Petter Northug wins the first race in Dobbiaco and goes into the lead in the Tour de Ski
The Norwegian Petter Northug won on his 24th birthday the 35 km handicap-race in freestyle from Cortina to Dobbiaco.
The Norwegian won over the Swiss Dario Cologna and the Swede Marcus Hellner and again took over the overall standings of the Tour de Ski. Northug already decided the first two stages in Oberhof for himself. The woman race starts at 15:15 in Landro which goes over 17 km to Dobbiaco.
The men started at lunch in the center of Cortina. The winner of the sprint in Prag, the Swede Emil Joensson, did not participate, as well as the Russian Maxim Vylegzhanin, who is on the 4th place in the overall tour standings. Already at the beginning a group of fife formed consisting of the overall winner of last year, Dario Cologna, the Norwegian Simen Ostensen and Petter Northug, the Swede Marcus Hellner and the German Axel Teichmann. Oestensen however was not able to keep up with the high speed and after 10 km he fell behind the top group. However mid-race the Finn Matti Heikkinen and the Frenchman Jan Marc Gaillard caught up with the leading group. Both of them made up almost one minute of deficit in the first 16,5 km.
The six leading skiers stayed together till two kilometres before the finish. Then Northug, Cologna and Hellner took off. The Norwegian had most reserves in the finish-sprint and won with four hundredths ahead of Cologna and eight ahead of Hellner. A good team performance showed the German cross-country skiers having four athlethes in the first 13 positions. Axel Teichmann is as best German on 8th place, Valerio Checchi is as best Italian on 13th place. The three South-Tirolians also had a good race with Roland Clara from Riscone who is on 27th place, David Hofer from Val Gardena on place 29 and Thomas Moriggl from Slingia on place 40.
The Tour the Ski continues this afternoon with the 17 km handicap-race of the woman. The women start at 15:15 in Landro, the finish is in the new Nordic Arena in Dobbiaco. Karin Moroder from Val Gardena is not participating as she is having a strong cold.
Results Tour de Ski - 5. Stage Cortina - Dobbiaco 35 km, Freestyle (6. January 2010)
1. Petter Northug (NOR) 1.25:38.0
2. Dario Cologna (SUI) +0.4
3. Marcus Hellner (SWE) +0.8
4. Jean-Marc Gaillard (FRA) +10.8
5. Matti Heikkinen (FIN) +12.0
6. Axel Teichmann (GER) +22.3
7. Curdin Perl (SUI) +36.1
8. Tord Asle Gjerdalen (NOR) +36.7
9. Ivan Babikov (CAN) +37.1
10. Tom Reichelt (GER) +37.1
11. Jens Filbrich (GER) +37.4
12. Rene Sommerfeldt (GER) +37.9
13. Valerio Checchi (ITA) +38.2
16. Giorgio Di Centa (ITA) +40.1
24. Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA) +3:25.6
27. Roland Clara (ITA/Reischach) +3:27.9
29. David Hofer (ITA/St. Christina) +3:29.6
33. Fabio Pasini (ITA) +3:59.3
40. Thomas Moriggl (ITA(Schlinig) +7:16.4
55. Loris Frasnelli (ITA) +12:32.4
Here you can find all results!
Statements concerning the Race
Petter Northug (Norwegian)
I tried to set the speed. At the end of the first ascent I was very tired. The group worked well afterwards and created speed together. On the last kilometre I had an exciting contest with Dario Cologna. But it all went well. I liked the race because it was great to start in one place and arrive at another.
Simen Oestensen (Norwegian)
It was a very difficult race for me. The snow was slow and heavy. I was unfortunately not able to stay in the top group and because of this it was for me even more difficult.
Program Tour de Ski Dobbiaco
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
15:15: 17 km Handicap Woman with start in Landro and finish in the Cross-Country Skiing Stadium Dobbiaco
17:00: Awards Ceremony
18:00: Opening Ceremony and Opening of the Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, acrobatics show at the climbing tower
19:00: Entertainment in the festivities tent - VOLXROCK
Thursday, 7 January 2010
11:00: Festivities program in the cross-country skiing stadium Dobbiaco
12:45: 10 km classic men with start and finish in the cross-country skiing stadium Dobbiaco
15:30: 5 km classic woman with start and finish in the cross-country skiing stadium Dobbiaco
17:00: Awards Ceremony and ending of the Worldcup 2010
