-Fredrik has taught us that it is possible to win, even if one comes from Switzerland, says TOur leader Dario Cologna… –This is a big deal in every way! Fredrik Aukland has a smile that goes almost all the way around. He has been congratulated by every other person at the ski stadium in Oberhof, he runs to TV interviews speaking German, and for once an astonished Petter Northug can go right past the Norwegian...
Devon Kershaw (CAN) qualified in 5th and Sara Renner (CAN) in 20th to advance the heats in Tour de Ski sprint action this morning in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. Dario Cologna (SUI), the overall leader of the men’s Tour posted the fastest qualifying time in the 1.2km freestyle event. Magda Genuin (ITA) led the women’s field. Axel Teichmann (GER) who currently is second overall qualified in 21st. This is extremely important to Teichmann. He failed...
Today’s Stage was one of the key Stages of this third Tour de Ski. Beyond the fight for a Stage victory, it was particularly important not to lose too much time in the overall standing. This individual event was also an opportunity for the best specialists of the classic style to lay down their best game. Not only Teichmann and Kuitunen but also all other classic style specialists did not miss this opportunity. Tonight we...
A nice interval start competition in Nove Mesto gave us new excitement for the overall fight. Axel Teichmann is definitely back again after a small mistake in the sprint in the streets of Prague. In tomorrow’s sprint course in the forest outside of Nove Mesto I think he will make it to the finals and on Saturday there are 45 bonus seconds to fight for in the 20 km mass start event. But with only...
Devon Kershaw gives a play-by-play accounting of the first Tour de Ski sprint in Prague. Devon qualified in 1st, but was knocked out in the quarterfinals when he fell on a corner. It is interesting to get the behind-the-scenes scoop, and the honest evaluation of the race. 1.2km City Sprint (2 laps of 600m) – Prague, Czech Republic (December 29th) After the long(ish) drive and a short(ish) sleep I awoke in Prague still feeling fresh...
Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) skied to a dominating victory in the Women’s 9km Individual Start Classic Race in Nove Mesto this morning. Kuitunen held a 12 second lead by 3.4 kilometers, and went on to win by 37.6 seconds over teammate Aino-Kaisa Saarinen. Marit Bjoergen was third, 12.3 seconds in back of Saarinen. “This was a good day for me, it is not often when you can have a day like this. It was pure joy...
Axel Teichmann (GER) won the 15km Individual Start Classic Race in Nove Mesto. The tall German edged out Norweigan Martin Johnsrud Sundby by 5 seconds on the five lap, three kilometer course. Nikolay Chebotko (KAZ) took third, his first-ever World Cup podium result. Teichmann skied hi typical race, starting slowly and accelerating as the kilometers passed. At the first checkpoint at 3.4km, he was back in 27th. By the halfway mark he was 12th, and...
Tor Arne Hetland (NOR) won the Tour de Ski Freestyle Sprint in Prague, Czech Republic. Hetland bested Vassili Rotchev (RUS) and Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA) to take the victory and claim an addition 60 bonus seconds. In the Tour de Ski sprint competitions, bonus seconds are awarded to the top 30 finishers on a scale with first receiving 60 down to 1 second for 30th. Hetland was pleased with his race, but has no illusions...
Arianna Follis (ITA) was a winner in everything today, qualifying 1st in the Women’s Freestyle Sprint in Prague and going on to win the event and take over the overall Tour de Ski lead. Follis beat out Aino-Kais Saarien (FIN) and Petra Majdic (SLO) to win the 1.3km sprint. She onw holds an 8 second lead over Saarinen in the overall standings. Marit Bjoergen (NOR) won the B-Final to finish 7th. She is in third...
Devon Kershaw (CAN) posted the fastest qualification time in the Tour de Ski sprint in Prague. Kersahw beat out Russian Vassili Rotchev by .61 seconds. Overall Tour leader Dario Cologna (SUI) qualified in 5th, while Axel Teichmann (GER) who started the day just behind Cologna in the overall standings, failed to make the heats, finiahing 35th. Because bonus seconds are awarded to the top-30 in all Tour sprint races, this could hurt Teichmann’s chances. George...
Dario Cologna (SUI) took over the lead of the FIS Tour de Ski with a strong performance in the 15km classic pursuit start in Oberhof, Germany. Devon Kershaw (CAN) moved up from 5th to 3rd, gaining his first World Cup podium finish in a distance race. Axel Teichmann (GER) held a 13.2 second lead after the prologue, but Cologna moved up quickly, catching the tall German by before the 5 kilometer mark and was able...
Defending World Cup Champion Virpi Kuitunen (FIN), and last year’s Tour de Ski runner-up, edged Norweigan Marit Bjoergen in the Women’s 10km Classic Pursuit in Oberhof, Germany. Kuitunen started in 7th place, 24 seconds behind Claudia Nystad (GER) who slipped to 16th. The Finnish star raced in a pack with her teammates Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and Pirjo Muranen, as well as Bjoergen. The group quickly closed on the leaders, setting up Kuitunen’s strong charge to the...
This article was translated and adapted from Aftenposten.no –
OBERHOF, Germany – For the second time in as many days, Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) finished second in his incredible comeback to World Cup nordic combined competition Sunday in Oberhof. Lodwick led an historic finish with three Americans in the top 10. “We’re happy and we’re vindicated,” Nordic Combined Coach Chris Gilbertson said. “The jumping is getting better and it’s nice to know that the confidence for those guys is there.” The last time...
OBERHOF, Germany (Dec. 27) – In an incredible return to the World Cup, Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) took second place Saturday in Oberhof as he competed in his first World Cup in three years. Fellow U.S. athlete Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) was fifth. “Let’s just say it was a fairytale. It’s hard not to be happy. This has been a long road back in a short amount of time. I have never trained so...
Axel Teachmann skated to a convincing victory in the opening stage of the 2008-2009 FIS Tour de Ski. The German star covered the 3.3km course in Oberhof, Germany in 7:11.8, a significant 8.2 seconds ahead of Dario Cologna (SUI). Teichmann, a former World Cup Champion, started slowly, as is often the case, sitting in 14th at 1.3 kilometers, 3.3 seconds behind Cologna. “I felt very comfortable today, I pushed it hard in the beginning,”...
Veteran Claudia Nystad (GER) won the Women’s 2.8km Freestyle Prologue to kick off the third FIS Tour de Ski. Nystad, a two-time Olympian and holder of three Olympic medals, edged out Italy’s Arianna Follis by 1.1 seconds on a foggy day in Oberhof, Germany. She trailed Follis by 1.4 seconds at the intermediate time check at 1.3 kilometers, but finished strong to claim the victory. The 30-year old German was sixth in last year’s Tour...
RAMSAU, Austria (Dec. 21) – The U.S. Ski Team’s Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) marked another day of success in Ramsau, finishing second in a World Cup nordic combined event Sunday. Demong won Saturday’s competition and has moved up into third place in the World Cup standings. “It was a lot of fun fighting for the victory again and finishing second was a good way to finish it off,” Demong said. “It was a pretty exciting...
Both the individual and team sprint races from this past weekend are now available for viewing form Universal Sports. This includes the race in which Torin Koos and Andy Newell finished fourth. Men’s & Women’s Team Sprint (from Dusseldof, GER)