Justyna Kowalczyk wins her third Tour de Ski stage

Tour de Ski

Fri, Jan  7, 2011 - By FIS

Justyna Kowalczyk won the 15 km Pursuit in Toblach today. Leading the entire race, she could celebrate her third Tour de Ski stage win and continue to lead the overall Tour de Ski.

Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) started the 15 km long Pursuit 39.1 seconds ahead of Petra Majdic. She was never in any danger of loosing her position, and could finally ski in winning the sixth stage of Tour de Ski with a lead of 22.2 seconds. Second position was won by Arianna Follis (ITA) and third by Marianna Longa (ITA). Charlotte Kalla (SWE) finished fourth, and Petra Majdic finished fifth, 36.4 seconds behind Kowalczyk.

Petra Majdic had a though race today, and was overtaken by Kalla, Follis and Longa after 11 km. They skied together until the last 3 km, where Majdic once again had to let them go. The gap down to Kowalczyk decreased by every kilometer, but Kowalczyk kept her position. Follis, Longa and Kalla were fighting to the bitter end, sprinting the last 50 metres, but the Italians worked great as a team and beat Kalla. Anna Haag (SWE) finished 6th, 3.6 seconds ahead of Krista Lahteenmaki (FIN).

Kowalczyk is still leading the overall Tour standing with 27.2 seconds ahead of Follis. Longa and Kalla are right behind her with 32.6 and 38.7 seconds, slightly ahead of Majdic (51.4 seconds).

Justyna Kowalczyk:
"It was a really  hard race and I am satisfied. I hope the next race in Val di Fiemme will be OK as well, and then there is only Alpe Cermis left. Last years race in Val di Fiemme was not good for me, I hope this year will be better.

Kalla, Follis, Longa, Majdic and Lahteenmaki are all contenders that can win Tour de Ski, but I hope I can beat them".