00:04 Alexander BESSMERTNYKH RUS
28. 02:51 +00:07 Tord Asle GJERDALEN NOR

Race preview: Tour de Ski Queen Stage

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 02 Jan 2013@10:00


The long stage from Cortina to Toblach in the men’s class is the Queen stage of Tour de Ski – with more than 30 kilometers of skating on an A-to-B course, this stage can shake up the overall standings considerably like it did the last years.  This will be like Christmas Eve for Cross Country skiing fans!

The women will “only” race 15 km on a 5 km course which is skied 3 times. Less drama is expected here, although it will be interesting to see if the pack can gain some time on the “impossible” Kowalczyk racing alone at the front. Skating is not the strongest discipline of the Polish Tour leader – and the followers will surely cooperate well with two Norwegians among them.

The Russians versus Cologna and Northug

As we have seen in previous editions of Tour de Ski, if there is no cooperation at the front  of the field, more and more skiers can come up from behind

Cologna has decided the Tour at the Cortina-Toblach stage the two last years by arriving alone in Toblach more than a minute ahead of the closest follower – but this is not a likely scenario this year. Instead, the main question ahead of this year’s Queen stage is: How big will the leading group become – and will the group manage to cooperate? Five skiers start within 30 seconds, and nobody will be surprised if they get together at an early stage in the race.  It looks like the main fight this year will be between the Russian duo Vylegzhanin (starting first)/Legkov (+28 seconds), the Swiss Tour de Ski specialist Dario Cologna (+ 2 seconds) and the Norwegian Petter Northug (+ 9 seconds). Canadian Devon Kershaw Harvey (+27 seconds) also has a perfect starting position and will be up there fighting for a top result.

However, as we have seen in previous editions of Tour de Ski, if there is no cooperation at the front  of the field, more and more skiers can come up from behind. Northug has stated several times ahead of the Tour that he will not help keeping up the speed on the Cortina-Toblach stage. If he follows this plan, the others might not just want to give him a free ride. With Russian Ilia Chernousov starting only 24 seconds behind Legkov, a Russian trio in the leading group is a possibility depending on how the tactics are played up at the front.

Going another 33 seconds down on the start list, we come to the “big pack” – with last year’s fastest skier on this stage Marcus Hellner and the strong Czech Lukas Bauer at the head of the field. Too little cooperation at the front, and anything is possible. Big groups who cooperate well can go very fast on this type of stages – but how will the groups form? Here is the complete startlist / tour standings.

Dario Cologna – Photo WorldofXC.com

2011/2012: Awesome Cologna – three big groups

Petter Northug started the day 13.5 seconds behind Dario Cologna. Northug started out fast and caught Cologna after a few kilometers. The Norwegian was however punished for his tough start, and lost more than a minute to Cologna while waiting out Legkov (RUS). Behind Northug and Legkov the strongest group of the day was formed – the trio Hellner (SWE), Manificat (FRA) and Kershaw (CAN) – all three starting more than 2 minutes behind Cologna. They steadily gained time on Cologna until they caught Northug and Legkov around 20 km – having caught up with more than a minute at that time. Then they slowed down to the speed of Northug/Legkov, and the group finished down 1:16 from Cologna. If the group had not stopped cooperating when catching Northug/Legkov, they would probably have managed to gain even more time on Cologna. Marcus Hellner and Maurice Manificat – the two fastest skiers of the day – both gained around 1:30 on Cologna in the end.

Interesting fact: No single skiers except for Cologna survived on their own their own throughout the race. The rest of the skiers fighting in the top packed themselves into only three big groups.

Illustration Tour de Ski 2011/2012: Splitsbrowser where comparison is done to Dario Cologna. A line which is flat means the same time as Cologna. A line which goes down represents slower speed – a line which goes up represents faster speed. You can see where the grouping occured by observing where the lines get together.

2010/2011: Large group – no cooperation in the end

Looking back to the 2010/2011 edition of Tour de Ski, all skiers in the Top 30 except for Dario Cologna (SUI) and Marcus Hellner (SWE) in the lead got sucked up by three big groups (see article including graphical illustration here). The biggest group which Petter Northug (NOR) was part of gained time on Cologna throughout most of the race – gaining nearly 45 seconds from 7 km up to 27 km. However, the group had problems cooperating in the last part of the downhill down to Toblach, loosing more than half of what they had worked hard on gaining in the first part of the race. When the group got too big, the skiers did not manage to cooperate anymore.


Illustration Tour de Ski 2010/2011: Splitsbrowser where comparison is again done against Dario Cologna. Note that the starting split not correct due to the way the time keeping is reported.

2009/2010: Group of six from the start

In the 2009/2010 edition, there was just over 16 seconds separating the top five Hellner (SWE), Østensen (NOR), Northug, Cologna and Teichmann (GER) at the start. Østensen was dropped early, and Heikkinen (FIN) and Gaillard (FRA) caught up with the remaining four after 15km. The leading six became five as they approached the town of Toblach where Teichmann fell off the pace. In the end Northug won the finish sprint ahead of Cologna and Hellner.

Women: Strong field chasing Kowalczyk

Kowalczyk has, however, shown some weakness in skating recently, and this might very well make this race a lot more interesting than it looks at first sight

In the women’s race the fight is clear: Kowalczyk against the rest. If this race would have been races in classic style, the followers would have had a nearly impossible job. Kowalczyk has, however, shown some weakness in skating recently, and this might very well make this race a lot more interesting than it looks at first sight.

Behind Kowalczyk the two Norwegians Therese Johaug (at +50 seconds) and Kristin Størmer Steira (at + 1:00) will probably try to cooperate closely to gain time on Kowalczyk .  Last year Johaug started in a vacuum and had to race all of the 15 km alone whereas the duo Kowalczyk/Bjørgen fought together at the front. This resulted in Johaug loosing 50 seconds to the top duo – and with that any chance to win the overall Tour 2011/2012. Can Johaug exploit her advantage this year?

It is not only about the Norwegians and Kowalczyk, though. Denise Herrmann (Germany) starts only 5 seconds behind Størmer Steira and will try to join in on the chase. Kikkan Randall (at +1:18, USA), Anne Kyllönen (at 1:29, Finland) and Charlotte Kalla (at 1:32, Sweden) are probably too far behind in order to catch the two Norwegians. However, in a 9-day Tour one skier might suddenly have a super day while another has a bad day, so anything can happen… Here is the complete startlist / tour standings.

Set up your predictions

Set up your predictions and see results here:

Justyna Kowalczyk – Photo WorldofXC.com

Val Müstair Sprint Prediction results

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 01 Jan 2013@17:41

Johan has taken the lead in the overall Tour de Ski predictions after a 6th place in the Val Müstair sprint predictions. Best in the race today was Маша и Слоник. Congratulations!

Still tight in the top, and with 4 more races to go in addition to the overall nothing is yet decided. Full results from the sprint 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. Johan 1939 694 x 713 532
2. Amanda 1919 735 x 682 502
3. Team Northug 1905 738 x 700 467
4. Маша И Слоник 1898 670 x 678 550
5. Sportsamuel 1884 740 x 713 431
6. Siegerjc 1876 683 x 697 496
7. Anna F 1861 643 x 682 536
8. Jamtkille 1854 688 x 677 489
9. Roberto Dallavalle 1848 663 x 658 527
10. dagger 1846 675 x 677 494
Top 10 Val Müstair sprint
  1. Маша и Слоник: 550 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    3. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    4. NEWELL Andrew 29 points
    5. PELLEGRINO Federico 80 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 (+30) points
    3. KYLLOENEN Anne 5 points
    4. VAN DER GRAAFF Laurien 22 points
    5. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
  2. AndersPe.: 540 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    3. HELLNER Marcus 36 points
    4. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 26 points
    5. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 (+30) points
    3. KALLA Charlotte 40 points
    4. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 20 points
    5. KOWALCZYK Justyna 36 points
  3. CMNT: 540 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    3. HARVEY Alex 22 points
    4. NEWELL Andrew 29 points
    5. PELLEGRINO Federico 80 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 (+30) points
    3. KYLLOENEN Anne 5 points
    4. KALLA Charlotte 40 points
    5. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
  4. Anna F: 536 points
    1. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    2. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    3. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    4. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 26 points
    5. HELLNER Marcus 36 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 (+30) points
    3. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
    4. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 20 points
    5. KALLA Charlotte 40 points
  5. AORler: 534 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    3. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    4. NEWELL Andrew 29 points
    5. PELLEGRINO Federico 80 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. KOWALCZYK Justyna 36 points
    3. KYLLOENEN Anne 5 points
    4. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 points
    5. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
  6. Johan: 532 points
    1. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    2. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    3. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    4. HARVEY Alex 22 points
    5. HELLNER Marcus 36 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 (+30) points
    3. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
    4. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 20 points
    5. KALLA Charlotte 40 points
  7. Rolf Z: 528 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    3. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    4. HARVEY Alex 22 points
    5. CHERNOUSOV Ilia 18 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 (+30) points
    3. KOWALCZYK Justyna 36 points
    4. JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 20 points
    5. KOLB Hanna 50 points
  8. Davide Bragagna: 528 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    3. HELLNER Marcus 36 points
    4. COLOGNA Dario 50 (+10) points
    5. PELLEGRINO Federico 80 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
    3. KALLA Charlotte 40 points
    4. KOWALCZYK Justyna 36 points
    5. VAN DER GRAAFF Laurien 22 points
  9. Roberto Dallavalle: 527 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    3. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    4. PELLEGRINO Federico 80 points
    5. HARVEY Alex 22 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. HERRMANN Denise 32 points
    3. KYLLOENEN Anne 5 points
    4. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 points
    5. KOWALCZYK Justyna 36 points
  10. Hanna: 525 points
    1. JOENSSON Emil 40 points
    2. NORTHUG Petter jr. 32 points
    3. HELLNER Marcus 36 points
    4. HARVEY Alex 22 points
    5. COLOGNA Dario 50 points
    1. RANDALL Kikkan 100 (+50) points
    2. WENG Heidi 60 points
    3. KALLA Charlotte 40 points
    4. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 80 points
    5. FABJAN Vesna 15 points
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