January 5, 2009 – With the ending of Stage 7 on the Alpe Cermais, the third annual Tour de Ski came to a dramatic conclusion. And it couldn’t have been much better. This year’s TdS was the best ever, and I’ve announced at all three of them.

Seven stages in nine days, with two rest/transfer days. From the heart of the former East Germany winter sports center of Oberhof, Germany to the glittering bohemian city center of Prague, to the forests of Nove Mesto and on to the Val di Fiemme area in the Trentino region, home to two World Championships.

The daily caravan included 470 coaches, athletes, doctors, waxing techs and physios. More than 1 metric ton of wax was used, the longest transfer day included 1,270 kilometers of driving – not exactly a rest day !

From the first day in Oberhof, where both German team mates were awarded their red bibs (leader’s jersey), it was a great day for Claudia Nystad and Axel Teichmann on home snows. All in all the whole TdS show was outstanding, wrapping up Sunday in Italy.

On the last day, the final truth was that Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen and 22 year-old Swiss sensation, Dario Cologna, won the TdS rather handily. The were several interesting threads to the final chapter. Did you notice that although Cologna was first across the line on the final stage, the individual race winner was Canmore’s Ivan Babikov? He’s super tough at that kind of thing. Or that while Kuitunen won the overall crown, yesterday’s fastest time for the women was recorded by Norwegian Theresa Johaug ?

Canada’s Sara Renner had a great TdS leading into yesterday’s last stage where she finished 22nd dropping her to 15th overall. While Devon Kershaw also performed well finishing 21st overall.

Let’s take a look at my Top 12 List, with apologies to David Letterman.

1. Nystad and Teichmann winning in Oberhof. Great day for the home country; Germany. Kershaw 5th, Grey in 9th, Renner in 14th. It’s only day one.

2. Stage 2 where eventual winners Kuitunen and Cologna first wore the red leader’s bibs. Kershaw continues the roll with a third place finish.

3. Stage 3 where Arrianna Follis of Italy and Tor Arne Hetland take the sprints in Prague.

4. Race officials announce that over 100 million people are watching the TdS. Is that cool or what ?

5. Prize money of over 110,000 Euros is on the line, plus two new cars. What a great pay day, things are getting better. Great for the sport !

6. Petra Majdic – good overall, but super at sprinting… runs on pure guts. Always smiling.

7. Marit Bjoergen kept close for most of the tour, with a goal of placing on the podium but despite her best efforts, she slipped to 10th in the Overall GC.

8. Best Food: for those that bought a ticket for the final climb up Alpe Cermais, there was a taste of Trentino with many food stages, and ample quantities of grappa, vino and beer, at each station to fortify the spectators for their efforts.

9. Best stats – the numbers don’t lie…. the final climb in Val di Fiemme is our own Alpe d’Huez of Tour de France fame. In the final 3.5km of climbing there was an altitude gain of 425 meters, max grade of 28%, and an average grade of 12 to 14%.

10. The amazing power and fitness displayed not only by the winners, but in fact, the entire field.

11. Award for best day in and day out “sisu” – this could always be the winners for sure, but I chose the likes of Justyna Kowalcyzk, Petra Majdic,Theresa Johaug, Valentina Shevchenko, Devon Kershaw, Sami Jauhojaervi, Petter Northug, Vassili Rotcev, Nickolay Chebotko. Each day giving their all.

12. The Hardest Working Man in show business award” goes to my Olympic co-commentator from Salt Lake in 2002, the insightful, expert PA announcer, Kjell Erik Kristensen, who made each day’s race easy to follow and a joy to hear.

Another TdS is in the books, a great event and getting better each year. I can’t wait for the next one. Onward….