Petra Majdic (SLO) wins the Classic Sprint
Tour de Ski
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 - By FIS
Petra Majdic (SLO) and Emil Joensson (SWE) took the victory in the third stage of the Tour, the classical sprint in Oberstdorf today.
Majdic were dominating the ladies race from the qualification up to the final heat and showed a strong performance in the final, winning clearly ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Astrid Urenholdt Jacobsen (NOR). It was the first stage win for Majdic in this year’s Tour edition.
Majdic had a fast start, and was in the lead throughout the entire final. In the last downhill she were several meters ahead of her contenders, and crossed the finish line as the winner. Kowalczyk and Jacobsen fought hard over the other podium spots and Kowalczyk took the second place while Jacobsen finished third like in the Prologue.
Justyna Kowalczyk keeps her Tour de Ski lead with the second place, followed by Majdic (44.4 seconds behind) and Saarinen (1.03 min behind). Marianna Longa from Italy is at the moment just out of the podium with the fourth place (1.01.09 behind) and Jacobsen is fifth. (1:09.2 behind). In the Tour de Ski Sprint ranking, Kowalczyk is as well in front with 1:26 min, Majdic is second with 60 bonus seconds and Jacobsen third with in total 57 bonus seconds.
In the Tour team ranking Sweden is 16,1 seconds ahead of the Russians whilst Norway is third with 21,1 seconds gap.
Tomorrow the Tour will continue with the Pursuit for ladies (5 km + 5 km) and for men (10km + 10km).
Quotes from today:
Petra Majdic (SLO)
"I am very happy and will enjoy this win. It was a great race and I felt better and better during it. I like this kind of tough course. This win was also extremely important for my self confidence that I can still win.”
Justyna Kowalczyk (POL)
"I am satisfied with my today’s second place. I am in a good position in the Tour de Ski ranking but I know as well that it good advantage can be fast done as we still have a lot of bonus seconds and the long stage race in Toblach. I will be fighting for bonus points tomorrow, I will think more about my tactics after the lunch".
Maps and Profiles
For map of the course, please click here: http://www.fiscrosscountry.com/fis-tour-ski/maps/oberstdorf.html
Start List
For ladies start list, please click here: http://www.fis-ski.com/pdf/2011/CC/2510/2011CC2510SL.pdf