December 28, 2008 (Oberholf, Ger) – Defending World Cup champ, Virpi Kuitunen (Fin), won the women’s 10km Pursuit /Handicap start race in 23:56.7 on Sunday, Stage 2 of the 3rd annual TdS, to take the overall lead while Marit Bjoergen (Nor) was 2nd and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 3rd in today’s competition. Canada’s Sara Renner finished 14th today again and is 13th overall.

“The pace was fast right off the beginning for me today and I was in the top-10 for the first two loops, but then had no legs for the third lap. I fought really hard today,” said Renner in a Cross Country Canada release after day two of the nine-day grind. “As an athlete, you have to give it your best effort out here everyday and can’t leave anything out there. I hope to find my sprinting legs for tomorrow.”

“I am getting close to my Torino shape but feel I have another step to go to get there,” added Renner, who is enjoying the thrill of racing against the world’s best athletes again. “I have a whole knew perspective and enjoyment for life on the road now, and appreciate the opportunity to have another shot at this.”

Men’s Race – Kershaw 3rd
Canada’s Devon Kershaw is 3rd overall after finishing 3rd today in the men’s 15km Pursuit /Handicap start race. Dario Cologna (Sui) who won today’s race is leading the men’s TdS series after Stage 2.

“I am super happy to get my way back onto the World Cup podium,” said Kershaw, who edged out Finland’s Sami Jauhojärvi in a photo finish during the second leg of the seven-race journey. “I knew with the final one kilometre it was a sprint race and I was surrounded by distance skiers so I played it smart and did exactly what I wanted to do. This is a huge accomplishment for me.”

The third-place finish marks the third trip to the World Cup podium for the 2006 Olympian, but first in a distance race. Kershaw finished second in a skate-sprint race in the opening day of the 2007 Tour de Ski, and also has a third-place finish in a skate-sprint race in 2006 following the Olympics in Sweden.

“To be able to podium in a distance race is so important to me especially given my age and experience,” added Kershaw, who is regularly near the top of the leader board with the world’s best athletes. “I am super relaxed and trust my shape so much more now. Success breeds success and I can trust myself a lot more.”

Full women’s results and overall pdf here.
Full men’s results and overall pdf here

Results (brief)

Overall after Stage 2

Women (race time in 10km classic)

1. Virpi Kuitunen (Fin) 30:23.2 (23:56.7)
2. Marit Bjoergen (Nor) 30:25.4 (24:00.6)
3. Justyna Kowalczyk (Pol) 30:29.4 (24:14.9)
4. Arianna Follis (Ita) 30:31.9 (24:23.6)
5. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 30:33.9 (24:07.1)

13. Sara Renner (Can) 31:18.1 (24:44.5)

Men (race time in 15km classic)

1. Dario Cologna (Sui) 43:05.1 (35.55.1)
2. Axel Teichmann (Ger) 43:09.9 (36.13.9)
3. Devon Kershaw (Can) 43:31.5 (36:06.5)
4. Sami Jauhojaervi (Fin) 43:31.5 (35:54.5)
5. Tobias Angerer (Ger) 43:33.4 (36:04.4)

27. Ivan Babikov (Can) 43:58.3 (36:11.3)
34. George Grey (Can) 44:21.2 (36:54.2)