The Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear continued today in Val di Fiemme (ITA) in snowy conditions. In today’s 7th Stage, a mass start race over 20km in the classical technique, Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (NOR) edged his teammate Jens Arne Svartedal in a photo finish (both same time). Franz Goering of Germany finished 3rd, just 3.2 seconds back.
Lukas Bauer (CZE), the leader of the Tour Overall Standings and wearer of the Tour leader’s golden bib, finished 7th in today’s Stage, 7.5 seconds behind the winner. But Bauer collected a total of 45 bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint points along the course. Tord Asle Gjerdalen (NOR) remains 2nd in the Tour Overall Standings, 1.49.8 behind Bauer. He finished 4th today, and won a total of 10 bonus seconds.
Pietro Piller Cottrer of Italy delivered a strong performance, and finished 11th just 11.0 seconds behind. Counting the 10 bonus seconds on the day, Piller Cottrer will start 2.23,7 behind Bauer in tomorrow’s final Tour Stage, the Final Climb.
Altogether nine athletes managed to collect bonus seconds during the race. The bonus seconds were awarded at the stadium after each 3.3 km lap and at the finish (15 sec, 10 sec and 5 sec each time).