Cross-Country Skiing 2015 - 2017 Discussion Thread

[hckošice 15,525]

Ustiugov unbeatable through 3 stages of Tour de Ski

 

Sergey Ustiugov of Russia left little doubt in today's 20 km Skiathlon that he plans to keep the Tour de Ski leaders bib. Sitting back just outside the top 10 going into the final climb he made an aggressive move to get up into 3rd place by the top.  Coming out of the draft on the final downhill Ustiuigov sprinted his way to his third victory in the first three stages.  Despite taking an wrong turn early in the free technique portion Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby recovered to take second place on the day and hold his place in second in the overall standings.  Switzerland's Dario Cologna was back on the podium for the first time since the Tour was in Oberstdorf last season.  He took third today +1.0 behind Ustiugov and just +0.4 behind Sundby.  

 

Ustiugov now leads the Tour by 29.5 second over Sundby, up from 18.9 seconds after Val Müstair stage 2.  Canada's Alex Harvey had another strong day with a 5th place finish and remains in 3rd in the overall standings +1:09.3 back.  With his third place finish today Cologna moves up from 6th to 4th in the overall standings +1:25.4 behind.  Sweden's Marcus Hellner was a big mover today with a 5th place finish moving up from 9th to 5th in the overall heading into tomorrow's 15km Pursuit in free technique.  It will be interesting to see how tight the group is tomorrow following the pursuit event.  

 

 

Full Results Here

 

 

[Gianlu33 5,278]

3/3 for Ustigov!  

[Swewi 460]

Stina!!  But I think at least Weng will be better in the final climb. I also hope Charlotte Kalla could get back in shape soon. 

[Federer91 3,024]

Stina Nilsson outsmarting the norwegians again. Same with Ustiugov on the mens side, but unfortunately for them, their advantage will be evaporated at the final climb. 

[hckošice 15,525]

Nilsson skis to her strength and wins on homestretch

 

Stina Nilsson (SWE) began the stage 4 Pursuit with a slim lead over the Norwegian duo of Heidi Weng and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg and they quickly became a group but in the end it was Nilsson back in the lead and still in the Tour leaders bib.  Despite some in race discussion about who should take the lead the trio still increased their lead over the rest of the field and all three recorded the top 3 times on the day.  Krista Parmakoski of Finland fought hard to close the gap to the leading three but was unable to and skied the entire race on her own.  Same for the USA's Jessie Diggins who remains in 5th despite recording only the 18th fastest time on the day.  Parmakoski was able to ski the 4th fastest time of the day but did lose some time in the overall and now sits back +42.4 back from Nilsson.  

 

With bonus seconds available in the finish Weng lost just over 2 seconds to Nilsson in the overall and is still second sitting +6.7 seconds back.  Oestberg managed to get a little bit of time back in the overall and is +11.8 second behind heading into stage 5 in Toblach, Italy.  Diggins lost almost over minute on today's stage in the standings but still sits safely in 5th place with tomorrow's rest day as the Tour moves to Italy.  

 

 

Full Results Women

 

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Ustiugov sets Tour record with 4th consecutive win

 

 

Russia's Sergey Ustiugov has set a Tour de Ski record for men with his 4th consecutive Tour stage victory.  He not only won the stage four 15 km Pursuit competition in free technique but increased his lead over Martin Johnsrud Sundy (NOR) now to 42.2 seconds heading into tomorrow's rest day.  Sundby stayed in second place today +37.2 behind Ustiugov's winning time.  Canada's Alex Harvey was caught early by Dario Cologna (SUI) and the two raced together for most of the competition.  Harvey who appeared to have faster skis used it to his advantage and overtook Cologna coming off the final downhill into the stadium to take 3rd place +1:08.8 on the day and remains third in the overall Tour standings.  Cologna sits just behind him in 4th place in the standings. 

 

Finland's Matti Heikkinen had the Fastest time of the Day again for the second time this season and moved up from 12th in the overall Tour standings after stage three to 5th now after four stages.  Six different nations are represented in the top 6 for the first time in many years with Sweden's Marcus Hellner sitting in 6th place.  

 

The Tour will take a rest day now as the focus shifts to Toblach, Italy for stage 5 of the Tour.  

 

 

Full Results Here

 

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Ustiugov 5/5 this time only by 0.4. Also Great race from Maurice Manificat today, so close to win. btw for Ustiugov it´s first ever World Cup win if we count only the interval starts events. In other side very very bad day for Sundby and disastrous day for Harvey.

 

edit it´s already 1:34 the margin between Ustiugov and Sundby after todays stage, I think any drama or exciting finish is over

[heywoodu 16,004]

Haha, Ustiugov

[Federer91 3,024]

I think Ustiugov wants to win every single stage. 

[Agger 1,700]

Wow. What a race in the women's Tour. Top 3 all lose some time for the rest.