CROSS-COUNTRY SKI WORLD CUP. Marit Bjoergen made history in Kuusamo claimg 48th World Cup victory in her career. The Norwegian ace clearly dominated the last stage of Ruka Triple and won the Mini Tour in Kuusamo.

Norway's Marit Bjoergen competes to win the women's 10 km classic pursuit cross country skiing event of the FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic Opening in Kuusamo, on November 27, 2011. The three-time Olympic champion, who won four world titles last season, posted a winning time of 28 minutes 00.1sec . (Photo credit: JUSSI NUKARI/AFP/Getty Images)

Marit Bjoergen claimed victory in 10 km Classic Pursuit with margin of +33 sec on runner up Therese Johaug. Vibeke Skofterud takes third place having lost on the winner +33.7 sec.

Bjoergen started in the final stage of Ruka Triple with a comfortable margin of 17 seconds. The Queen of the World Championships 2011 was keeping the pace high. Vibeke Skofterud started from second place three seconds before Sweden's Charlotte Kalla but did not allow the best Swedish in the race to come closer. After 5 km she was 14 seconds away. Therese Johaug had a fast today and was the quickest in today's competition. By the intermediate point at 7.5 km she caught up with Vibeke Skofterud and they were skiing the last 2500m together.

Skofterud and Johaug were fighting hard for the second place. Johaug had a more powerful finish and seized second place. Skofterud finished third and rounded out the day of Norwegian dominance.

Marit Bjoergen (NOR)
I'm very satisfied with my race today. I knew I had to be fast in the beginning. I'm very happy and especially to have my friends by my side on the podium. I also had very good skis today. Now I have to train a bit but I'm taking it easier than in summer. There we trained about 90 hours per month and that is quite a lot for a women.

Therese Johaug (NOR)
I've worked with my technique and it worked well today, I'm really satisfied with my race. I think I was a bit nervous and stressed last weekend but now I am feeling relax. Now we are going home to Oslo and I hope to do some good races.

Vibeke Skofterud (NOR)
Today my goal was to get to second place. I did my best and I wasn't good enough. My key of success is hard work.

Petter Northug dominates Ruka Triple

Norway's Petter Northug claimed victory in the three day Mini Tour Ruka Triple and takes 200 points from Finland.

Petter Northug was fighting hard with Dario Cologna for the victory in Kuusamo's last stage of Ruka Triple over 15 km Classic Pursuit. In the  final spurt Northug showed again his might and escaped Dario Cologna. Eldar Roenning came from 18th place and with a strong performance grabbed third place.

Petter Northug started from the first place in the final stage of Ruka Triple. After the first 2.5 km Dario Cologna eliminated the +12.8 sec gap. For 12.5 km were working as perfectly custom made engine. When they learned Alexander Legkov took away some seconds from their margin, they increased the speed and built up the gap again. The decision about the Ruka Triple was to be done in the last meters of the 15 km competition. Cologna and Northug came together to the last climb. Petter Northug boosted and left Dario Cologna behind. Cologna was finishing strongly but Petter Northug controled the race and stormed for the first World Cup victory of the new season.

Alexander Legkov started very hard and was trying to close up on the leaders. After 7.5 km he was able to take down the gap on Cologna and Northug to +28 seconds. In the second half of the competition, however, the Ruka Triple champion from last year could not keep the pace high enough and the chasing group led by Johan Olsson came from behind and caught him.

Olsson, Legkov, Hellner, Roenning, Poltoranin and Manificat were skiing together fighting for the last spot on the podium. In the last 1100m Maurice Manificat lost contact with the group as well as Alexander Legkov. Before the last uphill to the stadium Eldar Roenning came from behind opened a gap, which he defended in the finishing straight and claimed third place.

Kazakhstan's Alexey Poltoranin finshed fourth and had the quickest time of the day -8.7 sec ahead of Johan Olsson and -28.5 sec before another Swede Daniel Rickardsson.

Petter Northug (NOR)
Today, I was strong enough. I had good work together with Dario. I knew we had to go hard so the group didn’t catch us. I like these Mini Tours. This was very good training for Tour de Ski where it will be even tougher

Dario Cologna (SUI)
I’m happy with second place. Now I’ll go home and looking for snow somewhere. I need a little bit time to get better shape before Tour de Ski but I am very satisfied with my first to World Cup weekends.

Eldar Roenning (NOR)
My goal for this race was to get it to the podium and I’m happy I made it. I’m very happy with my skies. I know now that I am in a good shape in classic, last weekend in relay it was already good but today even better.

FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 27 November 2011