Northug hammers home Tour de Ski bid

Norway’s Petter Northug clinched the first stage of the Tour de Ski on Jan. 2, adding to his prologue victory on New Year’s Day in the event which forms part of the World Cup.

It was Northug’s fifth win in 10 World Cup rounds this season and fourth in succession.

He finished just 0.1sec ahead of Russia’s Maxim Vylegzhanin with Finland’s Matti Heikkinen finishing in third place, 0.8sec behind the winner.

In the women’s event, World Cup leader Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, the world number one in 2009, took victory thanks to an attack in the final kilometre which demonstrated her finishing strength.

Finland’s Aino Kaisa Saarinen was second with Kristin-Stoermer Steira of Norway in third.

Source: AFP