Tour de Ski: Vittoz, Steira claim pursuit stage

By Published On: January 2nd, 2007Comments Off on Tour de Ski: Vittoz, Steira claim pursuit stage

Vincent Vittoz of France won the men's World Cup double pursuit on Tuesday, the second stop of the inaugural cross-country Tour de Ski, while Kristin Steira of Norway captured the women's event.  

OBERSTDORF, Germany — Vincent Vittoz of France won the men's World Cup double pursuit on Tuesday, the second stop of the inaugural cross-country Tour de Ski, while Kristin Steira of Norway captured the women's event.  
    Vittoz needed 50 minutes, 55.9 seconds to cover the 20-kilometer distance, with 10 kilometers raced in classical style and the last 10 using the freestyle technique.
    Alexander Legkov of Russia was 0.9 behind and Tobias Angerer of Germany finished third, 2.5 seconds back. Steira covered the 10 kilometers — five in classical style and five in freestyle — in 29 minutes, 27.6 seconds.
    Valentina Shevchenko of Ukraine was second, 13.3 seconds behind, while Olga Savialova of Russia finished third, 17.2 seconds back.
    The Tour de Ski was scheduled to have an unprecedented eight races in 10 days, but the opening two races in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, were canceled because of lack of snow.
    The tour then began in Munich on Dec. 31. The overall winner of the six-race series will earn 400 World Cup points.
    Steira's win also put her atop the rankings after two of six events, ahead of Norwegian countrywoman Marit Bjoergen, who won the Munich race.
    Simen Oestensen of Norway leads the men's overall rankings, followed by Vittoz.


World Cup cross-country ski results

OBERSTDORF, Germany — Results Tuesday from a World Cup cross-country ski meet, the second stop of the Tour de Ski:

Women
Double pursuit
(2×5 kilometers)
1. Kristin Steira, Norway, 29 minutes, 27.6 seconds.
2. Valentina Shevchenko, Ukraine, 13.3 seconds behind.
3. Olga Savialova, Russia, 17.2.
4. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 17.9.
5. Riitta Liisa Roponen, Finland, 18.8.
6. Ioulia Tchekaleva, Russia, 21.5.
7. Karine Philippot, France, 22.8.
8. Betty-Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen, Norway, 22.9.
9. Kine Beate Bjoernaas, Norway, 23.4.
10. Vibeke Skofterud, Norway, 27.3.

Tour de Ski rankings
(After 2 of 6 events)

1. Kristin Steira, Norway, 30:53.9.
2. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 31:00.0.
3. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland, 31:06.4.
4. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 31:10.5.
5. Claudia Kuenzel-Nystad, Germany, 31:10.8.
6. Valentina Shevchenko, Ukraine, 31:11.9.
7. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland, 31:13.7.
8. Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, Germany, 31:13.9.
9. Olga Savialova, Russia, 31:14.5.
10. Karine Philippot, France, 31:17.3.

Men
Double pursuit
(2×10 kilometers)

1. Vincent Vittoz, France, 50:55.9.
2. Alexander Legkov, Russia, 0.9 seconds behind.
3. Tobias Angerer, Germany, 2.5.
4. Nikolai Pankratov, Russia, 3.1.
5. Anders Soedergren, Sweden, 3.3.
6. Evgenji Dementiev, Russia, 3.4.
7. Pietro Piller Cottrer, Italy, 3.7.
8. Sergej Shiriaev, Russia, 5.4.
9. Axel Teichmann, Germany, 6.0.
10. Mathias Fredriksson, Sweden, 8.0.

Tour de Ski rankings
(After 2 of 6 events)

1. Simen Oestensen, Norway, 51:51.3.
2. Vincent Vittoz, France, 52:07.7.
3. Alexander Legkov, Russia, 52:14.9.
4. Tobias Angerer, Germany, 52:19.6.
5. Evgenji Dementiev, Russia, 52:24.9.
6. Nikolai Pankratov, Russia, 52:25.0.
7. Anders Soedergren, Sweden, 52:30.5.
8. Pietro Piller Cottrer, Italy, 52:26.6.
9. Axel Teichmann, Germany, 52:28.0.
10. Sergej Shiriaev, Russia, 52:29.8.
 

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About the Author: Pete Rugh