Need-to-Know Basics: Eighth Annual Tour de Ski
FasterSkierDecember 27, 2013
With the eighth-annual Tour de Ski starting 24 hours from 8 a.m. EST, we thought we’d give you a rundown of what’s happening when and who’s racing.
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Tour de Ski
The Tour de Ski is one of the premier events on the World Cup calendar. Featuring a grueling 7 events in 10 days, the Tour is the ultimate cross-country skiing stage race.
Over the course of a trying Tour de Ski Holly Brooks learned what it means to overextend herself, and after a recovery period plans to take a brief step back from the World Cup circuit to regain confidence in smaller races.
On Monday, the Canadians waved goodbye to their tour bus, one only rivaled by Petter Northug's on the Tour de Ski. B2ten founder Dominick Gauthier explains how they paid for all the "rock star" ride, and why it's been a staple for the team for three years.
BiathlonCanadian National Ski TeamContinental CupJuniorsNordic CombinedRacingTour de SkiUS NationalsUS Ski TeamWorld Cup
Weekly Roundup: Happy New Year!
Chelsea LittleJanuary 7, 2013
It's no exaggeration to say that this might have been the busiest week of the year to be a North American ski fan. With the Tour de Ski practically every day, U.S. Nationals, and some big NorAms used to determine junior and U23 trip rosters, plus biathlon and nordic combined, here are the highlights.
Noah Hoffman wrapped up his first Tour de Ski with a strong performance on the Final CLimb, placing 17th on the day. Kris Freeman, on the other hand, completed what he says will be his last Tour.
Legkov Conquers Climb, Cologna, and Takes First Russian Tour de Ski Victory
Chelsea LittleJanuary 6, 2013
Taking off near the bottom of the Alpe Cermis climb, Alexander Legkov managed to ski smoothly up the mountain and over the plateau at the top, claiming Russia's first Tour de Ski title. Dario Cologna held on for second, while Maxim Vylgzhanin kept a suffering Petter Northug off the podium.
While Kikkan Randall slipped from seventh to 12th in the overall Tour de Ski standings, she said she was happy with her final place - but mostly "psyched" to see teammate Liz Stephen on the podium for the day. Stephen's second-fastest time on the climb moved her to 15th. Jessie Diggins was 21st and Holly Brooks 38th.
With four women starting in the top top ten spots in the 10 k classic mass start, Norway seemed to have an opportunity - albeit a slim one - to steal at least some bonus seconds from Justyna Kowalczyk. But it was to no avail as the Polish star cruised to another victory and more or less sealed her Tour title. Kikkan Randall, meanwhile, is in seventh and hoping for a better climb than she's had before.
American Men Plug Away in 35 k Despite Obstacles; Newell Breaks Two Poles
Alex KochonJanuary 3, 2013
Kris Freeman and Noah Hoffman improved in the overall Tour de Ski standings, but neither were psyched about their results, considering Hoffman fell and Freeman's been fighting an uphill battle since he crashed in stage two. Andy Newell broke two poles and skied a total of about seven kilometers on broken ones, settling for 67th.
After Race-Morning Scare Led to Missing Suits and Bibs, Canadian Men Pack Top 30 at Tour de Ski
Audrey ManganJanuary 3, 2013
After getting locked out of their bus, the Canadians didn't have a great start to the day. But for the most part they turned things around. Alex Harvey led the way in 6th and Devon Kershaw placed 12th; Kershaw complimented Ivan Babikov (21st) for attacking hard on the 15 k climb, and Lenny Valjas (25th) for finishing his longest race in years - and doing so quite honorably.
Not This Tour, Dario: After Four Men Battle for 35 K, Northug Emerges to Win Finishing Sprint
Chelsea LittleJanuary 3, 2013
The days when Switzerland's Dario Cologna won Tour after Tour seemingly effortlessly have come to an end. Cologna still has a shot, but after Petter Northug of Norway defeated Cologna and Russians Alexander Legkov and Maxim Vylegzhanin in a sprint finish in stage four, he'll have to work a little harder. After today's showing Northug, meanwhile, is confident that the title is his.
Holly Brooks and Liz Stephen joined Kikkan Randall in her Tour de Ski quarterfinal, which gave the U.S. star a boost; both Stephen and Brooks had career-best sprint days, placing 18th and 25th. Jessie Diggins was 17th and Andy Newell ninth, which moved him up to fourth in the World Cup sprint standings - all in all a good day for the American team.
Weekly Roundup: Crazy Days in Germany
FasterSkierDecember 31, 2012
Domestic racing was on hold because of holidays and the looming U.S. Nationals, but the Tour de Ski kicked off in Germany, which also hosted a strange and exciting team biathlon event in a soccer stadium. American junior biathletes also vied for spots at World Youth and Junior Championships.
Thus Far, Tour Success is a Tough Act to Follow
Nathaniel HerzDecember 31, 2012
Want to win a race at World Championships or the Olympics? Then you might want to stay away from the top step of the Tour de Ski podium.
Notes and Quotes: Oberhof Edition
Audrey ManganDecember 31, 2012
While we wait for Tour de Ski action to continue, here are a few more bits and pieces from the prologue and pursuit that took place over the weekend.
They entered the Tour with high ambitions and a fair amount of confidence, but on the whole the first two stages of the Tour de Ski in Oberhof, Germany, have not gone as planned for Kris Freeman, Noah Hoffman and Andy Newell. Freeman crashed in the pursuit after a promising prologue and leads the Americans in 58th.
Alex Harvey topped his performance from Saturday and notched fifth in Sunday's pursuit, putting him in fighting position through two stages in the Tour de Ski. Ivan Babikov also made the top 20 for Canada, rising to 19th.
U.S. Women Kick Off Strong Tour in Oberhof; Three in the Top 30 After Pursuit
Audrey ManganDecember 30, 2012
After the 9 k classic pursuit stage of the Tour de Ski, three American women sit in the top 30 of the overall standings. Kikkan Randall, following an impressive win in the prologue, leads the way in 14th, 1:48.3 seconds behind Tour leader Justyna Kowalczyk. Liz Stephen ranks 23rd and Holly Brooks sits just behind her in 25th. Jessie Diggins moved up 12 places to reach 50th at the end of the pursuit.
Three Russians worked together to swallow Sunday's pursuit leader, Petter Northug, in the second stage of the Tour de Ski. Maxim Vylegzhanin and Alexander Legkov held the pace and secured a 1-2 finish while Northug settled for third.
Commanding Pursuit Victory Puts Kowalczyk in Tour Lead
Audrey ManganDecember 30, 2012
It didn't take long for the three-time defending Tour de Ski champion to remind everyone how dominant she can be. Starting from the third position, nearly 15 seconds down to prologue winner Kikkan Randall, Justyna Kowalczyk swallowed that deficit by the third kilometer of the 9 k classic pursuit and went on to win by over 40 seconds.