CROSS-COUNTRY SKI. Top favourites Therese Johaug and Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway are the Champions of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear 2016.

In the last stage over 9 km in Val di Fiemme, Johaug powered up the Final Climb to clock the fastest time of the day and take the overall Tour victory over her teammates Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and Heidi Weng.

Østberg was leading the Tour ahead of the last stage by 38.7 seconds but was outpaced by the strongest climber - Johaug - already at the bottom of the concluding climb up Alpe Cermis to land in second place 2:20.9 minutes off the pace. Weng completed the Norwegian sweep by a margin of 3:13.9 minutes.

Team Finland had a strong finish with four ladies in the top 10. Charlotte Kalla was the best Swede to place 4th in the overall standings.

It was Johaug’s second overall victory after 2014 and her sixth consecutive "fastest of the day" on the concluding stage of the Tour de Ski. Weng recorded the second fast time followed by the USA's Liz Stephen with the third fastest on the day. 

In the men’s events, Martin Johnsrud Sundby clinched his third consecutive Tour de Ski victory winning the 9 km pursuit in 30:47 minutes to finish 3:15.7 minutes ahead of his teammate Finn Haagen Krogh. Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov rounded out the podium in third place, +3:43.8 off the pace. This was Ustiugov's first Tour de Ski. 

Sundby’s teammate Petter Northug Jr. and Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ) who were sitting in second and third place overall ahead of the final stage but could not keep their momentum and had to settle for fourth and fifth place respectively. With the completion of the 10th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski Northug remains the only athlete to start and finish all 10. 

Sundby now equals Switzerland’s Dario Cologna for most overall Tour de Ski victories for men.  Sundby is the first male to win 3 consecutive Tour de Ski titles, the only athlete with more consecutive Tour de Ski overall victories is Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk who has 4. 

ATHLETE QUOTES

Therese Johaug, NOR
I had a really good day today. My shape has been great today. I hoped I could take some seconds on Ingvild before the climb. It worked better than I had hoped. It was my dream and big goal to win the Tour de Ski. Ingvild has pushed me at every stage of the Tour this year. I think this was my Tour de Ski ever.

Ingvild Flugstad Østber, NOR
I am really happy for second place. It is like victory for me. I had a great Tour. The final climb is not my favourite. I did not have my best day today. When Therese caught me she had a completely different place. I could not follow her and only focused on fighting for 2nd place.

Heidi Weng, NOR
The last stage is so hard. But there are so many people who are cheering on us. I had a big gap on Ingvild and Therese. I had to focus only on myself and try to keep a steady pace. I am happy for third place.

Martin Johnsrud Sundby, NOR
It has been a perfect Tour for me. I had one bad day. But everything has been perfect. The team has been great. I am happy for me and the whole team. I went for the stage victory and wanted to be fastest today. I am happy I did it and I am really tired.

Finn Hågen Krogh, NOR
The Tour has been great. I was in a good shape every day. I had some bad luck. To be second behind Martin is great. It is an honour for me to be 2nd behind him. On the steep section Sergey tried to attack but probably used some energy. I saw my chance in the curves and went for the second place.

Sergey Ustiugov, RUS
It was my first Tour de Ski and my hope was to be in top 30. After two second place finished I thought I could be in top 10. I am really happy for the third place. The team did an amazing job and the big part of the success goes to them.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

LADIES - OVERALL TOUR STANDINGS

1 JOHAUG Therese, NOR 33:53.5
2 OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad , NOR +2:20.9
3 WENG Heidi, NOR +3:13.9
4 KALLA Charlotte, SWE +7:45.4
5 NISKANEN Kerttu, FIN +7:52.0

FASTEST OF THE DAY - LADIES

1. JOHAUG Therese NOR 33:14.8
2. WENG Heidi NOR +1:25.9
3. STEPHEN Elizabeth USA +1:29.5
4. HAGA Ragnhild NOR +1:36.2
5. KALLA Charlotte +1:38.1

MEN - OVERALL TOUR STANDINGS 

1 SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud , NOR 30:47.0
2 KROGH Finn Haagen , NOR +3:15.7
3 USTIUGOV Sergey, RUS +3:43.8
4 NORTHUG Petter Jr., NOR +4:35.6
5 POLTORANIN Alexey, KAZ +4:38.3

FASTEST OF THE DAY - MEN

1. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR 30:47.0
2. DUVILLARD Robin FRA +7.2
3. HEIKKINEN Matti FIN +11.8
4. KROGH Finn Haagen NOR +14.3
5. BELOV Evgeniy RUS +18.9

FIS cross-country
10 January 2016 16:42

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