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Poltoranin wins stage 4 of Tour de Ski in Toblach
Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan has won stage 4 of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy. It was Poltoranin's second stage World Cup victory here in Toblach. He also won the 5 km C in the Tour de Ski in 2013.
Just 4.2 seconds separated the top 3 in the 10 km classic interval start competition. With just 0.5 seconds separating Poltoranin and Evgeniy Belov of Russia who took second. In third was Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby +4.2 back. Poltoranin was one of a handful of athletes that chose to complete the course on skate skis.
He was the only one in the top 10 in the overall standings to choose to not use grip wax on classic skis. In the end the gamble paid off with his first victory of the season. With his win he now sits in 5th place in the overall standings +26.5 behind Petter Northug Jr. of Norway.
Northug still leads the Tour heading into stage 5 tomorrow but his lead is now by just 1.5 seconds over Sundby. With his strong result today Belov now sits third in the overall just 6.4 seconds back.
ATHLETE QUOTES
Alexey Poltoranin, KAZ
To double pole the whole competition was a new experience for me. I had great skis, they were very fast. I decided to go on skate skis only 10 min before the start. I have no plan for tomorrow. I am focused on classical technique competitions.
Evgeniy Belov, RUS
I felt very good today. I got better and better each lap. I was little bit tired after yesterday’s sprint. I am glad to be the best Russian in Tour de Ski standing so far but my goal is to win.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
I was completely tired after yesterday. I have full respect to Alexey (Poltoranin) for his achievement. For tomorrow hopefully we can work together tomorrow. I can imagine us skiing little bit easy on the uphills and push harder on downhills.
OFFICIAL RESULTS - Men's 10 km C
1. POLTORANIN Alexey KAZ 22:51.8
2. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +0.5
3. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +4.2
4. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE +9.4
5. COLOGNA Dario +14.3
OVERALL TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS
1. NORTHUG Petter Jr. NOR 1:16:54.6
2. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +1.5
3. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +6.4
4. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE
5. POLTORANIN Alexey KAZ +26.5
Just 4.2 seconds separated the top 3 in the 10 km classic interval start competition. With just 0.5 seconds separating Poltoranin and Evgeniy Belov of Russia who took second. In third was Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby +4.2 back. Poltoranin was one of a handful of athletes that chose to complete the course on skate skis.
Northug still leads the Tour heading into stage 5 tomorrow but his lead is now by just 1.5 seconds over Sundby. With his strong result today Belov now sits third in the overall just 6.4 seconds back.
ATHLETE QUOTES
Alexey Poltoranin, KAZ
To double pole the whole competition was a new experience for me. I had great skis, they were very fast. I decided to go on skate skis only 10 min before the start. I have no plan for tomorrow. I am focused on classical technique competitions.
Evgeniy Belov, RUS
I felt very good today. I got better and better each lap. I was little bit tired after yesterday’s sprint. I am glad to be the best Russian in Tour de Ski standing so far but my goal is to win.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
I was completely tired after yesterday. I have full respect to Alexey (Poltoranin) for his achievement. For tomorrow hopefully we can work together tomorrow. I can imagine us skiing little bit easy on the uphills and push harder on downhills.
OFFICIAL RESULTS - Men's 10 km C
1. POLTORANIN Alexey KAZ 22:51.8
2. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +0.5
3. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +4.2
4. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE +9.4
5. COLOGNA Dario +14.3
OVERALL TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS
1. NORTHUG Petter Jr. NOR 1:16:54.6
2. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +1.5
3. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +6.4
4. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE
5. POLTORANIN Alexey KAZ +26.5
6. COLOGNA Dario SUI +54.8
Source: fis-ski.com
