Today, Italian teammates Pietro Piller Cottrer and Fulvio Valbusa out-skied every world-class athlete who started the 15km skate race at the World Championships in Oberstdorf.
Norwegian biathlete Lars Berger had taken the lead early on in the individual start “race against the clock.” Berger's time was good enough to hold off some of the favorites such as Vincent Vittoz, Axel Teichmann, and Lukas Bauer. However Piller Cottrer and Valbusa attacked the tough climbs with fast tempos that nobody else could match. Valbusa finished 11.2 seconds behind Piller Cottrer's winning time of 34:49.7.
Lars Berger ended up with a strong 4th place result. However this was not the top Norwegian performance of the day; the young Norwegian Tore Ruud Hofstad won the second individual World Championship medal of his career, taking third behind Valbusa. Hofstad won silver two years ago in the pursuit at the Val di Fiemme World Championships, where Piller Cottrer and Valbusa had somewhat dissapointing performances on home turf.
Two of the pre-race favorites, Vincent Vittoz and Axel Teichmann finished 6th and 7th, respectively.
The fastest North American in the men's race today was Andrew Johnson of the U.S. Ski Team. Johnson finished 46th, less than 20 seconds outside the top thirty. The top Canadian was Chris Jeffries in 56th, just ahead of Lars Flora (U.S. – 57th.) Other North American results: Dan Roycroft (Canada – 64th), Gordon Jewett (Canada – 69th), James Southam (U.S. – 70th), and Drew Goldsack (Canada – 77th). Australian skiers Ben Derrick, Ben Sim, and Andrew Mock finished 80th, 81st, and 84th respectively in a field of 122 racers.
The American team has been battling sickness. Reports out of Oberstdorf are that Kris Freeman and Carl Swenson both are trying to recover from flu-like symptoms, while Head Coach Trond Nystad is als sick.
The snow conditions were excellent today on a course that many described as one of the hardest they'd ever seen.
The next race at the World Championships will be the women's double pursuit on Saturday, with the men's pursuit following on Sunday.
| 1 |
108 |
Piller Cottrer Pietro |
ITA |
34:49.7 |
0.0 |
| 2 |
120 |
Valbusa Fulvio |
ITA |
35:00.9 |
+11.2 |
| 3 |
109 |
Hofstad Tore Ruud |
NOR |
35:03.9 |
+14.2 |
| 4 |
63 |
Berger Lars |
NOR |
35:06.6 |
+16.9 |
| 5 |
113 |
Bauer Lukas |
CZE |
35:08.3 |
+18.6 |
| 6 |
117 |
Vittoz Vincent |
FRA |
35:08.7 |
+19.0 |
| 7 |
118 |
Teichmann Axel |
GER |
35:16.2 |
+26.5 |
| 8 |
107 |
Filbrich Jens |
GER |
35:25.8 |
+36.1 |
| 9 |
74 |
Kattilakoski Teemu |
FIN |
35:28.3 |
+38.6 |
| 10 |
119 |
Bajcicak Martin |
SVK |
35:29.4 |
+39.7 |
| 11 |
91 |
Bjoerndalen Ole Einar |
NOR |
35:30.6 |
+40.9 |
| 12 |
93 |
Bolchakov Nikolaj |
RUS |
35:42.3 |
+52.6 |
| 13 |
89 |
Goering Franz |
GER |
35:42.7 |
+53.0 |
| 14 |
111 |
Di Centa Giorgio |
ITA |
35:42.9 |
+53.2 |
| 15 |
105 |
Soedergren Anders |
SWE |
35:47.9 |
+58.2 |
| 16 |
88 |
Fischer Remo |
SUI |
35:48.8 |
+59.1 |
| 17 |
95 |
Zorzi Cristian |
ITA |
35:54.8 |
+1:05.1 |
| 18 |
106 |
Magal Jiri |
CZE |
35:55.4 |
+1:05.7 |
| 19 |
114 |
Angerer Tobias |
GER |
35:55.5 |
+1:05.8 |
| 20 |
77 |
Jonnier Emmanuel |
FRA |
35:59.6 |
+1:09.9 |
| 21 |
45 |
Livers Toni |
SUI |
36:02.2 |
+1:12.5 |
| 22 |
115 |
Rotchev Vassili |
RUS |
36:08.2 |
+1:18.5 |
| 23 |
121 |
Dementiev Evgenji |
RUS |
36:09.3 |
+1:19.6 |
| 24 |
83 |
Odnodvortsev Maxim |
KAZ |
36:09.5 |
+1:19.8 |
| 25 |
58 |
Rousselet Alexandre |
FRA |
36:13.4 |
+1:23.7 |
| 26 |
79 |
Hasler Markus |
LIE |
36:15.7 |
+1:26.0 |
| 27 |
51 |
Vilarrubla Vicente |
SPA |
36:17.8 |
+1:28.1 |
| 28 |
44 |
Ohtonen Olli |
FIN |
36:27.6 |
+1:37.9 |
| 29 |
50 |
Andresen Jan Egil |
NOR |
36:28.2 |
+1:38.5 |
| 30 |
49 |
Eder Johannes |
AUT |
36:29.0 |
+1:39.3 |
| 31 |
68 |
Urain Gerhard |
AUT |
36:31.8 |
+1:42.1 |
| 32 |
76 |
Lallukka Juha |
FIN |
36:32.9 |
+1:43.2 |
| 33 |
97 |
Leybyuk Roman |
UKR |
36:33.3 |
+1:43.6 |
| 34 |
112 |
Sommerfeldt Rene |
GER |
36:33.4 |
+1:43.7 |
| 35 |
84 |
Chebotko Nikolay |
KAZ |
36:34.1 |
+1:44.4 |
| 36 |
75 |
Dolidowitsch Sergei |
BLR |
36:36.0 |
+1:46.3 |
| 37 |
100 |
Gutierrez Juan J. |
SPA |
36:37.5 |
+1:47.8 |
| 38 |
82 |
Lasutkin Alexander |
BLR |
36:38.7 |
+1:49.0 |
| 38 |
116 |
Fredriksson Mathias |
SWE |
36:38.7 |
+1:49.0 |
| 40 |
54 |
Kreczmer Maciej |
POL |
36:40.3 |
+1:50.6 |
| 41 |
62 |
Michl Petr |
CZE |
36:43.9 |
+1:54.2 |
| 42 |
87 |
Diethard Roland |
AUT |
36:44.1 |
+1:54.4 |
| 43 |
98 |
Bundi Gion Andrea |
SUI |
36:45.5 |
+1:55.8 |
| 44 |
71 |
Vorobiev Denis |
BLR |
36:47.8 |
+1:58.1 |
| 45 |
59 |
Jauhojaervi Sami |
FIN |
36:48.0 |
+1:58.3 |
| 46 |
94 |
Johnson Andrew |
USA |
36:48.9 |
+1:59.2 |
| 47 |
92 |
Olsson Johan |
SWE |
36:49.5 |
+1:59.8 |
| 48 |
73 |
Ruiz Diego |
SPA |
36:57.9 |
+2:08.2 |
| 49 |
66 |
Legkov Alexander |
RUS |
36:59.7 |
+2:10.0 |
| 50 |
53 |
Eremenko Dimirij |
KAZ |
37:09.5 |
+2:19.8 |
| 51 |
52 |
Chauvet Benoit |
FRA |
37:11.6 |
+2:21.9 |
| 52 |
61 |
Stebler Christian |
SUI |
37:13.1 |
+2:23.4 |
| 53 |
101 |
Koukal Martin |
CZE |
37:15.1 |
+2:25.4 |
| 54 |
99 |
Brodar Nejc |
SLO |
37:28.0 |
+2:38.3 |
| 55 |
42 |
Putsko Olexandr |
UKR |
37:32.7 |
+2:43.0 |
| 56 |
81 |
Jefferies Chris |
CAN |
37:35.8 |
+2:46.1 |
| 57 |
40 |
Flora Lars |
USA |
37:39.8 |
+2:50.1 |
| 58 |
55 |
Golovko Andrei |
KAZ |
37:48.1 |
+2:58.4 |
| 59 |
90 |
Antal Zsolt |
ROM |
37:53.6 |
+3:03.9 |
| 60 |
85 |
Gumenyak Mikhail |
UKR |
37:54.5 |
+3:04.8 |
| 61 |
80 |
Malak Michal |
SVK |
37:56.5 |
+3:06.8 |
| 62 |
86 |
Kanamaru Tomio |
JPN |
37:59.1 |
+3:09.4 |
| 63 |
70 |
Larsson Mats |
SWE |
38:05.1 |
+3:15.4 |
| 64 |
104 |
Roycroft Dan |
CAN |
38:05.2 |
+3:15.5 |
| 65 |
65 |
Moeller Martin Troels |
DAN |
38:07.5 |
+3:17.8 |
| 65 |
103 |
Kokk Kaspar |
EST |
38:07.5 |
+3:17.8 |
| 67 |
57 |
Saito Ryo |
JPN |
38:20.3 |
+3:30.6 |
| 68 |
47 |
Ivanov Aleksey |
BLR |
38:26.2 |
+3:36.5 |
| 69 |
64 |
Jewett Gordon |
CAN |
38:29.2 |
+3:39.5 |
| 70 |
56 |
Southam James |
USA |
38:34.1 |
+3:44.4 |
| 71 |
22 |
Ye Tian |
CHN |
38:41.8 |
+3:52.1 |
| 72 |
30 |
Geliang Li |
CHN |
38:45.4 |
+3:55.7 |
| 73 |
60 |
Martsyv Vitaly |
UKR |
38:53.7 |
+4:04.0 |
| 74 |
102 |
Krezelok Janusz |
POL |
38:59.8 |
+4:10.1 |
| 75 |
35 |
Spalvins Intars |
LAT |
39:06.5 |
+4:16.8 |
| 76 |
78 |
Novoselki Aleksei |
LTU |
39:21.5 |
+4:31.8 |
| 77 |
48 |
Goldsack Drew |
CAN |
39:21.9 |
+4:32.2 |
| 78 |
2 |
Olsen Jonas |
DAN |
39:25.8 |
+4:36.1 |
| 79 |
69 |
Eui-Myung Jung |
KOR |
39:32.1 |
+4:42.4 |
| 80 |
96 |
Derrick Ben |
AUS |
39:34.7 |
+4:45.0 |
| 81 |
67 |
Sim Ben |
AUS |
39:46.8 |
+4:57.1 |
| 82 |
8 |
Dawei Han |
CHN |
39:46.9 |
+4:57.2 |
| 83 |
43 |
Mock Andrew |
AUS |
39:54.3 |
+5:04.6 |
| 84 |
72 |
Benka-Rybar Ondrej |
SVK |
40:12.1 |
+5:22.4 |
| 85 |
21 |
Bariakov Ivan |
BUL |
40:14.3 |
+5:24.6 |
| 86 |
36 |
Veselin Tzinzov |
BUL |
40:18.4 |
+5:28.7 |
| 87 |
46 |
Oglago Sebahattin |
TUR |
40:19.3 |
+5:29.6 |
| 88 |
25 |
Zhiguang Li |
CHN |
40:24.2 |
+5:34.5 |
| 89 |
5 |
Galiteanu Mihai |
ROM |
40:29.2 |
+5:39.5 |
| 90 |
14 |
Tagscherer Zoltan |
HUN |
40:38.5 |
+5:48.8 |
| 91 |
3 |
Kirilarslan Muhammet |
TUR |
40:43.0 |
+5:53.3 |
| 92 |
20 |
Eiduks Valts |
LAT |
40:44.5 |
+5:54.8 |
| 93 |
15 |
Jurcevic Damir |
CRO |
40:45.3 |
+5:55.6 |
| 94 |
37 |
Soerensen Sebastian |
DAN |
40:50.0 |
+6:00.3 |
| 95 |
10 |
Milenkovic Aleksander |
SCG |
40:57.1 |
+6:07.4 |
| 96 |
29 |
Sukaruks Janis |
LAT |
41:05.6 |
+6:15.9 |
| 97 |
19 |
Kraas Oliver |
RSA |
41:14.7 |
+6:25.0 |
| 98 |
11 |
Klobucar Denis |
CRO |
41:17.3 |
+6:27.6 |
| 99 |
18 |
Jakobsson Jakob |
ISL |
41:22.2 |
+6:32.5 |
| 100 |
26 |
Kuzmin Daniel |
ISR |
41:36.8 |
+6:47.1 |
| 101 |
41 |
Murray Paul |
AUS |
41:54.4 |
+7:04.7 |
| 102 |
34 |
Tupytzin Vladimir |
ISR |
42:04.6 |
+7:14.9 |
| 103 |
32 |
Yildirim Erkan |
TUR |
42:09.9 |
+7:20.2 |
| 104 |
39 |
Oglago Burhan |
TUR |
42:11.0 |
+7:21.3 |
| 105 |
12 |
Langer Thorsten |
BEL |
42:40.5 |
+7:50.8 |
| 106 |
16 |
Khachatryan Edmond |
ARM |
42:53.3 |
+8:03.6 |
| 107 |
28 |
Icoski Gjoko |
MKD |
43:31.2 |
+8:41.5 |
| 108 |
38 |
Sargsyan Hovhannes |
ARM |
43:36.6 |
+8:46.9 |
| 109 |
24 |
Langer Stephan |
BEL |
43:58.0 |
+9:08.3 |
| 110 |
27 |
Bentouni Noureddine |
ALG |
44:23.3 |
+9:33.6 |
| 111 |
31 |
Eason Alan |
GBR |
44:23.5 |
+9:33.8 |
| 112 |
17 |
Khah-Erdene Khurebaatar |
MGL |
45:33.8 |
+10:44.1 |
| 113 |
4 |
Bianchi Martin |
ARG |
46:00.2 |
+11:10.5 |
| 114 |
23 |
Spaseski Ile |
MKD |
46:03.3 |
+11:13.6 |
| 115 |
1 |
Jovanoski Borce |
MKD |
46:28.1 |
+11:38.4 |
| 116 |
7 |
ILIESKI Igor |
MKD |
46:29.2 |
+11:39.5 |
| 117 |
6 |
Rastic Damir |
SCG |
46:46.3 |
+11:56.6 |
| 118 |
13 |
Morrish Rory |
IRL |
51:41.7 |
+16:52.0 |
| 119 |
130 |
Ibaline Lhoucine |
MAR |
53:23.1 |
+18:33.4 |
| 120 |
33 |
Silva Danny |
POR |
54:22.2 |
+19:32.5 |
| 121 |
9 |
Freitas Helio |
BRA |
57:29.1 |
+22:39.4 |
| 122 |
125 |
Aitboubella Brahim |
MAR |
58:22.8 |
+23:33.1 |
| DNS |
110 |
Hoffmann Christian |
AUT |
|
|
