Classic specialist Andrus Veerpalu blew away the entire World Cup field by 42.3 seconds in today's 15k classic. Frode Estil of Norway was the only skier to get inside the 45 second gap between Veerpalu and fellow Estonian Jaak Mae.
This was the first World Cup men's race in roughly three weeks, bringing some notable changes in the results. Axel Teichmann of Germany, who seemed nearly invincible up until today's race, finished a mere fifth in perhaps his strongest distance and discipline. Espen Harald Bjerke (Norway) had a notable performance, finishing fourth just ahead of Teichmann.
Teichmann still maintains a clear lead in the overall World Cup at 517 points, with Vincent Vittoz of France currently in second with 334.
No North American skiers participated. World Cup action continues in Otepaa with tomorrow's classic sprints.
Results — Otepaa World Cup Men's 15k Classic:
1 1088534 VEERPALU Andrus 1971 EST 37:17.1 0.00
2 1150517 ESTIL Frode 1972 NOR 37:59.4 15.13
3 1098137 MAE Jaak 1972 EST 38:02.5 16.24
4 1306493 BJERKE Espen Harald 1980 NOR 38:16.4 21.21
5 1221327 TEICHMANN Axel 1979 GER 38:25.6 24.50
6 1066224 FREDRIKSSON Mathias 1973 SWE 38:26.8 24.93
7 1100077 VITTOZ Vincent 1975 FRA 38:28.9 25.68
8 1059822 HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern 1971 NOR 38:32.0 26.78
9 1217350 BAUER Lukas 1977 CZE 38:35.5 28.04
10 1230930 SVARTEDAL Jens Arne 1976 NOR 38:36.0 28.22
11 1248293 SOEDERGREN Anders 1977 SWE 38:36.1 28.25
12 1033923 VALBUSA Fulvio 1969 ITA 38:39.0 29.29
13 1178162 ANGERER Tobias 1977 GER 38:45.0 31.43
14 1051092 SCHLUETTER Andreas 1972 GER 38:54.5 34.83
15 1285153 ROUSSELET Alexandre 1977 FRA 39:01.9 37.48
16 3390002 KOKK Kaspar 1982 EST 39:03.5 38.05
17 1101047 SOMMERFELDT Rene 1974 GER 39:19.0 43.59
18 1322498 NOVIKOV Serguei 1980 RUS 39:25.1 45.77
19 3480004 DEMENTIEV Eugeni 1983 RUS 39:27.2 46.52
20 1292331 SIMILAE Tero 1980 FIN 39:29.3 47.28
21 1046436 URAIN Gerhard 1972 AUT 39:30.2 47.60
22 3480007 PANKRATOV Nikolai 1982 RUS 39:31.2 47.95
23 1286608 PERRILLAT Christophe 1979 FRA 39:32.3 48.35
24 1374975 ROTCHEV Vassili 1980 RUS 39:37.5 50.21
25 1291458 NARUSK Priit 1977 EST 39:37.9 50.35
26 1283892 OLSSON Johan 1980 SWE 39:39.3 50.85
27 3420036 ROENNING Eldar 1982 NOR 39:39.6 50.96
28 1224140 SANTUS Fabio 1976 ITA 39:41.0 51.46
29 1224334 SARACCO Cristian 1976 ITA 39:42.7 52.07
30 1069910 KOCH Beat 1972 SUI 39:51.3 55.14
31 3200001 GOERING Franz 1984 GER 39:51.4 55.18
32 3420005 GAUSTAD Jon Anders 1980 NOR 39:53.9 56.07
33 3190002 CHAUVET Benoit 1981 FRA 39:55.0 56.47
34 1267790 STEBLER Christian 1981 SUI 40:04.0 59.68
35 1011516 ISOMETSAE Jari 1968 FIN 40:05.4 60.19
36 3480014 BULGAKOV Maxim 1983 RUS 40:07.3 60.86
37 1175155 MAGAL Jiri 1977 CZE 40:07.9 61.08
38 1278557 VILISSOV Vladimir 1976 RUS 40:08.1 61.15
39 3180000 OHTONEN Olli 1979 FIN 40:09.6 61.69
40 1177580 JONNIER Emmanuel 1975 FRA 40:11.9 62.51
41 1223849 CHECCHI Valerio 1980 ITA 40:15.8 63.90
42 1238787 HOEGBERG Anders 1976 SWE 40:17.6 64.55
43 1197950 AASMAE Meelis 1972 EST 40:19.5 65.23
44 1319200 LARSSON Mats 1980 SWE 40:22.0 66.12
45 3420011 KVEEN Stig Rune 1980 NOR 40:38.2 71.91
46 1095518 TAUBER Martin 1976 AUT 40:41.4 73.06
47 1248390 OESTBERG Fredrik 1979 SWE 40:45.0 74.35
48 1240339 IVANOV Mikhail 1977 RUS 40:49.7 76.03
49 1277393 LEYBYUK Roman 1977 UKR 41:00.3 79.82
50 1127237 MORKO Juha 1975 FIN 41:03.4 80.93
51 3480016 LEGKOV Alexander 1983 RUS 41:03.6 81.00
52 3420002 DAHL John Kristian 1981 NOR 41:15.4 85.22
53 1198241 ROONET Risto 1976 EST 41:39.6 93.87
54 1323468 REHEMAA Aivar 1982 EST 41:41.4 94.52
55 3390041 TALVES Priit 1986 EST 42:44.9 117.22
56 3390046 KALDVEE Martten 1986 EST 43:03.7 123.95
57 3390011 KALLAK Jaan 1981 EST 43:40.1 136.96
58 3550010 EIDUKS Valts 1986 LAT 44:07.5 146.76
59 3390033 EINASTE Kein 1985 EST 44:21.6 151.80
*Interestingly, today's podium looked identical to that of the Olympic 15k classic at Soldier Hollow in 2002, with time differences not too far off either.
