Next up in Cross Country skiing in Val di Fiemme is the Skiathlon this Saturday – 15+15 km for the men and 7.5+7.5 km for the women.  The Skiathlon is the discipline for the all-rounders who can perform well in both classic and free technique. With two techniques involved, there is more tactics in the Skiathlon than in regular mass start races.

• Set up your XC-predictions for the Skiathlon by the start at 12:45 CET

There are few Skiathlons on the World Cup schedule – and not all of them attract a full start field (like the ones in Canmore and Rybinsk) last year. The Skiathlon in the pre-Olympics in Sochi three weeks ago did however have very strong start fields, and give an indication of who will want to be in the fight for the medals.

Men: Switzerland against Norway?

Northug is the man to beat in any mass start sprint finish

Dario Cologna is one of the top allrounders in the World Cup circus – mastering classic and free technique equally well. The Swiss won the last Skiathlon thest at the pre-Olympics in Sochi, and also won the Lahti Skiathlon last March – and counts as one of the top favourites. Cologna would have been one of the top favourites in Thursday’s sprint after his second spot in Davos last weekend, but skipped the World Championships sprint to be top prepared for the Skiathlon.

The biggest favourite, however, is Norwegian Petter Northug. Northug is the man to beat in any mass start sprint finish – and if Northug can keep track with the rest of the field until the last 100 meters, Northug will be very hard to beat. Northug will try to save power all the way to be exactly at the right place when the sprint finish starts – while his opponents will do their best to get rid of Northug through the first 29.8 kilometers of the race. Northug is also reigning World Champion from Olso in 2011 and won the World Championships Skiathlon in Liberec 2009.

Northug failed – Sweden won

Northug did, however, fail in the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. Here Northug’s Swedish arch rival Marcus Hellner took the victory after good tactical play, with another good Skiathlon skier Tobias Angerer (Germany)  in second spot.

The last big favourite in the Skiathlon is Alexander Legkov. The Russian proved that he is the most complete skier by winning Tour de Ski earlier this season, and has earlier shown that he is nearly always in the Top 3 in a Skiathlon race. The Skiathlon is a quite open race – though – and based on how the race develops, many other skiers have the potential to stand on the top of the podium Saturday afternoon. Main outsiders are Maxim Vylegzhanin (won Skiathlon in Rybinsk last year – is nearly always top 3), Maurice Manificat (won the Canmore Skiathlon in December 2012),  Sjur Røthe, Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Roland Clara (on home ground) and Alex Harvey.

Women: Fight between the big three

The Norwegian World Champion sprint from Thursday is reigning World Champion (from Oslo in 2011) and reigning Olympic Champion (Vancouver 2010) on the Skiathlon

In the women’s class the fight is yet again between Justyna Kowalczyk, Marit Bjørgen and Therese Johaug. Kowalczyk has had a big weakness in free technique this season – seen very clearly at the Tour de Ski, but still managed to win the Canmore Skiathlon in December (without Johaug and Bjørgen on the start line, though). Johaug’s weakness in the Skiathlon is her finish sprint – the Norwegian with the high frequency seldom wins a sprint finish against Kowalczyk and Bjørgen. Still, Johaug beat both Kowalczyk and Bjørgen in the two last World Cup Skiathlons all three started in; Lahti last March and Rybinsk last February.

Tactical play

Marit Bjørgen is still the big favourite, though. The Norwegian World Champion sprint from Thursday is reigning World Champion (from Oslo in 2011) and reigning Olympic Champion (Vancouver 2010) on the Skiathlon – and has shown that her shape is exceptional these days. She will definitely be hard to beat; Kowalczyk probably needs to get away already on the classic part to  take the win – while Johaug needs to get away in the last uphill on the last loop of the free technique loop (which is skied as 2 x 3.75 km). This tactical play is what will make the Skiathlon very interesting to watch.

The last skier who has been mentioned as a possible gold medal candidate is Charlotte Kalla. Kalla has not been in top shape this season – and especially her classic technique shape has been missing. Kalla needs top skis on the classic part – and a very good classic performance to be in on the fight for the gold medal.

Outsiders in the women’s class are Kristin Størmer Steira (winner of the pre-Olympic Skiathlon in Sochi, but without full competition), Anne Kyllönen, Nicole Fessel, Katrin Zeller and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen.

Photo: Petter Northug, Fiemme 2013 Photos

As a preview to the World Champs Skiathlon, you find historical results from relevant races below. Note that the above preview was written before the start lists were available.

Men all – historical results

Name		2013 Sochi 2013-02-02 Skiathlon 15/15 km C/F	2012 Canmore 2012-12-16 Skiathlon 15/15 km C/F	2012 Lahti 2012-03-03 15+15 km C/F Skiathlon	2012 Rybinsk 2012-02-05 15+15 km C/F Skiathlon	2012 Oberstdorf 2012-01-01 10+10 km C/F Skiathlon	2011 Oslo 2011-02-27 15+15 km C/F Skiathlon	2010 Whistler Olympic Park 2010-02-20 15+15 km C/F Skiathlon	2009 Liberec 2009-02-22 15+15 km C/F Skiathlon
COLOGNA Dario		+0:00.0 1:21:00.0 (1)		+0:00.0 1:07:30.5 (1)		+0:00.2 50:27.6 (2)	+0:54.2 1:15:04.6 (24)	+1:00.8 1:16:12.2 (13)	+3:41.9 1:19:34.3 (41)
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim		+0:02.1 1:21:02.2 (4)		+0:20.0 1:07:50.5 (7)	+0:00.0 1:20:37.6 (1)	+0:00.5 50:27.9 (3)	+0:00.7 1:14:11.1 (2)	+1:52.8 1:17:04.2 (17)	+0:58.9 1:16:51.3 (24)
CHERNOUSOV Ilia		+0:01.6 1:21:01.6 (2)		+1:29.5 1:09:00.0 (19)	+0:06.0 1:20:43.6 (2)	+0:41.1 51:08.5 (32)	+0:01.2 1:14:11.6 (3)
NORTHUG Petter jr.		+0:22.8 1:21:22.9 (12)				+0:00.0 50:27.3 (1)	+0:00.0 1:14:10.4 (1)	+0:41.7 1:15:53.1 (11)	+0:00.0 1:15:52.4 (1)
MANIFICAT Maurice		+0:16.6 1:21:16.6 (10)	+0:00.0 1:17:47.3 (1)	+1:52.0 1:09:22.5 (27)	+0:55.6 1:21:33.3 (20)	+0:06.8 50:34.2 (11)	+0:30.8 1:14:41.2 (22)	+2:46.8 1:17:58.2 (26)	+4:24.2 1:20:16.6 (47)
CLARA Roland		+0:12.0 1:21:12.0 (8)	+0:00.6 1:17:48.0 (2)	+1:10.3 1:08:40.9 (16)	+0:18.6 1:20:56.3 (16)	+1:16.3 51:43.7 (37)	+0:05.4 1:14:15.8 (7)		+0:23.6 1:16:16.0 (5)
LEGKOV Alexander		+0:01.8 1:21:01.8 (3)		+0:11.3 1:07:41.8 (6)		+0:08.2 50:35.6 (13)	+0:15.5 1:14:25.9 (19)	+0:04.0 1:15:15.4 (4)	+0:20.1 1:16:12.5 (4)
ANGERER Tobias		+0:10.0 1:21:10.0 (6)	+0:01.8 1:17:49.2 (4)	+0:20.5 1:07:51.0 (8)	+0:08.2 1:20:45.9 (3)	+0:09.5 50:36.9 (14)	+0:06.5 1:14:16.9 (8)	+0:02.1 1:15:13.5 (2)	+0:29.8 1:16:22.2 (7)
SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud			+0:23.5 1:18:10.8 (17)	+0:03.6 1:07:34.2 (2)
ROETHE Sjur			+0:01.6 1:17:49.0 (3)	+0:05.5 1:07:36.0 (4)	+0:57.5 1:21:35.2 (22)	+1:09.8 51:37.2 (35)	+0:10.8 1:14:21.2 (14)
HARVEY Alex				+0:04.1 1:07:34.7 (3)	+0:10.5 1:20:48.1 (8)	+0:04.8 50:32.2 (7)	+0:10.3 1:14:20.7 (12)	+0:31.6 1:15:43.0 (9)	+0:46.8 1:16:39.2 (22)
HELLNER Marcus				+1:41.1 1:09:11.6 (20)		+0:01.5 50:28.8 (4)	+0:03.1 1:14:13.5 (6)	+0:00.0 1:15:11.4 (1)	+0:42.2 1:16:34.6 (19)
BELOV Evgeniy		+0:07.5 1:21:07.5 (5)	+0:14.5 1:18:01.8 (14)		+0:13.1 1:20:50.8 (10)
GAILLARD Jean Marc		+0:10.6 1:21:10.6 (7)		+0:11.0 1:07:41.5 (5)	+0:15.5 1:20:53.2 (14)	+3:46.9 54:14.2 (73)	+0:53.4 1:15:03.8 (23)	+4:36.7 1:19:48.1 (30)	+5:57.2 1:21:49.6 (54)
DEMENTIEV Eugeniy			+0:26.3 1:18:13.7 (18)	+0:28.5 1:07:59.0 (10)	+0:08.2 1:20:45.9 (4)
KERSHAW Devon		+1:37.3 1:22:37.3 (38)		+0:47.6 1:08:18.1 (14)	+0:09.5 1:20:47.1 (6)	+0:02.5 50:29.9 (6)	+0:06.5 1:14:16.9 (9)	+1:12.2 1:16:23.6 (16)	+1:22.3 1:17:14.7 (27)
RENNEMO Kristian Tettli		+1:05.1 1:22:05.1 (31)		+1:41.7 1:09:12.2 (21)		+0:01.6 50:29.0 (5)
DOLIDOVICH Sergei		+1:35.1 1:22:35.1 (37)		+1:54.5 1:09:25.0 (28)	+0:10.6 1:20:48.3 (9)	+0:31.5 50:58.9 (27)	+0:02.6 1:14:13.0 (4)		+1:05.2 1:16:57.6 (26)
ROENNING Eldar			+0:02.6 1:17:50.0 (5)			+0:31.0 50:58.3 (26)		+6:02.7 1:21:14.1 (36)	+1:26.8 1:17:19.2 (28)
SEDOV Petr					+0:08.8 1:20:46.5 (5)		+0:20.9 1:14:31.3 (21)
DI CENTA Giorgio			+0:05.3 1:17:52.6 (11)	+0:49.8 1:08:20.3 (15)	+0:18.0 1:20:55.7 (15)	+0:34.3 51:01.7 (29)	+0:09.4 1:14:19.8 (10)	+0:53.7 1:16:05.1 (12)	+0:11.9 1:16:04.3 (3)
DYRHAUG Niklas		+0:24.3 1:21:24.3 (13)		+0:20.9 1:07:51.4 (9)		+0:19.2 50:46.6 (19)
BABIKOV Ivan		+0:34.0 1:21:34.0 (17)	+0:07.6 1:17:55.0 (12)	+2:41.7 1:10:12.2 (36)	+0:47.0 1:21:24.7 (19)	+0:40.6 51:08.0 (31)	+0:11.8 1:14:22.2 (15)	+0:09.1 1:15:20.5 (5)	+3:04.3 1:18:56.7 (40)
GLAVATSKIKH Konstantin		+0:31.6 1:21:31.6 (15)			+0:10.1 1:20:47.8 (7)
PERL Curdin		+0:30.5 1:21:30.5 (14)		+2:19.1 1:09:49.6 (31)		+0:06.0 50:33.4 (9)		+1:53.6 1:17:05.0 (20)
KHOKHRYAKOV Nikolay		+0:15.8 1:21:15.8 (9)	+2:50.0 1:20:37.3 (26)
TURYSHEV Sergey		+0:38.0 1:21:38.0 (19)			+0:13.5 1:20:51.2 (12)	+0:11.5 50:38.8 (16)
FILBRICH Jens		+1:39.8 1:22:39.9 (39)	+0:05.0 1:17:52.3 (9)	+1:49.7 1:09:20.2 (24)	+2:11.0 1:22:48.6 (28)	+0:14.5 50:41.9 (18)	+2:10.8 1:16:21.2 (30)	+0:13.6 1:15:25.0 (6)	+0:35.4 1:16:27.8 (10)
OLSSON Johan				+0:47.0 1:08:17.5 (12)			+0:12.6 1:14:23.0 (16)	+0:02.8 1:15:14.2 (3)	+0:39.7 1:16:32.1 (16)
LARKOV Andrey		+2:31.3 1:23:31.3 (43)	+0:02.8 1:17:50.2 (6)
SKOBELEV Vladislav		+0:21.8 1:21:21.8 (11)			+3:20.0 1:23:57.6 (34)
FREEMAN Kris			+0:05.3 1:17:52.6 (10)	+3:11.3 1:10:41.8 (42)	+0:14.3 1:20:52.0 (13)	+2:07.3 52:34.6 (47)	+2:09.9 1:16:20.3 (29)	+7:51.2 1:23:02.6 (45)
ELIASSEN Petter			+0:09.0 1:17:56.3 (13)	+0:32.3 1:08:02.8 (11)		+2:58.0 53:25.3 (65)
SOEDERGREN Anders				+1:10.5 1:08:41.0 (17)			+0:17.2 1:14:27.6 (20)	+0:35.6 1:15:47.0 (10)	+0:03.1 1:15:55.5 (2)
HOFFMAN Noah		+0:53.8 1:21:53.9 (26)	+0:03.8 1:17:51.2 (8)	+3:36.1 1:11:06.6 (49)			+3:03.7 1:17:14.1 (37)
JOHNSRUD SUNDBY Martin							+0:03.1 1:14:13.5 (5)	+1:53.1 1:17:04.5 (18)
HOFER David		+3:13.6 1:24:13.6 (48)	+0:03.3 1:17:50.6 (7)		+3:11.2 1:23:48.8 (31)	+2:33.1 53:00.4 (54)		+9:51.2 1:25:02.6 (53)
BAJCICAK Martin		+0:39.3 1:21:39.4 (21)		+53:30.5 (61)	+0:58.5 1:21:36.2 (23)	+0:33.0 51:00.4 (28)	+1:22.2 1:15:32.6 (26)	+2:46.7 1:17:58.1 (25)	+0:38.5 1:16:30.9 (15)
CHECCHI Valerio		+0:39.3 1:21:39.3 (20)		+2:42.0 1:10:12.5 (37)	+2:29.9 1:23:07.5 (29)	+0:30.7 50:58.1 (24)	+0:54.8 1:15:05.2 (25)		+0:45.5 1:16:37.9 (21)
BESSMERTNYKH Alexander		+0:36.1 1:21:36.2 (18)	+3:34.9 1:21:22.2 (29)	+2:19.9 1:09:50.4 (32)	+1:49.4 1:22:27.0 (26)	+1:56.2 52:23.5 (44)
JAKS Martin				+2:40.9 1:10:11.4 (34)		+0:05.0 50:32.3 (8)	+2:53.8 1:17:04.2 (31)	+2:46.8 1:17:58.2 (27)
PERRILLAT Christophe				+3:41.0 1:11:11.5 (51)	+1:04.3 1:21:42.0 (25)	+0:06.5 50:33.8 (10)	+2:55.1 1:17:05.5 (32)
DOTZLER Hannes			+1:56.0 1:19:43.3 (20)	+0:47.3 1:08:17.9 (13)
DUERR Johannes		+0:33.5 1:21:33.5 (16)		+2:59.7 1:10:30.2 (41)	+4:19.2 1:24:56.9 (39)	+2:41.5 53:08.8 (57)
HEIKKINEN Matti						+0:07.0 50:34.3 (12)	+0:13.8 1:14:24.2 (18)		+0:35.5 1:16:27.9 (11)
UTKIN Alexander		+0:47.8 1:21:47.8 (24)	+1:52.5 1:19:39.9 (19)
TSCHARNKE Tim				+1:51.1 1:09:21.6 (26)	+0:56.2 1:21:33.9 (21)	+0:27.1 50:54.5 (20)
NELSON Lars		+0:41.8 1:21:41.9 (22)		+3:37.3 1:11:07.8 (50)		+0:30.8 50:58.2 (25)
SIULATOV Pavel		+4:17.6 1:25:17.6 (53)			+0:13.2 1:20:50.9 (11)
MORIGGL Thomas		+1:00.6 1:22:00.6 (29)		+1:42.2 1:09:12.7 (22)	+3:12.2 1:23:49.8 (32)	+0:29.5 50:56.9 (22)		+2:29.5 1:17:40.9 (24)
BING Thomas			+2:47.0 1:20:34.4 (23)			+0:14.0 50:41.3 (17)
JESPERSEN Chris Andre			+0:22.6 1:18:10.0 (16)	+1:51.0 1:09:21.5 (25)	+5:41.5 1:26:19.2 (44)
YOSHIDA Keishin		+0:48.8 1:21:48.8 (25)	+3:41.0 1:21:28.3 (33)	+1:45.6 1:09:16.1 (23)		+1:32.6 52:00.0 (39)	+3:41.8 1:17:52.2 (42)
BAUER Lukas						+0:10.0 50:37.4 (15)		+0:13.8 1:15:25.2 (7)	+1:03.4 1:16:55.8 (25)
STAROSTIN Mark		+0:55.1 1:21:55.1 (27)	+1:56.9 1:19:44.2 (21)		+4:19.0 1:24:56.6 (38)
VELICHKO Yevgeniy		+0:42.8 1:21:42.8 (23)				+1:48.3 52:15.6 (42)		+2:48.8 1:18:00.2 (28)
NISHIKAWA Graham			+0:22.3 1:18:09.6 (15)
SHATAGIN Anton		+2:31.3 1:23:31.3 (44)			+0:29.1 1:21:06.8 (17)
CHEREPANOV Sergey		+1:30.6 1:22:30.6 (35)	+5:47.0 1:23:34.4 (45)	+1:17.1 1:08:47.6 (18)			+3:50.0 1:18:00.4 (44)	+8:32.3 1:23:43.7 (49)	+0:36.0 1:16:28.4 (12)
JAPAROV Dmitriy				+3:48.3 1:11:18.8 (53)	+0:47.0 1:21:24.6 (18)	+0:47.7 51:15.1 (33)
GOERING Franz				+4:16.6 1:11:47.1 (56)		+3:46.1 54:13.4 (72)	+0:10.1 1:14:20.5 (11)
PILLER COTTRER Pietro							+0:10.6 1:14:21.0 (13)	+1:08.5 1:16:19.9 (14)	+1:42.9 1:17:35.3 (32)
JAUHOJAERVI Sami		+1:29.8 1:22:29.9 (34)				+0:28.2 50:55.6 (21)			+0:32.4 1:16:24.8 (8)
PELLEGRIN Mattia			+2:14.0 1:20:01.3 (22)
GJERDALEN Tord Asle							+0:13.2 1:14:23.6 (17)	+1:53.1 1:17:04.5 (19)	+0:38.3 1:16:30.7 (14)
REHEMAA Aivar				+2:42.4 1:10:12.9 (38)		+0:30.5 50:57.8 (23)	+6:12.9 1:20:23.3 (57)	+6:04.4 1:21:15.8 (37)	+1:31.9 1:17:24.3 (29)
LIVERS Toni				+2:44.5 1:10:15.0 (39)	+0:59.5 1:21:37.2 (24)		+5:55.9 1:20:06.3 (54)	+2:14.6 1:17:26.0 (22)	+2:40.2 1:18:32.6 (38)
JOHANSSON Martin		+5:35.9 1:26:35.9 (57)	+2:49.3 1:20:36.6 (24)
AKHMADIYEV Yerdos			+2:49.9 1:20:37.2 (25)		+3:35.2 1:24:12.9 (35)	+2:48.3 53:15.6 (61)	+4:37.6 1:18:48.0 (48)
VITTOZ Vincent							+2:56.9 1:17:07.3 (34)	+1:12.0 1:16:23.4 (15)	+0:29.2 1:16:21.6 (6)
GREY George							+4:24.7 1:18:35.1 (46)	+0:20.6 1:15:32.0 (8)
RICKARDSSON Daniel						+7:14.9 57:42.2 (88)	+1:29.9 1:15:40.3 (27)	+2:22.6 1:17:34.0 (23)
MAGAL Jiri				+2:07.4 1:09:37.9 (30)		+2:13.7 52:41.0 (48)	+3:07.3 1:17:17.7 (39)	+6:27.6 1:21:39.0 (38)	+0:36.5 1:16:28.9 (13)
KOUKAL Martin							+5:17.0 1:19:27.4 (51)		+0:32.7 1:16:25.1 (9)
SOMMERFELDT Rene								+2:00.5 1:17:11.9 (21)	+1:32.1 1:17:24.5 (31)
FREDRIKSSON Mathias									+0:41.5 1:16:33.9 (17)
NOUSIAINEN Ville						+1:49.1 52:16.4 (43)			+0:41.7 1:16:34.1 (18)
VEERPALU Andrus									+0:42.2 1:16:34.6 (19)
CHEBOTKO Nikolay						+2:32.1 52:59.4 (53)			+0:54.8 1:16:47.2 (23)

Women all – historical results

Name		2013 Sochi 2013-02-02 Skiathlon 7.5/7.5 km C/F	2012 Canmore 2012-12-16 Skiathlon 7.5/7.5 km C/F	2012 Lahti 2012-03-03 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon	2012 Rybinsk 2012-02-05 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon	2012 Oberstdorf 2012-01-01 5+5 km C/F Skiathlon	2011 Oslo 2011-02-26 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon	2010 Whistler Olympic Park 2010-02-19 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon	2009 Liberec 2009-02-21 7.5+7.5 km C/F Skiathlon
JOHAUG Therese				+0:00.0 36:52.6 (1)	+0:00.0 42:41.4 (1)	+0:01.7 27:17.8 (3)	+0:08.8 38:17.4 (3)	+0:51.9 40:50.0 (6)	+1:23.8 42:19.2 (6)
BJOERGEN Marit				+0:10.8 37:03.4 (2)	+0:52.9 43:34.3 (3)	+0:00.0 27:16.0 (1)	+0:00.0 38:08.6 (1)	+0:00.0 39:58.1 (1)	+2:17.1 43:12.4 (19)
KOWALCZYK Justyna			+0:00.0 42:51.5 (1)	+0:52.5 37:45.2 (8)	+0:26.9 43:08.3 (2)	+0:01.5 27:17.6 (2)	+0:07.5 38:16.1 (2)	+0:09.3 40:07.4 (3)	+0:00.0 40:55.3 (1)
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer		+0:00.0 46:17.7 (1)	+0:35.8 43:27.3 (4)	+0:14.4 37:07.0 (4)		+0:35.3 27:51.3 (4)	+1:16.0 39:24.6 (9)	+0:09.4 40:07.5 (4)	+0:01.6 40:57.0 (2)
TCHEKALEVA Yulia		+0:19.2 46:36.9 (2)					+1:56.9 40:05.5 (12)
KYLLOENEN Anne		+0:31.5 46:49.2 (6)	+0:34.9 43:26.4 (2)	+2:13.3 39:05.9 (29)		+1:00.9 28:16.9 (11)
FESSEL Nicole		+0:19.9 46:37.6 (3)		+1:42.6 38:35.2 (16)	+2:08.6 44:50.0 (13)	+1:01.7 28:17.7 (13)	+1:08.8 39:17.4 (7)	+2:27.0 42:25.1 (22)
SKOFTERUD Vibeke W			+0:35.0 43:26.5 (3)		+1:18.2 43:59.7 (5)
WENG Heidi				+0:11.9 37:04.5 (3)	+1:31.0 44:12.4 (8)	+1:24.3 28:40.3 (20)
KALLA Charlotte				+0:39.7 37:32.3 (5)	+1:04.2 43:45.7 (4)	+0:45.5 28:01.6 (6)	+0:53.9 39:02.5 (4)	+1:20.4 41:18.5 (8)	+1:30.5 42:25.9 (8)
ZELLER Katrin		+0:29.8 46:47.5 (5)	+1:20.3 44:11.8 (12)	+2:05.3 38:57.9 (24)	+2:09.2 44:50.6 (15)	+1:02.2 28:18.2 (14)	+2:02.4 40:11.0 (16)	+2:28.8 42:26.9 (24)	+2:04.4 42:59.7 (17)
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt		+0:20.3 46:38.0 (4)			+1:54.7 44:36.1 (11)	+1:27.5 28:43.5 (26)			+3:29.1 44:24.4 (36)
ISHIDA Masako		+0:37.3 46:55.0 (7)	+0:35.9 43:27.4 (5)	+0:55.5 37:48.1 (10)		+1:01.4 28:17.4 (12)	+1:54.3 40:02.9 (11)	+2:26.2 42:24.3 (20)	+1:56.1 42:51.4 (14)
HAAG Anna			+1:19.1 44:10.7 (10)	+0:55.2 37:47.8 (9)		+1:08.3 28:24.3 (16)	+1:38.2 39:46.8 (10)	+0:08.9 40:07.0 (2)
IVANOVA Julia		+1:07.8 47:25.5 (12)		+0:39.8 37:32.4 (6)	+2:08.8 44:50.2 (14)	+1:14.0 28:30.1 (19)	+3:17.3 41:25.9 (27)
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa				+0:45.9 37:38.5 (7)	+1:29.0 44:10.4 (7)	+0:46.4 28:02.4 (8)	+1:58.3 40:06.9 (14)	+2:02.1 42:00.2 (15)	+2:34.9 43:30.2 (23)
SHEVCHENKO Valentina		+1:30.7 47:48.4 (19)	+0:36.1 43:27.7 (6)	+1:22.8 38:15.4 (13)		+1:28.8 28:44.8 (27)	+2:29.3 40:37.9 (17)	+2:00.6 41:58.7 (14)	+0:44.1 41:39.5 (5)
SARASOJA-LILJA Riikka				+2:08.4 39:01.0 (27)	+2:41.8 45:23.2 (19)	+0:45.3 28:01.3 (5)
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe		+1:23.2 47:40.9 (16)		+2:05.7 38:58.3 (25)	+1:44.0 44:25.4 (10)	+0:58.0 28:14.1 (10)	+1:59.1 40:07.7 (15)
RANDALL Kikkan			+1:18.4 44:09.9 (8)	+1:21.5 38:14.1 (12)	+2:54.8 45:36.2 (25)	+0:45.9 28:01.9 (7)
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa				+1:50.0 38:42.6 (20)	+1:42.1 44:23.5 (9)	+1:13.5 28:29.5 (18)	+1:11.3 39:19.9 (8)	+0:42.5 40:40.6 (5)	+0:08.0 41:03.3 (3)
STEPHEN Elizabeth		+0:45.3 47:03.0 (8)		+1:53.7 38:46.3 (21)	+3:04.5 45:45.9 (26)	+2:05.6 29:21.6 (36)	+2:54.9 41:03.5 (24)	+5:55.7 45:53.8 (57)	+1:57.0 42:52.3 (15)
LAHTEENMAKI Krista					+1:28.1 44:09.6 (6)	+0:55.5 28:11.5 (9)	+3:42.1 41:50.7 (31)
IKSANOVA Alija		+1:21.5 47:39.2 (15)	+0:36.6 43:28.2 (7)	+2:42.0 39:34.6 (36)	+3:35.3 46:16.7 (32)	+3:38.7 30:54.7 (56)
RYDQVIST Maria				+1:07.2 37:59.8 (11)	+2:13.2 44:54.6 (16)	+2:22.8 29:38.8 (40)	+1:08.8 39:17.4 (6)
JEAN Aurore		+1:04.6 47:22.3 (11)	+1:38.5 44:30.1 (15)	+3:09.8 40:02.4 (43)	+4:07.4 46:48.8 (40)	+1:50.6 29:06.6 (31)	+4:25.3 42:33.9 (39)
MIKHAILOVA Olga		+0:58.0 47:15.7 (9)			+4:32.7 47:14.1 (44)
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad			+1:18.5 44:10.0 (9)	+2:59.0 39:51.6 (40)	+2:43.0 45:24.4 (20)	+1:10.8 28:26.8 (17)
ZHUKOVA Natalia		+0:59.6 47:17.3 (10)
GUSCHINA Mariya		+1:08.4 47:26.1 (13)	+2:09.9 45:01.4 (23)			+2:51.5 30:07.5 (51)
LONGA Marianna							+1:08.4 39:17.0 (5)	+1:04.0 41:02.2 (7)	+0:21.5 41:16.8 (4)
DIGGINS Jessica		+1:59.8 48:17.5 (26)		+1:45.1 38:37.7 (18)	+2:07.2 44:48.6 (12)		+3:25.2 41:33.8 (28)
KHAZOVA Irina		+1:35.6 47:53.3 (22)	+1:39.0 44:30.5 (16)	+2:25.6 39:18.2 (31)	+3:18.6 46:00.0 (27)			+1:58.0 41:56.1 (13)
TIKHONOVA Julia		+1:26.3 47:44.0 (17)	+2:04.8 44:56.3 (22)	+3:09.6 40:02.2 (42)	+3:55.0 46:36.4 (36)	+2:07.1 29:23.1 (37)
ANTYPENKO Tetyana		+1:16.8 47:34.5 (14)
ROTCHEVA Olga		+3:15.8 49:33.5 (38)	+2:21.5 45:13.0 (26)	+1:43.6 38:36.2 (17)	+2:16.0 44:57.4 (17)			+2:32.4 42:30.5 (26)	+2:42.1 43:37.4 (27)
BOEHLER Stefanie		+1:42.4 48:00.1 (23)	+4:50.0 47:41.5 (45)	+4:07.8 41:00.4 (53)	+3:59.7 46:41.1 (38)	+1:04.7 28:20.7 (15)	+4:30.3 42:38.9 (40)	+3:19.8 43:17.9 (35)
MEDVEDEVA Polina		+1:30.9 47:48.6 (20)		+2:26.0 39:18.6 (32)		+1:24.5 28:40.5 (21)
DE MARTIN TOPRANIN Virginia			+1:39.0 44:30.6 (17)	+1:57.8 38:50.4 (22)	+3:21.8 46:03.2 (29)	+1:26.2 28:42.2 (24)	+3:53.3 42:01.9 (35)
PROCHAZKOVA Alena		+1:30.3 47:48.0 (18)					+2:50.1 40:58.7 (21)
JEZERSEK Barbara		+3:22.8 49:40.5 (39)	+1:41.2 44:32.7 (19)	+1:48.3 38:40.9 (19)		+2:37.3 29:53.3 (48)	+2:48.5 40:57.1 (20)	+2:18.9 42:17.0 (17)	+4:59.9 45:55.2 (48)
AGREITER Debora			+1:21.1 44:12.7 (13)	+2:05.7 38:58.3 (26)	+4:32.3 47:13.7 (42)	+2:27.2 29:43.2 (42)
SMUTNA Katerina			+1:19.5 44:11.0 (11)			+1:53.4 29:09.4 (32)		+2:52.2 42:50.3 (29)
NOVIKOVA Valentina				+2:04.5 38:57.1 (23)	+2:37.2 45:18.6 (18)		+3:14.1 41:22.7 (26)
SHAIDUROVA Larisa			+1:40.2 44:31.7 (18)		+2:43.8 45:25.2 (21)	+2:37.2 29:53.2 (47)
KUZIUKOVA Olga		+1:33.7 47:51.4 (21)
HAGEN Martine Ek				+1:41.5 38:34.1 (14)
SARGENT Ida		+3:02.2 49:19.9 (37)	+1:38.3 44:29.8 (14)		+3:58.4 46:39.8 (37)
BARTHELEMY Laure				+1:41.6 38:34.2 (15)	+4:06.5 46:47.9 (39)	+1:43.6 28:59.6 (29)	+4:24.7 42:33.3 (38)		+5:32.8 46:28.1 (52)
SLONOVA Anastasia			+2:03.0 44:54.5 (21)		+2:50.5 45:31.9 (23)
BJORNSEN Sadie		+1:46.4 48:04.1 (24)		+2:29.2 39:21.8 (33)
SACHENBACHER -STEHLE Evi							+1:57.2 40:05.8 (13)	+1:39.8 41:37.9 (11)	+1:39.0 42:34.4 (10)
BELAIA Anna		+1:56.4 48:14.1 (25)			+6:42.9 49:24.3 (52)
HERRMANN Denise			+2:00.8 44:52.3 (20)			+2:48.1 30:04.1 (49)
FOLLIS Arianna							+2:42.7 40:51.3 (19)	+1:23.5 41:21.6 (9)	+1:30.0 42:25.3 (7)
KOLOMINA Yelena		+2:27.5 48:45.2 (32)			+3:22.7 46:04.1 (30)	+1:25.0 28:41.1 (22)
KOROSTELEVA Natalia					+3:21.7 46:03.1 (28)	+1:26.5 28:42.5 (25)			+3:26.7 44:22.0 (35)
BOCHKAREVA Svetlana					+2:49.7 45:31.1 (22)		+5:08.1 43:16.7 (44)
FAIVRE PICON Anouk				+3:10.0 40:02.6 (44)	+4:47.0 47:28.4 (46)	+1:25.5 28:41.5 (23)
SARASOJA Riikka							+2:42.1 40:50.7 (18)	+2:26.3 42:24.4 (21)	+2:37.1 43:32.4 (24)
FALLA Maiken Caspersen			+2:16.5 45:08.0 (24)
WIKEN Emma				+3:37.9 40:30.5 (48)	+2:53.5 45:34.9 (24)
BROOKS Holly		+3:40.0 49:57.7 (41)	+2:51.2 45:42.7 (28)	+3:17.6 40:10.2 (46)	+3:45.9 46:27.3 (35)	+3:50.3 31:06.3 (58)	+3:12.9 41:21.5 (25)	+5:40.7 45:38.8 (55)
AYMONIER Celia			+2:16.7 45:08.2 (25)
KOLOMINA Elena							+2:54.7 41:03.3 (23)	+2:50.3 42:48.4 (28)	+2:37.6 43:32.9 (25)
JANECKOVA Ivana						+3:22.5 30:38.5 (54)	+2:54.4 41:03.0 (22)		+3:03.7 43:59.0 (32)
RENNER Sara								+1:39.8 41:37.9 (10)	+2:27.6 43:22.9 (21)
SAVIALOVA Olga								+1:40.2 41:38.3 (12)	+3:09.5 44:04.8 (33)
LAURENT PHILIPPOT Karine								+2:23.1 42:21.2 (19)	+2:10.1 43:05.4 (18)
RUPIL Silvia								+2:03.5 42:01.6 (16)
VALBUSA Sabina								+2:21.3 42:19.4 (18)	+2:52.4 43:47.7 (28)
RAJDLOVA Kamila								+2:28.4 42:26.5 (23)	+2:23.4 43:18.7 (20)
MAJDIC Petra									+1:35.2 42:30.6 (9)
JATSKAJA Oxana								+2:54.9 42:53.0 (33)	+1:39.1 42:34.5 (11)
MEDVEDEVA Evgenia								+4:01.5 43:59.6 (39)	+1:51.3 42:46.6 (12)
KUITUNEN Virpi									+1:53.9 42:49.2 (13)
MALAHOVA-SHISHKINA Svetlana								+2:29.0 42:27.1 (25)	+2:39.8 43:35.1 (26)
CONFORTOLA Antonella									+1:58.2 42:53.5 (16)
SANNIKOVA Alena					+5:42.2 48:23.6 (50)			+3:35.6 43:33.7 (38)	+2:27.9 43:23.2 (22)

The 30/50 km mass start races are a lot about tactics – especially in the men’s race where the race is often decided in a sprint finish. We might see skiers fighting for medals which have not been very visible in the championships so far – as these races are the only chance for a medal for the classic distance specialists in this world championships . The classic specialists count stars like Lukas Bauer, Justyna Kowalczyk (yes, this season Kowalczyk has been a classic specialist), Eldar Rønning, Alexey Poltoranin (although also a good sprinter) and Masako Ishida.

• Set up your XC-predictions for the 30/50 km classic technique mass start race before the start of the women’s 30 km race Saturday at 12:15 CET. Note that you need to set up both the men’s and the women’s race before the start of the women.

Men’s race: Northug against the rest

Northug has a special ability to save energy wherever possible – and deliver a fantastic finish sprint the last 100 meters

The men’s 50 km will be just like the Skiathlon and the relay: A fight between the finish sprint specialist Petter Northug and the rest. Northug lost in the Skiathlon and won in the relay – and is very eager to get another win at the 50 km. As always, everybody will want to get away from Northug as soon as possible – but Northug has a special ability to save energy wherever possible – and deliver a fantastic finish sprint the last 100 meters. Northug is marginally stronger in free technique than in classic technique, but has proven before that he can win a 50 km classic technique race – after all Northug is reigning Olympic champion in just this discipline. Northug is also reigning World Champion on 50 km from Oslo – but in Oslo the 50 km was raced in free technique. One of Northug’s main opponents is Dario Cologna. The Swiss has shown very good shape in this World Championships – taking gold in the 30 km Skiathlon. In the Oslo World Cup last march on the same discipline, Cologna took second place less than a second behind Eldar Rønning – and thus showed that he can perform well also on a 50 km race. Norwegian Rønning also counts to the favourites – but has not shown that impressive shape so far this year.

Opponents: Olsson and Vylegzhanin

Johan Olsson took bronze in the Olympics in 2010 – and has shown several times that he can perform well in long classic technique races. With a silver medal on the 15 km free technique race earlier this week, the Swede also proved that he is on top shape now. Definitely a man to look out for! Another man on the favourite list is Maxim Vylegzhanin. The Russian finished 4th in Oslo last year, and is one of today’s skiers who is most steady with respect to Top 5 results on 50 km races. Vyleghanin can even challenge Northug in a finish sprint on a top day.

Although Poltoranin is not among the main favourites, he is definitely a man to look out for

Also keep an eye on Alexey Poltoranin. The Kazakh has no good World Cup results in races of 30 km and longer, but has shown very impressive shape on shorter classic technique race this season. Thus although Poltoranin is not among the main favourites, he is definitely a man to look out for.  Lukas Bauer is another classic specialist who counts as an outsider ; extremely good on his best days, but has not been in top shape so far this season. Bauer does not have a good finish sprint, and is dependent on crushing the field earlier in order to take a medal. With the 50 km being raced only 1-2 times each season, it is difficult to get a complete overview of the shape of Northug’s opponents. Some of the outsiders are Tobias Angerer (4th in the Olympics in 2010, many Top 5 places in 50 km races – but not in his top shape?), Axel Teichmann (2nd in the Olympics in 2010, but not in top shape this year?), Anders Södergren (very strong 50 km racer, but not the best in mass start races), Devon Kershaw (5th in the Olympics in 2010, not shown this kind of shape in this World Championships), Alexander Legkov (usually no strong 50 km skier, but depending on race tactics the Russian could be at the right place at the right time) and Ilia Chernousov (6th in Oslo 50 km 2012). But if there is a sprint finish, even more skiers may have the possibility to travel home with the gold medal…

Women: Finally gold for Kowalczyk?

The Polish Tour de Ski winner has been exceptional in classic technique races this season

In the women’s class Justyna Kowalczyk is ready for her favourite discipline. Her impressive relay leg for Poland on Thursday showed that there is nothing wrong with the shape. The Polish Tour de Ski winner has been exceptional in classic technique races this season – and is also reigning Olympic champion on the 30 km classic technique mass start. However, Kowalczyk will have to fight hard against the Norwegians. Both Therese Johaug (reigning World Champion on 30 km from Oslo 2011 – raced in free technique) and Marit Bjørgen (winner of the 30 km classic technique in Oslo last march – more than 50 seconds ahead of Kowalczyk) are in fantastic shape. Except a tight fight between these three skiers – both Johaug (no strong sprint finisher) and Kowalczyk will try to get away from the rest whenever they show weaknesses.

Medal for Japan?

Outsiders for the 30 km World Champion title are Kristin Størmer Steira (Always Top 5 – patiently working hard for the chance to get to the top of the podium), Masako Ishida (Japanese classic specialist who has potential to take a medal if one of the Top 3 fail – has several Top 5 results in 30 km classic mass start races), Heidi Weng (30 km might be too long for the young Norwegian, but always tries hard from the start), and the Finnish women (Anne Kyllönen, Krista Lähtennmäki  - very strong classic results this season – and may fight for medals if all fits).

Historical results

As a preview to the World Champs 30/50 km classic technique, you find historical results from relevant races below. Note that both free technique and classic technique races are listed in the historical results below as there are not too many 30 km / 50 km races on the World Cup calendar.

Photo: Petter Northug. Photo by Val di Fiemme 2013

Men all – historical results

Name		2012 Oslo 2012-03-10 50 km C Mst	2011 Oslo 2011-03-06 50 km F Mst	2010 Oslo 2010-03-13 50 km F Mst	2010 Whistler Olympic Park 2010-02-28 50 km C Mst	2009 Trondheim 2009-03-14 50 km C Mst	2009 Liberec 2009-03-01 50 km F Mst	2007 Sapporo 2007-03-04 50 km C Mst
ROENNING Eldar		+0:00.0 2:32:27.1 (1)				+5:48.0 2:08:27.0 (24)		+8:32.5 2:28:45.1 (27)
NORTHUG Petter jr.			+0:00.0 2:08:09.0 (1)	+0:00.0 2:09:18.5 (1)	+0:00.0 2:05:35.5 (1)	+0:50.3 2:03:29.3 (5)	+0:00.0 1:59:38.1 (1)
COLOGNA Dario		+0:00.6 2:32:27.7 (2)	+1:49.7 2:09:58.7 (20)		+0:12.0 2:05:47.5 (10)	+3:58.0 2:06:37.0 (15)
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim		+0:06.3 2:32:33.5 (4)	+0:01.6 2:08:10.7 (2)	+4:56.0 2:14:14.5 (18)	+0:10.8 2:05:46.4 (8)	+0:34.6 2:03:13.7 (4)	+0:00.6 1:59:38.8 (2)
SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud		+0:05.7 2:32:32.9 (3)
GJERDALEN Tord Asle			+0:06.3 2:08:15.3 (3)				+0:24.5 2:00:02.7 (20)
GLAVATSKIKH Konstantin		+0:07.6 2:32:34.7 (5)	+4:37.0 2:12:46.0 (29)	+1:12.0 2:10:30.5 (6)
ANGERER Tobias		+0:17.3 2:32:44.5 (16)	+0:08.1 2:08:17.2 (6)	+2:50.7 2:12:09.2 (15)	+0:01.5 2:05:37.0 (4)	+0:21.8 2:03:00.8 (2)	+0:02.0 1:59:40.1 (3)	+0:10.5 2:20:23.1 (4)
OLSSON Johan		+0:08.8 2:32:36.0 (8)	+0:38.3 2:08:47.4 (16)	+1:06.0 2:10:24.5 (5)	+0:01.0 2:05:36.5 (3)	+4:00.8 2:06:39.8 (16)
JAUHOJAERVI Sami		+0:12.3 2:32:39.5 (13)			+1:07.6 2:06:43.2 (20)	+0:00.0 2:02:39.0 (1)		+2:42.6 2:22:55.3 (13)
CHERNOUSOV Ilia		+0:08.5 2:32:35.6 (6)	+0:31.5 2:08:40.5 (12)
PILLER COTTRER Pietro		+8:50.9 2:41:18.0 (51)	+1:22.5 2:09:31.5 (19)	+0:02.8 2:09:21.4 (2)	+2:46.1 2:08:21.6 (26)	+3:36.5 2:06:15.5 (13)	+0:09.8 1:59:48.0 (11)
HARVEY Alex		+0:38.0 2:33:05.1 (29)	+0:08.1 2:08:17.2 (5)		+5:14.4 2:10:49.9 (32)	+0:33.1 2:03:12.2 (3)
ROETHE Sjur			+0:08.0 2:08:17.0 (4)	+7:33.7 2:16:52.3 (29)
TEICHMANN Axel		+10:43.9 2:43:11.0 (55)			+0:00.3 2:05:35.8 (2)
LEGKOV Alexander		+0:08.6 2:32:35.7 (7)			+0:17.8 2:05:53.3 (14)	+3:21.7 2:06:00.7 (12)	+0:18.5 1:59:56.6 (18)
KERSHAW Devon		+0:09.2 2:32:36.4 (10)			+0:01.6 2:05:37.1 (5)	+1:52.8 2:04:31.8 (7)
VITTOZ Vincent			+2:31.9 2:10:40.9 (22)	+0:32.6 2:09:51.2 (3)	+0:14.1 2:05:49.6 (13)		+0:09.0 1:59:47.2 (9)
SOEDERGREN Anders		+0:23.7 2:32:50.9 (21)	+0:32.5 2:08:41.5 (14)	+0:57.3 2:10:15.9 (4)	+0:11.6 2:05:47.1 (9)			+2:46.1 2:22:58.7 (14)
HELLNER Marcus		+0:13.0 2:32:40.1 (14)	+0:38.3 2:08:47.4 (15)	+1:28.6 2:10:47.2 (8)	+1:27.6 2:07:03.2 (22)		+2:04.7 2:01:42.8 (27)
DYRHAUG Niklas		+0:09.1 2:32:36.2 (9)		+14:43.9 2:24:02.4 (44)
DI CENTA Giorgio		+0:31.1 2:32:58.2 (27)	+0:24.8 2:08:33.9 (9)	+2:25.9 2:11:44.4 (12)	+0:13.5 2:05:49.0 (11)		+0:04.0 1:59:42.1 (4)	+10:15.0 2:30:27.6 (31)
ELIASSEN Petter		+0:21.7 2:32:48.9 (19)	+0:27.8 2:08:36.9 (11)	+1:49.6 2:11:08.1 (10)		+5:02.5 2:07:41.5 (21)
JAKS Martin		+0:10.1 2:32:37.2 (11)		+6:08.6 2:15:27.1 (20)
RICKARDSSON Daniel		+0:48.6 2:33:15.7 (30)	+0:08.5 2:08:17.5 (7)		+0:09.6 2:05:45.2 (7)	+1:54.8 2:04:33.8 (8)	+2:57.9 2:02:36.0 (30)
RENNEMO Kristian Tettli		+0:10.5 2:32:37.6 (12)		+3:00.0 2:12:18.5 (16)		+12:10.4 2:14:49.4 (42)
HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern		+9:07.0 2:41:34.1 (52)			+0:32.8 2:06:08.3 (17)	+3:11.8 2:05:50.8 (11)		+0:00.0 2:20:12.6 (1)
DOLIDOVICH Sergei		+1:56.6 2:34:23.8 (36)	+0:26.8 2:08:35.9 (10)		+2:12.1 2:07:47.6 (25)		+0:05.5 1:59:43.7 (5)
LALLUKKA Juha			+0:10.3 2:08:19.4 (8)				+0:13.7 1:59:51.9 (15)
BAUER Lukas			+0:32.1 2:08:41.1 (13)	+3:27.2 2:12:45.7 (17)	+0:13.8 2:05:49.4 (12)	+2:28.1 2:05:07.1 (10)		+0:13.1 2:20:25.7 (5)
ERIKSSON Jens		+0:15.6 2:32:42.7 (15)		+12:58.9 2:22:17.4 (41)
MANIFICAT Maurice		+0:18.8 2:32:46.0 (18)	+9:27.6 2:17:36.6 (45)	+2:35.7 2:11:54.2 (14)
KROGH Finn Haagen		+0:17.3 2:32:44.5 (17)
FILBRICH Jens		+0:27.5 2:32:54.6 (26)			+0:32.3 2:06:07.8 (16)	+1:58.4 2:04:37.4 (9)		+0:04.5 2:20:17.1 (3)
MAGAL Jiri		+0:22.6 2:32:49.7 (20)	+8:59.9 2:17:08.9 (43)	+10:02.2 2:19:20.7 (35)	+4:47.2 2:10:22.7 (29)		+0:17.5 1:59:55.6 (17)
ESTIL Frode								+0:00.3 2:20:13.0 (2)
FREEMAN Kris		+0:24.1 2:32:51.2 (22)						+2:38.9 2:22:51.5 (12)
LEHTONEN Lari		+0:25.0 2:32:52.1 (23)			+10:50.7 2:16:26.2 (43)
REICHELT Tom			+1:22.1 2:09:31.2 (18)	+6:48.6 2:16:07.1 (25)			+0:50.5 2:00:28.7 (23)	+5:11.1 2:25:23.7 (18)
BABIKOV Ivan			+0:50.1 2:08:59.2 (17)		+5:14.7 2:10:50.2 (33)		+0:15.6 1:59:53.8 (16)	+18:16.4 2:38:29.0 (45)
DEMENTIEV Eugeniy		+0:25.8 2:32:53.0 (24)				+10:13.6 2:12:52.6 (36)	+0:25.7 2:00:03.9 (22)
BAJCICAK Martin		+1:20.2 2:33:47.4 (33)	+3:16.1 2:11:25.1 (25)	+1:28.6 2:10:47.2 (9)			+0:24.6 2:00:02.8 (21)	+0:41.0 2:20:53.6 (6)
VEERPALU Andrus					+0:06.1 2:05:41.6 (6)	+0:51.6 2:03:30.7 (6)
TSCHARNKE Tim		+0:26.1 2:32:53.2 (25)	+5:58.3 2:14:07.3 (34)
KOUKAL Martin			+2:36.7 2:10:45.7 (23)				+0:08.0 1:59:46.2 (7)	+5:51.4 2:26:04.0 (21)
MORIGGL Thomas			+2:09.6 2:10:18.6 (21)	+7:10.1 2:16:28.6 (27)		+16:33.6 2:19:12.6 (46)
CLARA Roland			+3:51.8 2:12:00.8 (28)	+1:15.3 2:10:33.9 (7)	+5:25.3 2:11:00.8 (36)
JOHNSRUD SUNDBY Martin			+3:03.0 2:11:12.0 (24)		+0:22.1 2:05:57.7 (15)
REHEMAA Aivar		+0:33.2 2:33:00.4 (28)	+5:19.4 2:13:28.4 (32)	+9:12.7 2:18:31.2 (33)	+5:22.1 2:10:57.6 (34)		+0:09.1 1:59:47.3 (10)	+10:56.6 2:31:09.3 (32)
SOMMERFELDT Rene					+1:17.0 2:06:52.5 (21)	+5:42.4 2:08:21.4 (23)	+0:07.5 1:59:45.6 (6)	+2:47.4 2:23:00.0 (15)
NOUSIAINEN Ville			+3:22.3 2:11:31.3 (26)		+6:02.5 2:11:38.0 (37)		+1:21.0 2:00:59.1 (25)	+2:14.9 2:22:27.5 (10)
PERL Curdin			+9:18.0 2:17:27.0 (44)	+2:03.5 2:11:22.0 (11)		+4:19.4 2:06:58.4 (17)	+2:02.5 2:01:40.6 (26)
AASEN OUREN Geir Ludvig				+2:28.8 2:11:47.3 (13)		+4:59.7 2:07:38.7 (20)
GAILLARD Jean Marc				+9:27.7 2:18:46.2 (34)	+1:02.5 2:06:38.0 (19)		+0:41.2 2:00:19.4 (22)	+1:24.0 2:21:36.6 (7)
SVARTEDAL Jens Arne				+20:54.2 2:30:12.7 (50)	+1:57.0 2:07:32.5 (23)	+3:49.9 2:06:28.9 (14)		+5:29.2 2:25:41.9 (19)
LIVERS Toni			+13:03.2 2:21:12.2 (55)	+6:11.6 2:15:30.1 (22)			+0:13.2 1:59:51.4 (14)
FISCHER Remo			+7:20.3 2:15:29.3 (37)	+6:10.9 2:15:29.4 (21)			+0:19.0 1:59:57.1 (19)
MAE Jaak				+7:34.5 2:16:53.0 (30)	+5:05.8 2:10:41.3 (30)	+4:38.2 2:07:17.2 (18)		+1:33.6 2:21:46.2 (8)
GREY George					+0:42.6 2:06:18.1 (18)
KATTILAKOSKI Teemu			+6:47.6 2:14:56.6 (35)				+0:08.3 1:59:46.5 (8)
BJERKE Espen Harald				+5:32.5 2:14:51.0 (19)		+9:16.4 2:11:55.4 (35)
ZORZI Cristian							+0:11.0 1:59:49.1 (12)
DUVILLARD Robin			+5:20.9 2:13:29.9 (33)	+6:15.8 2:15:34.3 (23)
JONNIER Emmanuel							+0:12.5 1:59:50.7 (13)
SEDOV Petr					+1:59.9 2:07:35.4 (24)
BACH Ole-marius				+6:36.3 2:15:54.8 (24)
PANKRATOV Nikolai								+1:38.0 2:21:50.6 (9)
HOFF Erlend						+4:41.7 2:07:20.7 (19)
KOKK Kaspar								+2:28.1 2:22:40.8 (11)
OLSEN Eirik Kurland						+5:03.6 2:07:42.6 (22)
AUKLAND Anders		+1:34.2 2:34:01.4 (34)				+7:32.0 2:10:11.0 (32)		+2:54.6 2:23:07.3 (16)
SIMILAE Tero			+5:19.3 2:13:28.3 (31)	+11:34.2 2:20:52.8 (38)		+6:22.0 2:09:01.0 (28)		+6:01.0 2:26:13.6 (22)
LARSSON Martin								+3:03.7 2:23:16.4 (17)
HOFFMANN Christian							+0:53.0 2:00:31.1 (24)
PERRILLAT Christophe		+4:07.6 2:36:34.7 (42)					+2:11.0 2:01:49.2 (28)	+7:26.4 2:27:39.0 (25)
LARSSON Mats						+5:49.5 2:08:28.5 (25)
KOMAMURA Shunsuke								+5:34.9 2:25:47.5 (20)
ODNODVORTSEV Maxim								+6:29.1 2:26:41.7 (23)
EBISAWA Katsuhito								+6:37.4 2:26:50.0 (24)

Women all – historical results

Name		2012 Oslo 2012-03-11 30 km C Mst	2011 Oslo 2011-03-05 30 km F Mst	2010 Oslo 2010-03-13 30 km F Mst	2010 Whistler Olympic Park 2010-02-27 30 km C Mst	2009 Trondheim 2009-03-14 30 km C Mst	2009 Liberec 2009-02-28 30 km F Mst	2007 Sapporo 2007-03-03 30 km C Mst
BJOERGEN Marit		+0:00.0 1:26:09.8 (1)	+0:44.0 1:24:29.1 (2)	+0:00.0 1:24:10.8 (1)	+0:00.3 1:30:34.0 (2)			+3:27.9 1:33:15.0 (9)
JOHAUG Therese		+0:53.3 1:27:03.1 (3)	+0:00.0 1:23:45.1 (1)	+0:08.0 1:24:18.8 (3)	+1:27.6 1:32:01.3 (7)	+0:33.9 1:25:56.1 (7)	+0:09.8 1:16:20.5 (4)	+1:22.7 1:31:09.9 (3)
KOWALCZYK Justyna		+0:51.8 1:27:01.7 (2)	+1:34.0 1:25:19.1 (3)		+0:00.0 1:30:33.7 (1)	+0:11.6 1:25:33.9 (2)	+0:00.0 1:16:10.6 (1)
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer		+2:59.4 1:29:09.2 (4)	+2:20.7 1:26:05.9 (5)	+0:01.1 1:24:12.0 (2)	+1:30.6 1:32:04.4 (8)	+0:12.3 1:25:34.5 (4)	+0:11.2 1:16:21.9 (5)	+0:06.8 1:29:54.0 (2)
ISHIDA Masako		+3:11.8 1:29:21.6 (5)		+9:51.0 1:34:01.9 (48)	+1:22.8 1:31:56.5 (5)	+0:12.0 1:25:34.2 (3)		+5:41.0 1:35:28.2 (13)
KALLA Charlotte		+5:23.5 1:31:33.3 (9)	+2:05.5 1:25:50.6 (4)	+0:49.3 1:25:00.2 (4)	+1:23.9 1:31:57.6 (6)	+1:02.8 1:26:25.0 (11)	+2:46.4 1:18:57.0 (18)
FESSEL Nicole		+4:16.2 1:30:26.0 (7)	+3:03.9 1:26:49.0 (7)
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe		+4:00.5 1:30:10.4 (6)		+3:12.9 1:27:23.7 (17)	+3:57.8 1:34:31.5 (20)		+1:41.7 1:17:52.4 (12)
HAAG Anna		+5:33.2 1:31:43.0 (10)	+3:11.4 1:26:56.5 (10)	+1:31.0 1:25:41.8 (7)			+3:42.0 1:19:52.6 (25)
MAJDIC Petra						+0:00.0 1:25:22.2 (1)		+2:17.4 1:32:04.5 (5)
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa			+7:54.2 1:31:39.4 (23)	+4:43.4 1:28:54.2 (22)	+1:05.0 1:31:38.7 (3)	+0:49.9 1:26:12.1 (9)	+0:16.5 1:16:27.1 (7)	+1:43.0 1:31:30.1 (4)
WENG Heidi		+5:07.7 1:31:17.5 (8)		+4:54.7 1:29:05.5 (23)
SACHENBACHER -STEHLE Evi			+4:32.7 1:28:17.9 (13)	+1:26.5 1:25:37.3 (5)	+1:19.1 1:31:52.9 (4)	+0:21.9 1:25:44.1 (5)
SKOFTERUD Vibeke W			+2:36.4 1:26:21.5 (6)	+1:40.3 1:25:51.1 (9)				+6:15.0 1:36:02.1 (17)
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa		+6:19.7 1:32:29.5 (22)	+6:07.5 1:29:52.6 (15)	+1:27.1 1:25:38.0 (6)		+0:36.5 1:25:58.7 (8)	+0:12.1 1:16:22.8 (6)
ZELLER Katrin		+6:07.8 1:32:17.6 (19)	+4:00.7 1:27:45.8 (12)		+3:44.4 1:34:18.1 (19)	+1:53.0 1:27:15.2 (17)		+7:46.2 1:37:33.3 (25)
IVANOVA Julia		+5:46.9 1:31:56.7 (11)
LONGA Marianna			+3:09.7 1:26:54.9 (8)	+4:36.0 1:28:46.8 (21)	+2:46.2 1:33:19.9 (11)	+0:29.9 1:25:52.1 (6)	+0:46.8 1:16:57.5 (9)	+7:21.7 1:37:08.9 (19)
KUITUNEN Virpi					+3:03.0 1:33:36.7 (13)			+0:00.0 1:29:47.1 (1)
KYLLOENEN Anne		+5:50.3 1:32:00.1 (12)
SHEVCHENKO Valentina			+4:58.7 1:28:43.8 (14)			+0:55.6 1:26:17.9 (10)	+0:09.2 1:16:19.9 (3)	+4:12.5 1:33:59.6 (12)
FALLA Maiken Caspersen		+5:51.7 1:32:01.5 (13)
MEDVEDEVA Evgenia							+0:08.7 1:16:19.4 (2)
BLECKUR Sofia		+5:56.7 1:32:06.5 (14)
CONFORTOLA WYATT Antonella			+3:10.2 1:26:55.3 (9)	+3:06.5 1:27:17.3 (14)	+3:34.0 1:34:07.7 (16)
RANDALL Kikkan		+6:16.9 1:32:26.7 (21)	+7:12.2 1:30:57.3 (18)		+4:25.3 1:34:59.0 (23)
AHERVO Laura		+5:58.4 1:32:08.2 (15)
ROTCHEVA Olga		+5:59.7 1:32:09.5 (16)		+5:06.5 1:29:17.3 (27)	+6:41.8 1:37:15.5 (29)
BOEHLER Stefanie		+6:05.5 1:32:15.4 (18)		+4:05.7 1:28:16.5 (20)	+3:35.0 1:34:08.7 (17)	+5:08.7 1:30:30.9 (31)
STEPHEN Elizabeth		+8:03.0 1:34:12.9 (24)	+6:22.2 1:30:07.3 (16)	+11:23.0 1:35:33.9 (52)			+2:42.7 1:18:53.4 (17)
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt		+6:04.2 1:32:14.0 (17)		+5:01.5 1:29:12.4 (24)
LAHTEENMAKI Krista		+9:39.0 1:35:48.9 (30)	+3:57.0 1:27:42.1 (11)		+4:34.7 1:35:08.4 (25)
DE MARTIN TOPRANIN Virginia		+6:07.8 1:32:17.6 (20)
NOVIKOVA Valentina		+9:41.8 1:35:51.6 (32)	+6:33.7 1:30:18.9 (17)	+2:15.8 1:26:26.6 (10)
HAGEN Martine Ek		+7:37.0 1:33:46.8 (23)
JANECKOVA Ivana			+7:16.2 1:31:01.4 (20)	+3:09.4 1:27:20.2 (16)	+9:39.9 1:40:13.6 (40)			+7:37.4 1:37:24.5 (21)
LAURENT PHILIPPOT Karine				+1:34.5 1:25:45.4 (8)	+2:37.7 1:33:11.4 (10)		+1:39.0 1:17:49.7 (11)
MEDVEDEVA Polina		+8:58.0 1:35:07.9 (25)
BUCHER Silvana			+7:14.7 1:30:59.9 (19)
ARRITOLA Morgan			+7:24.7 1:31:09.8 (21)	+5:34.3 1:29:45.1 (31)			+3:12.2 1:19:22.8 (21)
JEZERSEK Barbara			+7:48.5 1:31:33.7 (22)				+9:20.7 1:25:31.3 (43)
SAVIALOVA Olga				+3:09.0 1:27:19.8 (15)	+4:12.6 1:34:46.3 (22)	+2:33.0 1:27:55.2 (21)	+1:58.4 1:18:09.0 (13)	+3:07.0 1:32:54.1 (8)
NESTERENKO Lada			+7:54.4 1:31:39.5 (24)		+11:06.4 1:41:40.1 (43)			+2:50.7 1:32:37.9 (7)
OLSSON Anna					+2:26.6 1:33:00.3 (9)	+2:06.8 1:27:29.0 (19)
FOLLIS Arianna				+3:00.8 1:27:11.6 (13)			+0:31.0 1:16:41.7 (8)
SARASOJA Riikka			+9:01.0 1:32:46.1 (33)	+7:30.0 1:31:40.9 (39)	+2:59.5 1:33:33.2 (12)	+1:49.7 1:27:11.9 (16)	+3:40.7 1:19:51.4 (24)
BROOKS Holly			+7:57.4 1:31:42.5 (25)		+7:40.8 1:38:14.5 (35)
MAREK Kornelia					+2:41.7 1:33:15.4 (11)		+3:03.0 1:19:13.6 (20)
VALBUSA Sabina				+2:47.8 1:26:58.6 (12)			+2:51.0 1:19:01.6 (19)
KHAZOVA Irina				+2:43.8 1:26:54.6 (11)
RENNER Sara					+3:30.5 1:34:04.2 (15)	+2:04.1 1:27:26.3 (18)
JASKOWIEC Sylwia				+4:01.4 1:28:12.2 (19)	+4:25.4 1:34:59.1 (24)	+8:05.1 1:33:27.3 (39)
JATSKAJA Oxana					+3:37.3 1:34:11.0 (18)		+2:37.2 1:18:47.8 (16)	+10:14.4 1:40:01.5 (33)
CUINET Aurore					+3:24.6 1:33:58.3 (14)
RAJDLOVA Kamila				+5:05.9 1:29:16.7 (26)		+1:26.6 1:26:48.9 (13)		+3:55.2 1:33:42.4 (11)
CONFORTOLA Antonella						+1:33.6 1:26:55.9 (14)	+2:27.5 1:18:38.1 (15)	+5:46.9 1:35:34.0 (14)
RUPIL Silvia				+3:55.3 1:28:06.1 (18)
NISKANEN Kerttu				+5:06.9 1:29:17.7 (28)		+1:05.3 1:26:27.5 (12)
MURANEN Pirjo							+1:13.5 1:17:24.1 (10)
SMIGUN Kristina								+2:32.2 1:32:19.4 (6)
ZAVALIJ Tatjana					+3:58.6 1:34:32.3 (21)
NYSTAD Claudia						+2:32.0 1:27:54.2 (20)	+3:19.0 1:19:29.7 (22)
LINDBORG Sara		+9:40.7 1:35:50.5 (31)	+8:32.2 1:32:17.4 (30)			+5:37.2 1:30:59.4 (33)		+6:07.0 1:35:54.1 (16)
HUGUE Coraline							+2:23.5 1:18:34.1 (14)
SANNIKOVA Alena			+11:47.2 1:35:32.3 (41)		+7:57.6 1:38:31.3 (38)		+3:24.7 1:19:35.3 (23)	+5:58.9 1:35:46.0 (15)
ELDEN Marte						+1:42.8 1:27:05.0 (15)
GOESSNER Miriam				+5:05.5 1:29:16.3 (25)
SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi								+3:44.4 1:33:31.5 (10)
HONGXUE Li							+3:43.0 1:19:53.6 (26)	+7:12.7 1:36:59.9 (18)
TCHEPALOVA Julija						+6:38.6 1:32:00.8 (36)	+2:54.0 1:19:04.7 (20)
SIDKO Alena						+2:53.0 1:28:15.2 (22)		+8:22.7 1:38:09.9 (27)
BRUN-LIE Celine		+12:32.4 1:38:42.2 (44)		+5:26.4 1:29:37.2 (30)		+3:41.0 1:29:03.2 (25)
SVENDSEN Sara				+5:59.5 1:30:10.4 (33)		+3:04.7 1:28:26.9 (23)
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad		+11:37.4 1:37:47.2 (42)		+5:59.3 1:30:10.1 (32)		+3:21.7 1:28:43.9 (24)	+6:25.2 1:22:35.9 (36)
YOKOYAMA Sumiko								+7:26.7 1:37:13.8 (20)
TCHEKALEVA Ioulia								+7:40.5 1:37:27.6 (22)
BAUER Viola								+7:43.2 1:37:30.3 (23)
SONETA Chizuru								+7:45.5 1:37:32.6 (24)

The World Championships in Val di Fiemme starts with an exciting classic technique Sprint race on Thursday. Only 5 days before this big day in Val di Fiemme, the skiers had their last test in exactly this discipline in the Davos World Cup races. Can the clear Davos winners Alexey Poltoranin and Justyna Kowalczyk repeat their feats from Davos?

• Set up your XC-predictions for the Sprint classis technique by the start of the Qualifications at 10:45 CET

Men: Northug and Poltoranin against the sprint specialists

Emil Jönsson, Teodor Peterson and Eirik Brandsdal were named three of the biggest favourites ahead of the Davos sprint race – and even if none of them performed well in Davos (27th, 11th and 9th, respectively), they are still among the biggest favourites for the World Championships sprint. Last Saturday’s winner – allrounder Alexey Polotoranin – has shown very good shape lately, and will be a man to look out for. However, winning two sprints in a row is not done often in the World Cup.

The strong Norwegian allrounder is going for gold every time he is on the start line in Val di Fiemme – the classic sprint is no exception

Mental strength and peaking the shape is extremely important when it comes down to the big championships – and this is where Petter Northug excels. The strong Norwegian allrounder is going for gold every time he is on the start line in Val di Fiemme – the classic sprint is no exception. Not his strongest distance – but with a bronze from the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 and a second place in the season opening in Kuusamo in classic sprint, the biggest star of cross country skiing is surely among the top favourites also in the sprint. Another man for the big occasions is the Olympic Champion from the classic sprint in Vancouver – Nikita Kriukov. The Russian has had a variable sprint season, but showed great shape in Kuusamo in November where he won the classic sprint.

Italian medal?

The last of the favourites to be mentioned is home favourite Federico Pellegrino – peaking his shape for the World Championships with a third place in Davos after being far away from the top positions in classic sprints for some time. Finally some outsiders: Andy Newell (5th already back in the World Championships sprint in Sapporo in 2007  - one place higher in Davos on Saturday), Len Valjas, Nikolay Chebotko, Tim Scharnke and Ola Vigen Hattestad.

Dario Cologna would also have been among the favourites, but the Swiss skier is not starting in the Val di Fiemme sprint race – focusing on the Skiathlon on Saturday. Marcus Hellner – reigning World Champion in sprint from Oslo – is also not on the start list. However, the Oslo sprint was in free technique – a discipline which the Swede is much more comfortable with than classic.

Women: Classic Bjørgen – Kowalczyk battle

Bjørgen won the Olympic classic technique sprint in Vancouver in 2010 ahead of Kowalczyk – and has the series 2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 2 in the last six classic technique sprint races

In the womens sprint we are yet again ready for the battle between Marit Bjørgen and Justyna Kowalczyk.

- My goal is to get to the final, and if I manage that, everything is possible. I am not fast enough for these sprints, Bjørgen says ahead of the sprint and puts herself in an outsider position. However, looking at the latest results – this will most probably be a battle between the two big stars of women’s cross country skiing the last year. Bjørgen won the Olympic classic technique sprint in Vancouver in 2010 ahead of Kowalczyk – and has the series 2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 2 in the last six classic technique sprint races she has started. Her Polish opponent does not have the same impressive stability – but with an impressive victory in the classic technique sprint in Davos on Saturday – and an exceptional classic shape this season – Kowalczyk still counts as a favourite ahead of Bjørgen.

If Bjørgen and Kowalczyk fail – Maiken Caspersen Falla (one of the most stable Top 3 sprinters in the World Cup), Anne Kyllönen (Finnish skier who has improved a lot this year), Astrid Jakobsen (the surprise winner from the Sapporo sprint in 2007), Mona-Lisa Malvalehto (surprise winner from the Liberec sprint in January) are there to take over. Also look out for the outsiders Kikkan Randall, Jean Aurore, Katja Visnar and Celine Brun-Lie.

As a preview for the World Champs sprint classic, you find historical results from relevant races below. Note that this article was written before the official start lists where available.

Photo: Marit Bjørgen (NOR)  ; Photo by Federico Modica

Men all – historical results

Name		2013 Davos 2013-02-16 SP C Final	2013 Liberec 2013-01-12 SP C Final	2012 Kuusamo 2012-11-30 SP C Final	2012 Stockholm 2012-03-14 SP C Final	2012 Drammen 2012-03-07 SP C Final	2012 Lahti 2012-03-04 SP C Final	2012 Otepaa 2012-01-21 SP C Final	2010 Whistler Olympic Park 2010-02-17 SP 1.5 km C Final	2007 Sapporo 2007-02-22 SP C Final
PETERSON Teodor		27th	1st	8th	2nd	9th	2nd	26th	11th
BRANDSDAL Eirik		9th	4th	3rd	1st	1st	16th	3rd
JOENSSON Emil		11th	2nd	9th	12th	5th	1st		7th	6th
POLTORANIN Alexey		1st		5th	5th			19th	5th
COLOGNA Dario		2nd		35th	13th	19th	46th	1st
KRIUKOV Nikita			7th	1st	26th	13th	3rd	5th	1st
VALJAS Len		6th	10th	53rd	3rd	2nd	19th	21st
GOLBERG Paal			3rd	13th	22nd	3rd	28th	8th
HATTESTAD Ola Vigen			8th		4th	38th	4th	2nd	4th
NORTHUG Petter jr.				2nd					3rd
PELLEGRINO Federico		3rd	40th		20th	31st	20th
NEWELL Andrew		4th	6th	27th	7th	6th	15th	7th	45th	5th
PANZHINSKIY Alexander			9th			4th	21st	12th	2nd
RETIVYKH Gleb		19th	27th	11th	9th	10th	6th	9th
CHEBOTKO Nikolay		5th		12th					13th	19th
TSCHARNKE Tim			5th	47th	31st		43rd		33rd
MORILOV Nikolay		18th		18th	6th	8th	8th	28th	26th	20th
HARVEY Alex		39th		46th	14th	16th	44th	4th
JAPAROV Dmitriy		15th		4th	30th
JAUHOJAERVI Sami		34th		10th		20th	5th	24th	12th
LASSILA Kalle			18th	6th		39th	25th	10th	10th	11th
HAMILTON Simeon		13th	41st	24th		7th	11th	33rd	29th
ONDA Yuichi		7th				15th	33rd		17th	25th
KERSHAW Devon		8th		62nd	19th	23rd	51st	40th	23rd	38th
PENTSINEN Anssi			11th	29th		14th	22nd	27th
CLAUSEN Kent Ove		10th				11th	26th	53rd
ERIKSSON Jens		17th	15th	26th			41st	16th
GAFAROV Anton		26th	14th			27th	36th	11th
PETUKHOV Alexey			28th	7th	16th	22nd	48th	25th
WENZL Josef		51st	24th	22nd	21st	12th		22nd	31st	14th
KETELAE Toni			20th	14th		26th	14th
USACHEV Igor		12th					31st	14th
PETTERSEN Oeystein		30th	67th	30th		54th	34th	6th	6th
WOLZ Alexander		14th	22nd
STRANDVALL Matias			21st	16th	27th	21st	27th	38th	37th	9th
ROENNING Eldar			19th	21st	17th					3rd
PASINI Fabio			39th	50th	15th	34th	7th		24th
HALFVARSSON Calle		23rd		15th	42nd	29th	23rd	23rd
EISENLAUER Sebastian		28th	13th
DAHL John Kristian				17th	8th	53rd	35th
DEVJATIAROV Mikhail Jun.			12th
SELLIS Siim				19th		60th	10th	43rd
EDIN Johan			26th			28th	13th	29th
LECCARDI Valerio		16th					60th	31st	38th
KOSHEVOY Yevgeniy		47th	16th
PERSSON Simon			51st			62nd	9th
RAZYM Ales			17th	43rd					44th
HELLNER Marcus				70th	10th		59th
KUMMEL Peeter			46th	28th				13th	14th
MIYAZAWA Hiroyuki		67th		36th	11th
GLOEERSEN Anders			43rd		24th	50th	45th	15th
HEUN Daniel		20th	32nd					58th
BRYNTESSON Robin			56th				12th	34th
MODIN Jesper						31st	24th	18th	18th
PAAKKONEN Lasse						24th	17th	42nd
SVARTEDAL Jens Arne										1st
FOSSLI Sondre Turvoll		21st				37th
MIRANDA Cyril		22nd	42nd	34th		47th	40th		16th	12th
EINASTE Kein			35th			25th	49th	20th	59th
KJOELSTAD Johan								17th	9th
SCHNIDER Ueli		50th	23rd
LYKKJA Hans Petter						17th	30th
HEDIGER Jovian		24th	34th					47th
STEEN Andreas Myran						18th
ROETHE Sjur				67th	18th
NORUM Robin						44th	18th
GOERING Franz			25th			69th	66th
BYGGLAND Aanund Lid		25th				36th
SAAREPUU Anti			36th	20th		30th	42nd	52nd	42nd
LARSSON Mats										2nd
SUN Qinghai				23rd			64th		21st	48th
POLTARANIN Alexey									5th	17th
HAEKAEMIES Antti				25th			29th
TURYSHEV Sergey				61st	23rd
DYRHAUG Niklas				111th	25th
DEVJATIAROV Mickail Jun.									8th	15th
LIND Bjoern									19th	4th
KUHN Stefan									15th	39th
PASINI Renato		36th	50th			49th			20th
VAEAENAENEN Jesse							63rd		22nd
KREZELOK Janusz									28th	10th
HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern										7th
KRECZMER Maciej		70th	38th	65th		58th	38th	45th	25th	28th
ROTCHEV Vassili										8th
SIMONLATSER Timo			45th			33rd	47th	39th	27th	24th
KOSCHEVOY Yevgeniy									52nd	12th
PYYKOENEN Lauri										13th
KOZISEK Dusan		57th	57th	75th					35th	16th
HETLAND Tor Arne										18th
FRASNELLI Loris						46th	68th		30th	23rd
KOOS Torin									36th	21st
MYHLBACK Petter										22nd

Women all – historical results

Name		2013 Davos 2013-02-16 SP C Final	2013 Liberec 2013-01-12 SP C Final	2012 Kuusamo 2012-11-30 SP C Final	2012 Stockholm 2012-03-14 SP C Final	2012 Drammen 2012-03-07 SP C Final	2012 Lahti 2012-03-04 SP C Final	2012 Otepaa 2012-01-21 SP C Final	2010 Whistler Olympic Park 2010-02-17 SP 1.5 km C Final	2007 Sapporo 2007-02-22 SP C Final
BJOERGEN Marit		2nd		1st	1st	1st	1st	2nd	1st	10th
KOWALCZYK Justyna		1st	2nd	7th	9th	3rd	3rd	1st	2nd	17th
MALVALEHTO Mona-Lisa			1st	11th	13th	9th	22nd	6th		12th
IVANOVA Julia		7th		31st	2nd		2nd
FALLA Maiken Caspersen		21st	3rd		3rd	4th	4th	12th	20th
KYLLOENEN Anne		3rd		4th	11th	7th	8th	15th
SHAPOVALOVA Evgenia			13th	2nd		20th	27th	26th	28th	19th
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt				30th	42nd	2nd		21st	7th	1st
DOTSENKO Anastasia		16th		3rd	16th	14th	6th
GAIAZOVA Daria		12th	4th	14th	23rd	8th	13th	17th	22nd	52nd
SMUTNA Katerina		5th	20th	17th	6th	31st	24th	5th	11th	11th
MATVEEVA Natalia			12th			28th	7th	3rd		23rd
JEAN Aurore		4th	37th	44th	26th	6th	21st
RANDALL Kikkan		8th		10th	8th	11th	5th	9th	8th	22nd
BRUN-LIE Celine		13th	5th	8th		41st			6th
VISNAR Katja		24th	21st	6th	5th	13th	11th	10th	16th	38th
INGEMARSDOTTER Ida		6th	10th		10th	22nd	39th	8th	15th	8th
KALLA Charlotte		17th			4th	12th	9th	18th
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad		30th	6th	23rd	20th	21st	15th	7th
LAHTEENMAKI Krista		11th		5th	21st	18th		13th
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa		50th	17th	16th	22nd		26th	4th	13th	18th
NISKANEN Kerttu		9th	14th	25th				11th
CRAWFORD Chandra			29th	37th	12th	5th	69th	22nd	26th	32nd
KOLB Hanna		15th	8th	26th	33rd	19th	47th		25th
PAJALA Magdalena		20th	7th	20th				31st	10th
FESSEL Nicole			33rd	22nd	14th	10th	12th	19th	17th	15th
WENG Heidi		19th		13th	18th	15th	23rd
FABJAN Vesna		22nd	39th	19th	7th	32nd	17th	33rd	23rd	37th
JONES Perianne		41st	9th	12th		61st	58th	39th	41st
NILSSON Stina		10th	26th			23rd
HERRMANN Denise		14th		15th	25th	24th	29th	41st
GJEITNES Kari Vikhagen			15th			45th	10th
BRODIN Hanna					17th	17th	19th	14th
SARGENT Ida		18th	42nd	9th		46th	52nd	29th
SOEMSKAR Linn			11th	41st		26th	51st	28th
VAN DER GRAAFF Laurien		29th	16th		15th	29th		38th
GROENVOLL Maria Nysted			18th			36th	20th
MAJDIC Petra									3rd	2nd
USATOVA Oxana		25th	25th			50th		23rd
SUNDIN Marika			19th
EIDE Mari			27th			16th
MEDVEDEVA Polina				18th	24th	34th
NIKOLAEVA Svetlana		28th	24th
PROCHAZKOVA Alena		37th	31st	21st		40th	36th	24th	18th	13th
JOHAUG Therese				24th	32nd		42nd	20th
ISHIDA Masako				42nd	34th		14th
RINGWALD Sandra			22nd
BROOKS Holly		23rd		40th			54th		38th
JOHANSSON NORGREN Britta			23rd
TRACHSEL Doris		43rd	36th	45th		55th	46th	16th	30th
NOVIKOVA Valentina						38th	16th	42nd
SARASOJA-LILJA Riikka		31st		29th	49th		18th
ZELLER Katrin				48th	19th	37th	43rd	36th	14th
OLSSON Anna									4th
KOROSTELEVA Natalia			54th	28th	35th	30th	28th		12th	27th
GENUIN Magda									5th	28th
KUITUNEN Virpi									9th	3rd
OJASTE Triin				58th		48th	33rd	25th	37th
ROTCHEVA Olga						35th	25th		40th
BOE Kjersti						25th
DAHLBERG Anna										4th
NATSUMI Madoka									27th	5th
PERAELAE Kirsi									19th
MURANEN Pirjo									21st
ANDERSSON Lina										6th
MANNINEN Pirjo										7th
CUINET Aurore									24th
HENKEL Manuela										9th
MISCHOL Seraina										14th
BAUER Viola										16th
FUKUDA Nobuko										20th
GJOEMLE Ella										21st
VALAAS Laura										24th
ROCHAT Laurence										25th

The World Cup races in Davos are held less than a week ahead of the World Championships in Val di Fiemme – and thus many of the athletes use this opportunity to get some last answers ahead of the championships. Sprint in classic technique and 10/15 km individual start in free technique is on the program – the same disciplines which are on the program in Val di Fiemme.

• Set up your predictions for Saturday’s sprint ahead of the start of the qualification Saturday at 09:45 CET
• Set up your predictions for Sunday’s 10/15 km before the start Sunday at 10:50 CET. Preview tables of previous results are published on the prediction page.

With the biggest goal of the season coming up in only a few days, top results in Davos is not the main objective of the races for the athletes. Some athletes are already in top shape and want a confirmation with a good results as part of their mental preparations for the World Championships – other still need some days to get to the top shape.

World Championships Oslo 2011

Matti Heikkinen (Finland) finished all the way down on 24th place in Drammen, but won gold in Oslo 10 days later.

Looking back at 2011 where the World Cup races in Drammen were held just a few days ahead of the Oslo World Championships, the men’s sprint (free technique) in Drammen was won by Emil Jönsson (Sweden) ahead of Alex Harvey (Canada) and Petter Northug (Norway). Four days later in Oslo, Marcus Hellner (Sweden) took the top spot at the World Championships in the same discipline, while Northug finished second with Jönsson in third. Harvey finished all the way down in 7th in Oslo.

In the women’s sprint, Kikkan Randall (USA) won the Drammen sprint – but finished all the way down in 26th place at the World Championships. Instead Marit Bjørgen (Norway) took the gold medal in Oslo after finishing only 5th in Drammen.

For the 10 km/15 km (both Oslo and Drammen in free technique), the differences in results were even bigger among the men. Matti Heikkinen (Finland) finished all the way down on 24th place in Drammen, but won gold in Oslo 10 days later. Daniel Rickardsson won the Drammen World Cup race – but took a disappointing 42nd place in the World Championships. Among the women, the podium was exactly the same in Oslo and in Drammen – Bjørgen ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk (Poland) and Aina-Kaisa Saarinen (Finland)

Men Sprint: Jönsson again?

Emil Jönsson on “home ground” in Davos again counts as the biggest favourite

With the upcoming World Championships in mind, predicting results for the Davos races can be tricky. However, with three victories in classic sprints last season – and one this season – Emil Jönsson on “home ground” in Davos again counts as the biggest favourite along with another Swedish sprint specialist – Teodor Peterson. Peterson won the previous classic technique sprint in the World Cup in Liberec ahead of Jönsson.

The Norwegian skiers usually get into top shape when the World Championships is getting closer – especially Eirik Brandsdal – winner of two classic technique sprints this season – is to be counted among the big favourites.  Home favourite Dario Cologna won a classic technique sprint race in Otepää last year, and will want to show himself from his best side in front of the Swiss spectators.

Women Sprint: Bjørgen is Queen!

Marit Bjørgen has the series 1-1-1-1 from the four last classic technique sprint races she has started in – and is again the big, big favourite for this classic sprint. Another Norwegian – Maiken Caspersen Falla – is usually among the top 3-4 skiers in classic technique sprints – but is still waiting for the win. Justyna Kowalczyk finished second in the Liberec classic technique sprint a month ago – and is the third of the favourites for the Davos classic technique sprint. Also count in Charlotte Kalla (Sweden), Anne Kyllönen (Finland) and Katja Visnar (Slovenia).

10/15 km free technique

The 10/15 km free technique races are more open than the sprints – and depend a lot on who is on the start lists (which will be available on Saturday early evening).

There has been one 10/15 km free technique race in the World Cup this season – the season opener in Gällivare in November. In the men’s class it was dominated by typical classic specialists like Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Alexey Poltoranin. Skiers who are typically bigger favourites for the World Championships and for the Davos races (if they are on the start list) Marcus Hellner, Petter Northug and Dario Cologna finished 3rd, 7th and 19th respectively.

In the women’s class, Marit Bjørgen won the 10 km free technique Gällivare opener ahead of Therese Johaug, Kikkan Randall and Charlotte Kalla. If you add Justyna Kowalczyk (only 27th in Gällivare) and Kristin Størmer Steira (only 25th in Gällivare), these should be the biggest favourites both for Davos and Val di Fiemme if they are on the start list.

Men starters Sprint Classic- historical results

Name		2013 Liberec 2013-01-12 SP C Final	2012 Kuusamo 2012-11-30 SP C Final	2012 Stockholm 2012-03-14 SP C Final	2012 Drammen 2012-03-07 SP C Final	2012 Lahti 2012-03-04 SP C Final	2012 Otepaa 2012-01-21 SP C Final
PETERSON Teodor		+0:00.0 (1)	+0:00.0 (8)	+0:00.0 (2)	+0:00.0 (9)	+0:00.0 (2)	+0:00.0 (26)
BRANDSDAL Eirik		+0:00.0 (4)	+0:00.0 (3)	+0:00.0 (1)	+0:00.0 (1)	+0:00.0 (16)	+0:00.0 (3)
JOENSSON Emil		+0:00.0 (2)	+0:00.0 (9)	+0:00.0 (12)	+0:00.0 (5)	+0:00.0 (1)
KRIUKOV Nikita		+0:00.0 (7)	+0:00.0 (1)	+0:00.0 (26)	+0:00.0 (13)	+0:00.0 (3)	+0:00.0 (5)
COLOGNA Dario			+0:00.0 (35)	+0:00.0 (13)	+0:00.0 (19)	+0:00.0 (46)	+0:00.0 (1)
VALJAS Len		+0:00.0 (10)	+0:00.0 (53)	+0:00.0 (3)	+0:00.0 (2)	+0:00.0 (19)	+0:00.0 (21)
GOLBERG Paal		+0:00.0 (3)	+0:00.0 (13)	+0:00.0 (22)	+0:00.0 (3)	+0:00.0 (28)	+0:00.0 (8)
HATTESTAD Ola Vigen		+0:00.0 (8)		+0:00.0 (4)	+0:00.0 (38)	+0:00.0 (4)	+0:00.0 (2)
NORTHUG Petter jr.			+0:00.0 (2)
NEWELL Andrew		+0:00.0 (6)	+0:00.0 (27)	+0:00.0 (7)	+0:00.0 (6)	+0:00.0 (15)	+0:00.0 (7)
PANZHINSKIY Alexander		+0:00.0 (9)			+0:00.0 (4)	+0:00.0 (21)	+0:00.0 (12)
POLTORANIN Alexey			+0:00.0 (5)	+0:00.0 (5)			+0:00.0 (19)
RETIVYKH Gleb		+0:00.0 (27)	+0:00.0 (11)	+0:00.0 (9)	+0:00.0 (10)	+0:00.0 (6)	+0:00.0 (9)
TSCHARNKE Tim		+0:00.0 (5)	+0:00.0 (47)	+0:00.0 (31)		+0:00.0 (43)
HARVEY Alex			+0:00.0 (46)	+0:00.0 (14)	+0:00.0 (16)	+0:00.0 (44)	+0:00.0 (4)
MORILOV Nikolay			+0:00.0 (18)	+0:00.0 (6)	+0:00.0 (8)	+0:00.0 (8)	+0:00.0 (28)
JAUHOJAERVI Sami			+0:00.0 (10)		+0:00.0 (20)	+0:00.0 (5)	+0:00.0 (24)
LASSILA Kalle		+0:00.0 (18)	+0:00.0 (6)		+0:00.0 (39)	+0:00.0 (25)	+0:00.0 (10)
JAPAROV Dmitriy			+0:00.0 (4)	+0:00.0 (30)
PENTSINEN Anssi		+0:00.0 (11)	+0:00.0 (29)		+0:00.0 (14)	+0:00.0 (22)	+0:00.0 (27)
PETUKHOV Alexey		+0:00.0 (28)	+0:00.0 (7)	+0:00.0 (16)	+0:00.0 (22)	+0:00.0 (48)	+0:00.0 (25)
HAMILTON Simeon		+0:00.0 (41)	+0:00.0 (24)		+0:00.0 (7)	+0:00.0 (11)	+0:00.0 (33)
GAFAROV Anton		+0:00.0 (14)			+0:00.0 (27)	+0:00.0 (36)	+0:00.0 (11)
WENZL Josef		+0:00.0 (24)	+0:00.0 (22)	+0:00.0 (21)	+0:00.0 (12)		+0:00.0 (22)
KETELAE Toni		+0:00.0 (20)	+0:00.0 (14)		+0:00.0 (26)	+0:00.0 (14)
STRANDVALL Matias		+0:00.0 (21)	+0:00.0 (16)	+0:00.0 (27)	+0:00.0 (21)	+0:00.0 (27)	+0:00.0 (38)
PASINI Fabio		+0:00.0 (39)	+0:00.0 (50)	+0:00.0 (15)	+0:00.0 (34)	+0:00.0 (7)
ERIKSSON Jens		+0:00.0 (15)	+0:00.0 (26)			+0:00.0 (41)	+0:00.0 (16)
PETTERSEN Oeystein		+0:00.0 (67)	+0:00.0 (30)		+0:00.0 (54)	+0:00.0 (34)	+0:00.0 (6)
ROENNING Eldar		+0:00.0 (19)	+0:00.0 (21)	+0:00.0 (17)
DAHL John Kristian			+0:00.0 (17)	+0:00.0 (8)	+0:00.0 (53)	+0:00.0 (35)
DEVJATIAROV Mikhail Jun.		+0:00.0 (12)
EISENLAUER Sebastian		+0:00.0 (13)
SELLIS Siim			+0:00.0 (19)		+0:00.0 (60)	+0:00.0 (10)	+0:00.0 (43)
EDIN Johan		+0:00.0 (26)			+0:00.0 (28)	+0:00.0 (13)	+0:00.0 (29)
HALFVARSSON Calle			+0:00.0 (15)	+0:00.0 (42)	+0:00.0 (29)	+0:00.0 (23)	+0:00.0 (23)
KOSHEVOY Yevgeniy		+0:00.0 (16)
PERSSON Simon		+0:00.0 (51)			+0:00.0 (62)	+0:00.0 (9)
CLAUSEN Kent Ove					+0:00.0 (11)	+0:00.0 (26)	+0:00.0 (53)
RAZYM Ales		+0:00.0 (17)	+0:00.0 (43)
HELLNER Marcus			+0:00.0 (70)	+0:00.0 (10)		+0:00.0 (59)
MIYAZAWA Hiroyuki			+0:00.0 (36)	+0:00.0 (11)
KUMMEL Peeter		+0:00.0 (46)	+0:00.0 (28)				+0:00.0 (13)
GLOEERSEN Anders		+0:00.0 (43)		+0:00.0 (24)	+0:00.0 (50)	+0:00.0 (45)	+0:00.0 (15)
PELLEGRINO Federico		+0:00.0 (40)		+0:00.0 (20)	+0:00.0 (31)	+0:00.0 (20)
CHEBOTKO Nikolay			+0:00.0 (12)
BRYNTESSON Robin		+0:00.0 (56)				+0:00.0 (12)	+0:00.0 (34)
PAAKKONEN Lasse					+0:00.0 (24)	+0:00.0 (17)	+0:00.0 (42)
KERSHAW Devon			+0:00.0 (62)	+0:00.0 (19)	+0:00.0 (23)	+0:00.0 (51)	+0:00.0 (40)
MODIN Jesper					+0:00.0 (31)	+0:00.0 (24)	+0:00.0 (18)
WOLZ Alexander		+0:00.0 (22)
USACHEV Igor						+0:00.0 (31)	+0:00.0 (14)
EINASTE Kein		+0:00.0 (35)			+0:00.0 (25)	+0:00.0 (49)	+0:00.0 (20)
ONDA Yuichi					+0:00.0 (15)	+0:00.0 (33)
SCHNIDER Ueli		+0:00.0 (23)
LYKKJA Hans Petter					+0:00.0 (17)	+0:00.0 (30)
KJOELSTAD Johan							+0:00.0 (17)
STEEN Andreas Myran					+0:00.0 (18)
ROETHE Sjur			+0:00.0 (67)	+0:00.0 (18)
NORUM Robin					+0:00.0 (44)	+0:00.0 (18)
SAAREPUU Anti		+0:00.0 (36)	+0:00.0 (20)		+0:00.0 (30)	+0:00.0 (42)	+0:00.0 (52)
GOERING Franz		+0:00.0 (25)			+0:00.0 (69)	+0:00.0 (66)
TURYSHEV Sergey			+0:00.0 (61)	+0:00.0 (23)
SUN Qinghai			+0:00.0 (23)			+0:00.0 (64)
HAEKAEMIES Antti			+0:00.0 (25)			+0:00.0 (29)
DYRHAUG Niklas			+0:00.0 (111)	+0:00.0 (25)