In this you will find the results of the Tour de Ski 2016 day by day. We present the winners and have a little extra focus on the Swedish skiers.
Top three, the Tour de Ski 2016
In the last event: freestyle up the ski slope at the tenth day of the Tour de Ski there was no question about what skaters who were the best. In the women’s competition, Norwegian skier Ingvild Flugstad Østberg had a 39 seconds lead ahead of her compatriot, Therese Johaug. Johaug put the pressure on early and went easily past Østberg who had to settle for second place. At third place we found another Norwegian skier, Heidi Weng. The best Swedish participant was Charlotte Kalla who placed fourth. She made a strong finish against Finnish Kerttu Niskanen. Fourth place was Kallas second best placement in the Tour de Ski after winning the competition in 2007/2008.
On the men’s side, Martin Johnsrud Sundby started almost three minutes before Petter Northug, Alexey Poltoranin among others. Sundby triumphed, and paraded and got as bonus hugs from his family at the top of the ski slope. Second place went to the talented Norwegian skier Finn Haagen Krogh and Russia’s Sergey Ustiogov placed third. Norway’s Petter Northug finished fourth. This was Northug’s tenth straight Tour de Ski, an impressive streak. The best Swedish participant was Simon Andersson at 33th place.
Overall, we can summarize the Tour de Ski with a ski king and a ski queen being crowned. Johaug and Sundby won in superior style. On the Swedish women’s side we found three skaters in the top 15: Charlotte Kalla (4), Ida Ingemarsdotter (12) and Maria Rydqvist (13). The Swedes have had some bad luck with a couple of falls while the skiers shape have not really been there to be fighting for the medals. Meanwhile, we have a width to be proud of and build on. On the men’s side it look heavier when our six best riders are away due to disease and injuries. Without name Marcus Hellner, we are no better than the top 40 which is obviously not good enough. However, there is a generation change underway and for the future of Swedish Nordic skiing, we hope it will be a successful one.
Now we look forward to the rest of the Cross Country World Cup as well as the 2016 Vasa Race.
Women:
1. Therese Johaug (NOR)
2. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (NOR) +2:21
3. Heidi Weng (NOR) +3:14
(4. Charlotte Kalla, SWE, +7:45)
Men:
1. Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR)
2. Finn Haagen Krogh (NOR) +3:16
3. Sergey Ustiogov (RUS) +3:44
Day 9: classic mass start, ladies 10 km and men 15 km
In the men’s competition Sundby was back on the throne and gained a substantial advantage over his rivals before tomorrow’s pursuit in the slalom hill. He won today’s distance and has about three minute lead over his countryman Northug who have to aim at defending his second place. In today’s race rain was in the air which made the conditions rough for the teams. Northug finished in 17th place. Niklas Dyrhaug came second and Alexey Poltoranin third. Dario Cologna took the battle against with Sundby for a while but had some unknown problems after half the race and ended up far behind.
Heidi Weng was probably today’s most happy skier. After 37 podium places without a single first place it was her turn. At the finish in the women’s competition she sprinted against Østberg and finished first. Johaug finished third a few meters after the top two. Charlotte Kalla finished fifth, 55 seconds after Weng.
Day 8: freestyle pursuit, men’s 10 km ladies 5 km
After a slow day 6 seemed a day of rest had done Johnsrud Sundby good. He was back at the top and placed second in the men’s competition, a few seconds behind his countryman Hågen Krogh. French rider Maurice Manificat placed third. Petter Northug had it tough day and finished as nr 15 in today’s competition.
In the women’s competition Jessica Diggins, USA, came out hard and it held all the way. Diggins won before Heidi Weng and Østberg. The Norwegian ladies placed 2-4 with Ragnhild Haga and Therese Johaug after Østberg. Charlotte Kalla went out hard but lost time towards the end. She finished seventh, 12 seconds after Diggins.
(Day 7 Day off)
Day 6: classic mass start, ladies 10 km and men 15 km
History repeats itself, it is said, and it was especially true for Charlotte Kalla and Stina Nilsson who fell today again. The Norwegian trio Østberg, Johaug and Weng pulled away from the others early from. Charlotte Kalla and Stina Nilsson was in a group anymore back into the field and went stable until about 7 km, when last year’s Vasaloppet winner Justyna Kowalczyk fell in front of the Swedes. It resulted in both cold and Nilsson literally had to bite the grass. They lost about 30 seconds in total. Bad luck. The winner was the Norwegian Therese Johaug front of her countrywomen Flugstad Østberg and Weng. Ida Ingemarsdotter placed sixth by staying on her legs, just like yesterday.
In the men’s race no Norwegians was in the top three. Alexey Poltoranin, Kazakhstan won in front of Dario Cologna, Switzerland and Franscesco de Fabiani, Italy. Overall leader Sundby had a bad day and finished the race about 52 seconds after the winner.
Day 5: classical sprint
After day three we wrote that everything can happen during a long Tour de Ski, which could be interpreted as a hope that some of the Norwegian dominant skiers might fall during the sprint races 🙂 Unfortunately, it was the Swedes that fell today. Charlotte Kalla fell in the quarterfinals and Stina Nilsson later fell in exactly the same hill. Best Swedish skier of the day was Ida Ingemarsdotter at third place. Sophie Caldwell, United States won before Heidi Weng and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg. Therese Johaug made it to the finals and finished fifth.
In the men’s competition Emil Iversen, Norway, won before Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov and Alexey Poltoranin (Kazakhstan). The winner and the runner up of the tour, Sundby and Northug finished fourth and fifth respectively.
(Day 4: Day off)
Day 3: Men 10 km and ladies 5 km pursuit (freestyle)
Once again, Norway dominated the races: Sundby, Northug and Finn Haagen Krogh placed 1, 2 and 3 in the men’s race while Østberg, Johaug and Weng got the same positions in the women’s competition. The Tour de Ski is beginning to look like the Norwegian championships. However, anything can happen in a 10 day tour.
Day 2: ladies 15 km and men 30 km (classic)
On the second day of the Tour de Ski 2016, Johaug dominated according to plan and won half a minute before Østberg. Heidi Weng made sure it would be a Norwegian triple, placing third. Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla placed fifth. In the men’s competition, Martin Johnsrud Sundby won before his countrymen Petter Northug and Didrik Tønseth. A double Norwegian triple so to say.
Day 1: Sprint
The sprint competitions were a chance for those wanting to get an advantage on the women’s favorite, Norway’s Therese Johaug, to gain some early points. Johaug almost made it to the semifinal though. Norway’s Maiken Caspersen won before Sweden’s Ida Ingemarsdotter. Ingvid Flugstad Østberg placed third.
On the men’s side won the Italian sprint expert Federico Pellegrino won before Russian Sergey Ustiugov. Finn Haagen Krogh got the third place. Swedish skier Emil Jönsson placed fifth in the final.
