December 29, 2008 (Prague, Cze) – Day 3 of the 2008/2009 Tour de Ski travelled to the beautiful Czech city of Prague. The relatively flat 1.2-kilometre course wound through the streets of one of the most famous exhibition grounds in Central Europe. In the men’s qualifications Canada’s Devon Kershaw showed no signs of fatigue following yesterday’s third place podium result in the 15km classic pursuit, as he qualified with the fastest time just ahead of Russia’s Vassili Rotchev. Arianna Follis of Italy won the women’s qualifier and went on to win in the finals as well. After qualifying 4th, sprint veteran Tor Arne Hetland of Norway, won the men’s event over Rotchev in the finals.

Kershaw carried his top speed into the heats, and was poised to move onto the second round, but crashed in a corner while attempting to make a move on a Swedish skier and was last to cross the finish line in his heat. Kershaw now sits in 11th spot overall.

Canadians George Grey and Sara Renner both qualified in the sprint rounds. Grey qualified 25th and moved up to 19th in the rounds. Renner qualified 22rd and slipped to 23nd. Fellow Canuck Ivan Babikov qualified in 57th and did not advance.

“I am kind of disappointed because I made so many attempts to get by people but couldn’t get anywhere,” said Renner, who now sits in 14th overall. “I had the legs to fight today. I am looking forward to the day off and to get some rest.”

Following today’s sprint Dario Cologna of Switzerland remains the men’s overall leader after finishing 8th in the sprint, while Follis takes over the women’s leader’s jersey in the Tour de Ski with her win today. The Canadians now sit with Kershaw in 11th, Renner 14th, Babikov 32nd, and Grey in 34th.

Athletes will get their first break in the nine-day affair on Tuesday. The fourth stage of the Tour de Ski takes place on Wednesday, December 31 with a distance race in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.

Men’s sprint results here.
Women’s sprint results here.

Men’s Overall TdS standings here.
Women’s Overall TdS standings here.

Results (brief)

Men

1. Tor Arne Hetland (Nor)
2. Vassili Rotchev (Rus)
3. Jean Marc Gaillard (Fra)
4. Sami Jauhojaervi (Fin)
5. John Kristian Dahl

22. George Grey (Can)
26. Devon Kershaw (Can)
57. Ivan Babikov (Can)

Women

1. Arianna Follis (Ita)
2. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin)
3. Petra Majdic (Slo)
4. Pirjo Muranen (Fin)
5. Marthe Kristoffersen (Nor)

23. Sara Renner

Overall after Stage 3

Men

1. Dario Cologna (Sui) 45:01.4
2. Vassili Rotchev (Rus) 45:16.8
3. Jean Marc Gaillard (Fra) 45:19.5
4. Sami Jauhujaervi (Fin) 45:21.5
5. Petter Northug (Nor) 45:29.5

11. Devon Kershaw (Can) 45:59.6
32. Ivan Babikov (Can) 46:44.8
34. George Grey (Can) 46:47.7

Women

1. Arianna Follis (Ita) 32:23.9
2. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 32:31.9
3. Marit Bjoergen (Nor) 32:37.0
4. Justyna Kowalczyk (Pol) 32:56.1
5. Petra Majdic (Slo) 32:58.4

14. Sara Renner (Can) 34:09.9