January 04, 2013 (Toblach/Cortina, Italy) – Justyna Kowalczyk’s one-woman Tour de Ski is a tough act to follow as she decimated the field with just over a 16-second margin in the women’s 3.3km CL Stage 5 race, as the battle for second is a close affair between Charlotte Kalla (SWE) and Therese Johaug (NOR) – Kalla leads by 2.3s.

Meanwhile the USA’s Kikkan Randall continues to strut her distance stuff as she nailed a strong 7th place finish and moved up into 7th overall tied with Germany’s Denise Herrmann and is within striking distance of the top 5. Last year she finished 10th and looks destined to improve on that great result.

Her teammate Jessie Diggins was just out of the points today in 32nd with Holly Brooks in 38th and Liz Stephen finishing 45th. Stephen is 20th overall and is gunning to better her 24th-place from last year. Diggins is 27th overall in her TdS debut while Brooks is in 34th ahead of last year when she was 39th overall.

The last two stages play out this weekend with the final Alp Cermis climb likely on everyone’s mind.

Results HERE.
Overall standings after Stage 5 HERE.