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

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

Key moments

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

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

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

• Official results from FIS

GPS analysis

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

Fight for victory: Sundby versus Jespersen

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

Fight for second spot: Northug versus Jespersen

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

Fight for second spot: Duerr versus Jespersen

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

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Northug

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

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Chernousov

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

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Legkov

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

Fight for third spot: Duerr versus Røthe

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

Fight for 4th spot: Røthe versus Northug

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

Climb times (only last hill, unofficial from live timing)

1.	16:46		Johannes DUERR	AUT
2.	17:31	+00:45	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
3.	17:32	+00:47	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
4.	17:36	+00:50	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
5.	17:40	+00:54	Martin JAKS	CZE
6.	17:41	+00:56	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
7.	17:41	+00:56	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
8.	17:48	+01:02	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
9.	17:50	+01:04	Jean Marc GAILLARD	FRA
10.	17:55	+01:10	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
11.	17:57	+01:11	Thomas MORIGGL	ITA
12.	17:59	+01:13	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
16.	18:08	+01:22	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
37.	18:54	+02:09	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR

Alpe Cermis stage times (unofficial results from live timing)

1.	31:55		Johannes DUERR	AUT
2.	31:59	+00:04	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
3.	32:05	+00:11	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
4.	32:14	+00:19	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
5.	32:14	+00:20	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
6.	32:18	+00:24	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
7.	32:22	+00:28	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
8.	32:26	+00:32	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
9.	32:27	+00:32	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
10.	32:32	+00:38	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
11.	32:36	+00:41	Jean Marc GAILLARD	FRA
12.	32:43	+00:49	Thomas MORIGGL	ITA
13.	32:44	+00:50	Martin JAKS	CZE
14.	32:48	+00:53	Martin BAJCICAK	SVK
15.	32:50	+00:55	Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY	NOR
16.	32:52	+00:57	Jiri MAGAL	CZE
17.	33:02	+01:07	Michail SEMENOV	BLR
18.	33:02	+01:08	Alexander LEGKOV	RUS
19.	33:06	+01:12	Sergei DOLIDOVICH	BLR
20.	33:11	+01:16	Jonas DOBLER	GER
21.	33:12	+01:17	Petr SEDOV	RUS
22.	33:12	+01:18	Lari LEHTONEN	FIN
23.	33:13	+01:18	Didrik TOENSETH	NOR
24.	33:13	+01:18	Ivan PERRILLAT BOITEUX	FRA
25.	33:16	+01:22	Ville NOUSIAINEN	FIN
26.	33:25	+01:30	Alexander LASUTKIN	BLR
27.	33:25	+01:30	Noah HOFFMAN	USA
28.	33:26	+01:32	Andy KUEHNE	GER
29.	33:30	+01:36	Konstantin GLAVATSKIKH	RUS
30.	33:35	+01:41	Hannes DOTZLER	GER
31.	33:40	+01:46	Ilia CHERNOUSOV	RUS
32.	33:41	+01:47	Andrey LARKOV	RUS
33.	33:47	+01:52	Martin JOHANSSON	SWE
34.	33:47	+01:53	Jens FILBRICH	GER
35.	33:49	+01:54	Toni LIVERS	SUI

Split 1

1.	04:04		Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
2.	04:06	+00:02	Alexander LEGKOV	RUS
3.	04:06	+00:02	Jean Marc GAILLARD	FRA
4.	04:08	+00:04	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
5.	04:08	+00:04	Ilia CHERNOUSOV	RUS
6.	04:08	+00:04	Jonas DOBLER	GER
7.	04:08	+00:05	Calle HALFVARSSON	SWE
8.	04:09	+00:05	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
9.	04:10	+00:06	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
10.	04:10	+00:06	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
11.	04:10	+00:06	Daniel RICHARDSSON	SWE
13.	04:12	+00:08	Johannes DUERR	AUT
15.	04:12	+00:08	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
17.	04:13	+00:09	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR
18.	04:13	+00:09	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
19.	04:13	+00:10	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
26.	04:18	+00:14	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN

Split 2

1.	04:28		Thomas BING	GER
2.	04:29	+00:01	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
3.	04:30	+00:02	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
4.	04:32	+00:04	Michail SEMENOV	BLR
5.	04:33	+00:05	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
6.	04:33	+00:06	Jiri MAGAL	CZE
7.	04:34	+00:07	Martin BAJCICAK	SVK
8.	04:35	+00:07	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
9.	04:36	+00:08	Jonas BAUMANN	SUI
10.	04:36	+00:08	Jonas DOBLER	GER
11.	04:36	+00:08	Karel TAMMJARV	EST
17.	04:37	+00:10	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
20.	04:38	+00:10	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
25.	04:41	+00:13	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
28.	04:42	+00:15	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
31.	04:45	+00:17	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
41.	04:49	+00:21	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR
49.	04:54	+00:27	Johannes DUERR	AUT

Split 3

1.	05:33		Thomas BING	GER
2.	05:34	+00:01	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
3.	05:36	+00:03	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
4.	05:40	+00:07	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
5.	05:40	+00:08	Gustav ERIKSSON	SWE
6.	05:40	+00:08	Martin BAJCICAK	SVK
7.	05:41	+00:08	Thomas MORIGGL	ITA
8.	05:41	+00:08	Ivan PERRILLAT BOITEUX	FRA
9.	05:41	+00:08	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
10.	05:42	+00:09	Jonas BAUMANN	SUI
11.	05:42	+00:09	Carl QUICKLUND	SWE
23.	05:48	+00:15	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
24.	05:48	+00:16	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
28.	05:50	+00:17	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
29.	05:50	+00:17	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
38.	05:55	+00:22	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR
41.	05:57	+00:24	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
48.	06:03	+00:30	Johannes DUERR	AUT

Split 4

1.	02:49		Johannes DUERR	AUT
2.	02:49	+00:01	Ilia CHERNOUSOV	RUS
3.	02:53	+00:04	Alexander LEGKOV	RUS
4.	02:53	+00:04	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
5.	02:56	+00:07	Thomas MORIGGL	ITA
6.	02:57	+00:08	Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY	NOR
7.	02:58	+00:09	Ivan PERRILLAT BOITEUX	FRA
8.	02:58	+00:09	Jiri MAGAL	CZE
9.	02:58	+00:10	Martin BAJCICAK	SVK
10.	02:58	+00:10	Michail SEMENOV	BLR
11.	02:59	+00:10	Andrey LARKOV	RUS
12.	02:59	+00:10	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
13.	02:59	+00:10	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
15.	03:00	+00:11	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
16.	03:00	+00:11	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR
17.	03:01	+00:12	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
21.	03:02	+00:13	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
22.	03:02	+00:14	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
28.	03:03	+00:14	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
30.	03:04	+00:15	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN

Split 5

1.	05:29		Johannes DUERR	AUT
2.	05:38	+00:09	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
3.	05:38	+00:09	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
4.	05:43	+00:14	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
5.	05:44	+00:15	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
6.	05:46	+00:17	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
7.	05:46	+00:17	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
8.	05:47	+00:18	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
9.	05:48	+00:19	Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY	NOR
10.	05:50	+00:22	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
11.	05:51	+00:22	Alexander UTKIN	RUS
19.	05:56	+00:28	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
31.	06:06	+00:37	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR

Split 6

1.	04:27		Johannes DUERR	AUT
2.	04:38	+00:11	Martin JAKS	CZE
3.	04:40	+00:13	Jean Marc GAILLARD	FRA
4.	04:44	+00:16	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
5.	04:44	+00:17	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
6.	04:44	+00:17	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
7.	04:47	+00:20	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
8.	04:49	+00:22	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
9.	04:49	+00:22	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
10.	04:51	+00:24	Ville NOUSIAINEN	FIN
11.	04:52	+00:25	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
15.	04:55	+00:28	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
24.	05:03	+00:36	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
28.	05:05	+00:38	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR

Split 7

1.	04:01		Johannes DUERR	AUT
2.	04:02	+00:01	Martin JAKS	CZE
3.	04:03	+00:02	Tord Asle GJERDALEN	NOR
4.	04:06	+00:05	Ivan BABIKOV	CAN
5.	04:07	+00:06	Jean Marc GAILLARD	FRA
6.	04:08	+00:07	Thomas MORIGGL	ITA
7.	04:08	+00:07	Ville NOUSIAINEN	FIN
8.	04:09	+00:08	Chris JESPERSEN	NOR
9.	04:10	+00:09	Andrew MUSGRAVE	GBR
10.	04:11	+00:10	Didrik TOENSETH	NOR
11.	04:11	+00:10	Niklas DYRHAUG	NOR
12.	04:11	+00:10	Giorgio DI CENTA	ITA
14.	04:13	+00:12	Sjur ROETHE	NOR
15.	04:15	+00:14	Sami JAUHOJAERVI	FIN
19.	04:17	+00:16	Robin DUVILLARD	FRA
43.	04:43	+00:42	Petter jr. NORTHUG	NOR