. world ski news : Kowalczyk & Cologna take the overall World Cup titles, Harri Olli wins ski jumping final in Planica - 23 March 2009 - 11:35
Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Dario Cologna (SUI) are the overall Viessmann FIS Cross-Country World Cup winners of the season 2008/2009. Both racers took the first overall World Cup titles for their home countries.
Kowalczyk started into the last race of the season, a handicap start over 10km in free technique, with a comfortable lead of 48,6 seconds over Anna Olsson (SWE) and raced hard from the beginning, Therese Johaug (NOR) came from the ninth position to the second place to finish 20,0 seconds behind Kowalcyzk. Charlotte Kalla took the third spot. The winner of the day in the last stage of the World Cup Final, or the fastest lady, was Kristin Stoermer Steira from Norway.
With her victory in the World Cup Final, a series of four races, Kowalczyk won the overall World Cup title without ever leading the overall standings all season. She won with 100 points margin over Petra Majdic (SLO), who finished 12th in the Final. The overall World Cup podium was completed by Aino-Kaisa Saarinen from Finland.
The distance overall World Cup also went to Kowalczyk with a total of 1004 points. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen finished 2nd with 706 points and Marianna Longa (ITA) 3rd with 662 points.
The overall Sprint World Cup title went to Petra Majdic 406 points ahead of Arianna Follis (ITA). Pirjo Muranen (FIN) was third, 414 points behind Majdic.
In the men's race Dario Cologna (SUI) started into the final handicap race with a comfortable lead of nearly one minute. He had no problem maintaining his lead in the final World Cup race of the season and won both the four race World Cup Final and the overall World Cup title. Vincent Vittoz (FRA) finished second 41,3 seconds behind Cologna and Alexander Legkov (RUS) took the third spot with a gap of 1:05.4 in the World Cup Final. Sergei Shiraev (RUS) was the "man of the day" posting the fastest time for the 15km skate.
23-year-old Dario Cologna became the first Swiss Cross-Country skier to win the overall World Cup with a lead of 127 points ahead of Petter Northug from Norway, 4th in the World Cup final. Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR), the dominator of the sprint season, also finished third overall, 552 points behind Cologna.
The distance World Cup title went to Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA) with a lead of 20 points over Dario Cologna. Petter Northug finished 3rd.
In the sprint World Cup, Ola Vigen Hattestad defended his title from last year and won clearly with 792 points. Second was Renato Pasini (ITA, 359 points) and third Tor Arne Hetland (NOR, 335 points).
FIS news
22/03/2009
Harri Olli (FIN) wins final in Planica (SLO)
The final competition of the World Cup season 2008/09 took place in Planica on Sunday. Due to the wind conditions the jury had to change the inrun gate twice during the first round, which made two restarts necessary.
The final event of the winter was won by Finland's Harri Olli with jumps of 211 m and 219.5 m. Adam Malysz (POL) finished second. Simon Ammann from Switzerland and Slovene Robert Kranjec landed on a shared third place.
Statements of the Top 3 of the overall FIS World Cup:
Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT): "I fell very good now because all the pressure is now gone. It was a long and hard season, but everything went perfect for me. It is perfect that we could also win the Nations Cup. My big goal for next season are the Olympic Games of course."
Simon Ammann (SUI):"It was a great season for me with 17 podium finishes and I had a tremendous start with five victories. Today I had the longest jump of the season and that's one of my favorites. I feel pretty good right now. Next year we will continue working with the same team and I only want to change some minor details."
Wolfgang Loitzl (AUT):"For me it was a perfect season. My goal for this winter was to win a World Cup and then I could win the 4-Hills-Tournament. I didn't expect that. Another goal was to win a Gold medal at the World Championships. It's almost unbelievable and I'm very happy."
FIS news
22/03/2009
World Cup Overall Standing
01 Schlierenzauer, Gregor 2083 points
02 Ammann, Simon 1776 points
03 Loitzl, Wolfgang 1396 points
World Cup Ski Flying Overall Standing
01 Schlierenzauer, Gregor 477 points
02 Olli, Harri 372 points
03 Ammann, Simon 370 points
Nations Cup Overall Standing
01 Austria 7331 points
02 Finland 4270 points
03 Norway 4175 points