VIESSMANN FIS World Cup Cross-Country in Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic), Men 15 km Free style Individual, 31.12.2005
First victory in this season for Vittoz
Vincent Vittoz is the winner of the free style World Cup Competition Cross-Country in Nove Mesto na Morave. It was the first World Cup victory in this season for the 30-year-old Vittoz. The athlete from France finished the tough 3 x 5 km course just 8,5 seconds ahead of Lukas Bauer (CZE). The Austrian Christian Hoffmann took the third place, 36,4 seconds behind the winner.
Tobias Angerer, the leader of the overall World Cup and the Distance World Cup, finished the competition on the 35th place. For Bauer and Hoffmann it were the first podium place this year.
Spectators: 25.000
Weather: cloudy, -7°C
Snow conditions: packed powder
Quotes of the top three athletes:
Vincent Vittoz: “It was a great race today and I'm satisfied about my victory. In Canada I had problems with my back but thanks to my doctors I have no ache anymore. The tracks here a tough but for me quite good. Now I will go back to France today and will spend the New Year's Eve together with my girlfriend and some friends.”
Lukas Bauer: “I felt really strong on this race. During the last time I had some health problems but now I'm in a good shape. The spectators on the track were really helpful and pushed me. For me it was an advantage that I could run together with Christian Hoffmann. I thought that he was waiting for me to work together on the last kilometres. ”
Christian Hoffmann:”I'm really satisfied about my first podium place this season. Nove Mesto is a quite good place for me because I was the last three time here on the podium (2003: second; and 2005: second). I like this place, the tracks and the spectators. In this competition I started slow and than Lukas Bauer came and we worked together on the last kilometres. For my preparation to the Olympic Games I will compete in Val di Fiemme and than I will take part on a training camp in high altitude. ”
Results: www.fis-ski.com
