Sport News
Sundby repeats and Bjoergen finally captures Tour de Ski title
Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) and Marit Bjoergen (NOR) have won the 2015 Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear. For Sundby it was a repeat of last year, but for Bjoergen it was her first ever win.
Italy's Roland Clara was the day's fastest skier in a time of 29:13.0, just 2.1 seconds ahead of France's Maurice Manificat.
It took 9 editions of the Tour de Ski for the World's most successful World Cup cross-country skier to win her first Tour de Ski. Bjoergen, already a multiple World and Olympic champion plus the winner of 89 World Cup victories finally won her first Tour.
She began the day with over a 2 minute lead over her teammate Heidi Weng and in the end won by +1:39.2 over last year's champion Therese Johaug also of Norway. Johaug was the fastest of the day almost one minute ahead of the second fastest Heidi Weng. It wasn't enough for Weng to hold onto second place and ended up third +1:59.5 behind Bjoergen (33:27.5), Johaug (+1:39.2). Bjoergen on her way to victory recorded the third fastest time +1:11.1. Liz Stephen of the USA was the fourth fastest on the day +1:13.5 and moved from 6th place into 5th overall, a best ever result for the USA. At one point she overtook Ragnhild Haga (NOR) for 4th position but couldn't hold off Haga once the course flattened towards the finish. In the end it was Stephen who was the first non-Norwegian finisher.
ATHLETES QUOTES
Marit Bjoergen, NOR
It is a big victory for me. To win the FIS Tour de Ski has been a goal for me for a long time. It took me nine years to achieve it. I knew I had to be strong before the last stage. I started the Tour were well. I felt good on the climb. It is an amazing feeling and it is great to share the happiness with my teammates. They mean a lot for me. They motivate me and they push me in training every day. I am very happy for Ragnhild and her fourth place.
Therese Johaug, NOR
I am happy with the second place. I knew that victory was gone before Toblach but I am satisfied with the competitions I had in Val di Fiemme. Everybody hates the Final Climb but I love it.
Heidi Weng, NOR
The final climb is so hard! I tried to focus on my race. I have had my best competitions ever in this time of the year. It is absolutely unbelievable that I was on the podium at every stage. I am so happy for Marit.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
Today feels just amazing. I did not have the best start today. I did not feel good at the beginning. Petter was pushing hard after the start and I did not know if I could follow him. I am so happy and relieved to win. Mentally it was the biggest challenge ever.
Petter Northug, NOR
I am very happy to be second in the Tour. Me and Martin were very working well together before the start of the climb. Martin sped up on the hill. I could not follow him but I found a good rhythm and I am happy to be second.
Evgeniy Belov RUS
It is my biggest achievement of my career. It feels great to be third in the Tour de Ski. At the beginning of the climb Calle (Halvarsson) tried to attack but I could follow him. Later on I saw it was harder and harder for him to keep the pace and I decided to attack. When I saw that gap got bigger on Calle I started to believe I could finish in third place.
TOUR DE SKI - Final Standings
MEN
1. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR 29:27.4
2. NORTHUG Petter Jr. NOR +34.5
3. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +51.1
4. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE +1:04.2
5. COLOGNA Dario SUI +2:06.6
LADIES
1. BJOERGEN Marit NOR 33:27.5
2. JOHAUG Therese NOR +1:39.2
3. WENG Heidi NOR +1:59.5
4. HAGA Ragnhild NOR +7:32.2
5. STEPHEN Elizabeth USA +7:41.8
_______________________________________________________
FASTEST OF THE DAY - Stage 7 Alpe Cermis
MEN
1. CLARA Roland ITA 29:13.0
2. MANIFICAT Maurice FRA +2.1
3. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +11.3
4. LIVERS Toni SUI +16.9
5. SVEEN Simen Andreas NOR +24.8
LADIES
1. JOHAUG Therese NOR 32:16.4
2. WENG Heidi NOR +59.4
3. BJOERGEN Marit NOR +1:11.1
4. STEPHEN Elizabeth USA +1:13.5
5. VRABCOVA - NYVLTOVA Eva CZE +1:54.6
Sundby began the day just +3.1 seconds behind his teammate Petter Northug Jr. but over took him on Alpe Cermis to claim his second consecutive Tour de Ski championship. He now joins Dario Cologna as the only male skier to win consecutive Tour titles. Justyna Kowalcyzk (POL) is the only other athlete to win back to back Tours (she has won it four times). Sundby recorded the third fastest time of the day on his way to victory. Northug settled for second place +34.5 back. In third was Russia's Evgeniy Belov +51.1. Belov skied the early part of the climb with Sweden's Calle Halvarsson but pulled away around the mid point to claim third. Halfvarsson took forth +1:04.2.
It took 9 editions of the Tour de Ski for the World's most successful World Cup cross-country skier to win her first Tour de Ski. Bjoergen, already a multiple World and Olympic champion plus the winner of 89 World Cup victories finally won her first Tour.
ATHLETES QUOTES
Marit Bjoergen, NOR
It is a big victory for me. To win the FIS Tour de Ski has been a goal for me for a long time. It took me nine years to achieve it. I knew I had to be strong before the last stage. I started the Tour were well. I felt good on the climb. It is an amazing feeling and it is great to share the happiness with my teammates. They mean a lot for me. They motivate me and they push me in training every day. I am very happy for Ragnhild and her fourth place.
Therese Johaug, NOR
I am happy with the second place. I knew that victory was gone before Toblach but I am satisfied with the competitions I had in Val di Fiemme. Everybody hates the Final Climb but I love it.
Heidi Weng, NOR
The final climb is so hard! I tried to focus on my race. I have had my best competitions ever in this time of the year. It is absolutely unbelievable that I was on the podium at every stage. I am so happy for Marit.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
Today feels just amazing. I did not have the best start today. I did not feel good at the beginning. Petter was pushing hard after the start and I did not know if I could follow him. I am so happy and relieved to win. Mentally it was the biggest challenge ever.
Petter Northug, NOR
I am very happy to be second in the Tour. Me and Martin were very working well together before the start of the climb. Martin sped up on the hill. I could not follow him but I found a good rhythm and I am happy to be second.
Evgeniy Belov RUS
It is my biggest achievement of my career. It feels great to be third in the Tour de Ski. At the beginning of the climb Calle (Halvarsson) tried to attack but I could follow him. Later on I saw it was harder and harder for him to keep the pace and I decided to attack. When I saw that gap got bigger on Calle I started to believe I could finish in third place.
TOUR DE SKI - Final Standings
MEN
1. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR 29:27.4
2. NORTHUG Petter Jr. NOR +34.5
3. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +51.1
4. HALFVARSSON Calle SWE +1:04.2
5. COLOGNA Dario SUI +2:06.6
LADIES
1. BJOERGEN Marit NOR 33:27.5
2. JOHAUG Therese NOR +1:39.2
3. WENG Heidi NOR +1:59.5
4. HAGA Ragnhild NOR +7:32.2
5. STEPHEN Elizabeth USA +7:41.8
_______________________________________________________
FASTEST OF THE DAY - Stage 7 Alpe Cermis
MEN
1. CLARA Roland ITA 29:13.0
2. MANIFICAT Maurice FRA +2.1
3. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +11.3
4. LIVERS Toni SUI +16.9
5. SVEEN Simen Andreas NOR +24.8
LADIES
1. JOHAUG Therese NOR 32:16.4
2. WENG Heidi NOR +59.4
3. BJOERGEN Marit NOR +1:11.1
4. STEPHEN Elizabeth USA +1:13.5
5. VRABCOVA - NYVLTOVA Eva CZE +1:54.6
Source: fis-ski.com
