March 12, 2011 (Lahti, Finland) – Following the Oslo 2011 World Championships it was back to business for the Viessmann FIS XC World Cup where overall leader Dario Cologna (SUI) had something to prove given his less than stellar performance at the championships in Norway.

But Cologna was not the only starter aiming for the podium and his victory in the men’s 20km Pursuit came as a result of strong skiing and tactical precision as several challengers emerged with the final two, Maurice Manificat and Vincent Vittoz of France, trying to unseat him near the finish.

Near the front the entire race was Canadian strongman Ivan Babikov, sitting in 55th spot overall,  and looking for his ticket into the top-50 Red Group to make the cut for the upcoming World Cup Finals in Sweden next week. The two-time Olympian was up to the challenge with a top level performance as he claimed 8th overall on the day.

“It was a pretty good race for me, I struggled a bit on classic part, but was able to pull back to the pack on skating,” Babikov, now in 44th spot overall, told SkiTrax post race.

“I knew that I felt good in last couple weeks, but sometimes the race is just not going the way you want it to go. Today, was better, so I’m pretty happy with my 8th place. Hopefully I will be able to ski as strong in Falun.”

Babikov’s teammates started off well but suddenly Alex Harvey who was also near the front could not be found. We found out later in a CCC release that his back began to seize up during the first lap of the skate leg and he pulled out as a precaution.

Devon Kershaw, who fell ill in Oslo and missed the team relay and final 50km skate there, was back on the start line but struggled to keep pace as the race progressed ending up 22nd. Whitehorse skier, Graham Nishikawa, who topped the NorAm standings to earn a ticket to the WCup finished in 57th.

Top US distance skier Kris Freeman was the lone American on the start line when Lars Flora did not start as he woke up sick according to US coach Matt Whitcomb and “…I’d guess will not be starting [the sprints] tomorrow.”

Freeman had a superb classic leg skiing near the front with Babikov and Harvey but couldn’t stay with there during the skate leg and finished 26th overall.

“Our wax crew put the athletes on great boards on a tricky day and Freeman showed today that his fitness is moving in the right direction,” Whitcomb told SkiTrax. “His classic skiing looks to be closing back in on the top-10.  While he said the skating leg was more survival mode than attack, he skied solidly and never cracked, balancing pace and sugar well. He will sprint tomorrow.”

For Cologna, the winner of this year’s Tour de Ski, it was form of redemption after his lackluster Championships. He knew what he had to do, but knowing and doing don’t always merge. Today they did for the talented Swiss skier.

He broke away during the classic leg with Sweden’s Daniel Rickardsson and Lukas Bauer (CZE) but their lead was short-lived as the hungry pack soon caught them on the 10km skating leg.

First the Italians tried their luck and then Matti Heikkinen (FIN) took a run at it but Cologna marked them all gaining important bonus points along the way when it counted. Rickardsson was leading at the 18.5km mark but the pack would not give in.

Then Manificat and Vittoz moved to the front and made waves that only Cologna could challenge. As the three formed a small gap it was enough to set the stage for the run to the finish line with Vittoz, an Olympic gold medalist, leading the charge.

Cologna counter attacked and dropped the two Frenchman up a small climb and as Manificat tried desperately to reel him in the Swiss bullet was not catchable claiming the gold with Manificat second and Vittoz third.

With his victory Cologna secured the overall World Cup title with 1,367 points before the series wraps up in Falun, grabbing the distance crown as well. Norway’s Petter Northug is second with 894 points and Rickardsson is third overall with 816 points.

“I’m very satisfied with my race and it is good to be on the podium again. I felt strong today and I knew I could win,” Cologna said in a FIS XC post-race interview.

“It was good to try something and go away with Rickardsson and Bauer. I had good skis in the last downhill. I knew I had a good chance to win. I will be at the start tomorrow. The sprint has long uphill and that suits me. In the last World Cups I want to have fun and enjoy skiing. I have had a good season World Cup victory and Tour de Ski title.”

Full results HERE.