Cross-country skiing - Sochi 2014
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Dario Cologna back to win the occasion more important than winning Olympic gold in skiathlon, silver for Marcus Hellner, Martin Johnsrud Sundby for bronze.
Sunday 9 February 2014 5 minutes reading time
Cologna wins at the end of a race that follows the usual script of the mass start men. The 15 km classic technique in fact see a long procession compact proceed until the end; useless timid attempts to selection by Alexey Poltoranin and Hannes Dotzler, both beaten to skating, at the rate of sixteen technique are the guys in the front group. Among them was Giorgio Di Centa, while among the big guns lack the Norwegian Sjur Rothe and Tord Asle Gjerdalen.
It does not change much with a pitch of skating, in fact, the pace is even slower if possible so that even falling behind by Ilia Chernousov and Axel Teichmann. The race goes live on the last climb: Hellner skimming attacks the group, which gets up Petter Northug that a hitherto seemed to be the absolute master. In front are four of us: we are with the Swedish Dario Cologna, Maxim Vylegzhanin and Martin Johnsurd Sundby. On the last tear Cologna attacks and earns a margin of about ten meters that allow you to trim down the final straight of the back of the opponent and win their arms up. Second place went to Hellner, third Sundby burning photo finish Vylegzhanin denying Russia the first medal of the Olympics in Sochi.
For Cologna is a victory particularly significant as the first after the serious injury suffered in the autumn which effectively ruled him out of the World Cup. Already last Saturday in Dobbiaco had already proved to be in great form, finishing second in the 15 km classic technique. Today, for him, is that Swiss-fledged, get win number 22 career Olympic gold and the second after the one obtained in the 15 km freestyle in Vancouver. In addition Cologna is now Olympic champion who is the world champion of skiathlon, as Twelve months ago was imposed in this format race in Mendrisio in Val di Fiemme.
Silver medal for Marcus Hellner, who is thus able to repeat gold in Vancouver, but that proves to be in great shape especially in optical sprint, in which a client will be dangerous because of the difficulty of the route. Bronze instead for the World Cup leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby, last year's silver medal in the skiathlon and the first individual Olympic medal in his career. Stay dry mouth Russia, with Vylegzhanin fourth Chernousov fifth swallows a bitter pill.
As far as Italy is the best the eternal Giorgio Di Centa, twelfth and fight for the medals until the final attack of Hellner. Good race also by Francesco De Fabiani twenty-second, while Roland Clara ending thirtieth after struggling in the segment exceedingly classic technique.
SKIATHLON SOCHI 2014 OLYMPICS MEN - THE PODIUM
GOLD COLOGNA Dario (SUI) 1:08:15.4 SILVER Marcus Hellner (SWE) +0.4 BRONZE Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) +1.4
The complete ranking
Tomorrow cross-country skiing rests, back in the race Tuesday with the free technique sprint (qualifications 11:00 am Italian, batteries, semi-finals and finals starting dale 13:00 Italian)
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Skiathlon Male Sochi (RUS)
Cross-country skiing - Sochi 2014
Dario Cologna wins in their Olympic skiathlon
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