Sundby breaks the monopoly of Ustiugov

At the sixth stage, Martin Johnsrud Sundby has finally broken the domination of Sergey Ustiugov the Tour de Ski. In the 15 km mass start TC with the Val di Fiemme, the Norwegian managed to outdistance the Russian just over a kilometer from the finish line, forcing him to settle for winning the honor in the sprint square.

Saturday 7 January 2017 7 minutes reading time

The gap between the two in the general classification, the eve of the final climb to Alpe Cermis, is one minute, eleven seconds, and nine-tenths: 22 '' around in less than yesterday, thanks to what gnawed by Sundby two sprints with rebates . The gap is clearly significant, but the Norwegian is on far more suitable paper to the extreme slopes of the final stage, and will have from her during the ascent even the visual reference of the rival. The success of Ustiugov thus can not be taken for granted. The decisive Sundby lunge arrived after five and a half turns of relatively quiet race. Only in the penultimate of six rounds of 2.5 km there was a first real selection, which reduced the leading group to 15 units. It was not until the Norwegian attack to attend a further skimming, which seemed to make the costs at first also the only Italian present in the squad, Francesco De Fabiani. With a great progression, the Aosta Valley has however recovered the tails of immediate pursuers Sundby, led by Ustiugov and compatriot Andrey Larkov. Last tooth before the finish line, Matti Heikkinen moved ahead, gaining a few meters on fellow adventurers: the Finn had to undergo the Ustiugov comeback on the final straight, but still won the third place. Immediately behind him was placed precisely De Fabiani, who preceded by a tenth Larkov. This is the best result of the season for the blue, that for the first time it has occurred to the levels of last year in his favorite race format. Confirmed, therefore, signs of growth came from the race skating yesterday. The second half of the top ten is open from Niklas Dyrhaug, which anticipated a Dario Cologna more firmly on the podium of the Tour, also thanks to the day of suffering experienced by Alex Harvey (19th in 38.7 seconds). Eighth another Russian Alexander Bessmertnykh. More detached Hans Christer Holund and Marcus Hellner, ninth and tenth respectively. The great achievement of De Fabiani represents the single set-points in the day for the Italian national team. To find the order of arrival the second blue, Giandomenico Salvadori, it must indeed go down to 33rd place. Maicol Rastelli came 40th. At one stage remaining, Ustiugov Sundby and prepare to fight for the top two spots on the podium, while Cologna, delayed by 2 'and 4' 'from the leader, has set aside a hoard of just under half a minute on the chasers. The closest is Heikkinen, which makes 28.8 seconds. Just behind the Finn will start an uncomfortable customer as Maurice Manificat, 13th today. Harvey slipped to sixth position, 2 'and 42' 'from the summit. 12 seconds after him triggered Hellner. Very unlikely that these athletes can be circumvented by other comeback: as close to the Swede is indeed Simen Hegstad KrÃ¼ger (now 22th), trailing by 3 minutes and 51 '' from Ustiugov. Turned the fight to get into the top 10, that will be carried De Fabiani - currently tenth - along with Dyrhaug, Holund, Jean Marc Gaillard (11th at the finish line) and Didrik TÃ¸nseth, only 35th in today's race. In the overall World Cup, Sundby brings to 250 the points margin ahead of Ustiugov (796 against 546). Heikkinen consolidates third place at 515. Fourth remains Finn Haagen Krogh, 455 share, followed by Harvey 418. 15 KM TC MASS START MEN VAL DI FIEMME - FINAL 1. Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) 40: 40.0 2. Sergey USTIUGOV (RUS) +2: 2 3. Matti Heikkinen (FIN) +2: 8 4. Francesco DE FABIANI (ITA) +3: 2 5. LARKOV Andrey (RUS) +3.3 6. Niklas Dyrhaug (NOR) +3.5 7. Dario Cologna (SUI) +3.8 8. BESSMERTNYKH Alexander (RUS) +3.9 9. Hans Christer HOLUND (NOR) +9.9 10. Marcus Hellner (SWE) +10.3 RANKING TOUR DE SKI MEN 1. Sergey USTIUGOV (RUS) 2: 54: 20.2 2. Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) +1: 11.9 3. Dario Cologna (SUI) +2: 04.1 4. Matti Heikkinen (FIN) +2: 32.9 5. Maurice Manificat (FRA) +2: 34.6 6. Alex Harvey (CAN) +2: 42.5 7. Marcus Hellner (SWE) +2: 54.5 8. Simen Hegstad KRÃœGER (NOR) +3: 51.3 9. Niklas Dyrhaug (NOR) +4: 36.6 10. Francesco DE FABIANI (ITA) +4: 36.9