January 1, 2009 (Nove Mesto, Cze) – Lots of sprint bonus seconds were up for grabs in Thursday’s 1.2km free technique Sprint, before the Tour de Ski teams head south to Italy for the final two stages in Val di Fiemme. Today the athletes were treated to overcast skies and cold temperatures as they readied themselves for the race.

Italy’s Arianna Follis retained her TdS Sprint King bib by winning today’s event ahead of World Cup Sprint leader Petra Majdic of Slovenia. In third was Finland’s Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, who after today’s result will now wear the overall women’s leader bib. She trailed teammate and overall women’s leader Virpi Kuitunen, in 8th today, by just over five seconds, but with sprint time bonuses Saarinen took over the leader’s bib. Canada’s Sara Renner qualified in 20th position but a 5th place finish in her quarterfinal heat relegated her to 23rd for the day. As it stands now Saarinen leads, followed by Kuitunen in second with Norway’s Marit Bjoergen in third. Despite today’s 23rd placing Renner has moved up to 12th overall heading into the final two races.

After qualifying in 20th spot for the round of 30, which has six athletes racing at one time, the 32-year-old Renner got off to a good start in her quarter-final heat. Sitting in second spot for most of the 1.2-kilometre sprint around the Nove Mesto course, Renner got squeezed out in a corner and could not respond to the torrid pace, and did not advance to the second round.

“I think I’m old,” joked Renner following the race. “I don’t quite have the snap and can’t find the extra gear to respond to the pace.”

“I think this is a reflection of the training that I’ve been doing. I have really been focusing on distance races and realize it is going to take time and a couple of workouts with Chandra (Crawford) to get back my sprinting legs,” said Renner “I just didn’t have the wheaties today.”

In the men’s race Norway’s sprinters have started to come on strong placing three skiers in the “A” Final. In the end it was Petter Northug of Norway who won, just ahead of his countrymen and Tds Sprint Leader, Tor Arne Hetland. In third was Italy’s veteran sprinter Cristian Zorzi. Overall TdS leader Dario Cologna picked up valuable sprint time after placing 5th in the “A” Final enabling him to retain and extend his overall lead. Canada’s Devon Kershaw, the lone Canuck racing today, qualified well again in 5th place but a fourth-place finish in his quarterfinal bumped him back to 17th for the day.

“Sprinting is just not going my way at the Tour,” said a frustrated Kershaw who has qualified first and fifth in both sprint competitions. “It is frustrating to have days like this and I should be better. The key is I have my form and that is very important heading into the next two events which are going to be the toughest on the Tour.”

In the men’s competition, race leader Cologna now has 23.5 seconds over Russia’s Vassili Rotchev in second, with Norway’s Eldar Roenning who has been steadily climbing in the overall standings from day one, in third. Kershaw has moved into 7th overall at 1:26 min behind Cologna. Fellow Canuck Ivan Babikov has moved up one spot to 31st overall, while George Grey now sits in 40th.

Today’s sprint results Men
Todays sprint results Women.

Overall Women
Overall Men

Results (brief)

Women

1. Arianna Follis (Ita)
2. Petra Majdic (Slo)
3. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin)
4. Magda Genuin (Ita)
5. Alena Prochazkova (Svk)

23. Sara Renner (Can)

Men

1. Petter Northug (Nor)
2. Tor Arne Hetland (Nor)
3. Cristian Zorzi (Ita)
4. John Kristian Dahl (Nor)
5. Dario Cologna (Sui)

17. Devon Kershaw (Can)
36. George Grey (Can)
54. Ivan Babikov (Can)

Overall

Women

1. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 59:30.4
2. Virpi Kuitunen (Fin) +13.8
3. Marit Bjoergen (Nor) +37.0
4. Petra Majdic (Slo) +44.1
5. Arianna Follis (Ita) +52.8

12. Sara Renner (Can) +3.26.2

Men

1. Dario Cologna (Sui) 1:26:02.4
2. Vassili Rotchev (Rus) +23.5
3. Eldar Roenning (Nor) +32.5
4. Petter Northug (Nor) +48.5
5. Axel Teichmann (Ger) +55.9

7. Devon Kershaw (Can) +1:26
31. Ivan Babikvo (Can) +3:05.8
40. George Grey (Can) +4:18