February 29, 2016 (Gatineau, Que.) – Norway looks set to win the top three positions for the third consecutive season. Last season Norway won the top six positions in the overall World Cup, a new record. Norway has won the top three positions on three previous occasions (1984/85, 2013/14 and 2014/15). The only other country to manage this feat is Russia (1994/95).

Therese Johaug will finish on the overall World Cup podium for the fifth consecutive season, one more than Marit Bjørgen has managed in her career so far. The record is held by Elena Välbe, who finished on the podium in nine consecutive seasons from 1989-1997. Bente Skari and Justyna Kowalczyk have finished on the podium in six consecutive seasons.

Therese Johaug (NOR) © Nordic Focus

The last eight World Cup Tours have seen a Norwegian winner (Bjørgen 4, Johaug 4), since Justyna Kowalczyk won Tour de Ski in January 2013.

In total, Norway has won 14 of the 23 World Cup Tours held. Poland (Kowalczyk) has won five Tours. Finland three and Sweden one. Norway did not win any of the first six World Cup Tours held, but has won 14 of the last 17 starting with Marit Bjørgen winning the World Cup Final in March 2010

Only five different athletes have won a World Cup Tour. Marit Bjørgen (10), Justyna Kowalczyk (5), Therese Johaug (4), Virpi Kuitunen (3) and Charlotte Kalla (1).

Bjoergen takes the Sprint Cup globe © Nordic Focus

Therese Johaug has won the two first World Cup Tours of this season. Johaug could be the first woman to win all three World Cup Tours in a season. Johaug could also be the first woman to win three consecutive World Cup Tours. Marit Bjørgen has won two Tours in a row on five occasions. Therese Johaug has the most podiums in overall World Cup Tours with 14, one ahead of Marit Bjørgen (13). Justyna Kowalczyk is third with 10 podiums.

With her next stage win, Therese Johaug will equal Justyna Kowalczyk in second place in the all-time list with 19 Tour stage victories. Marit Bjørgen has the most stage wins with 27.

Since Kerttu Niskanen won 10km classic style in the Tour de Ski on 1st January 2014, Norwegian athletes have won 24 of the 26 Tour stages held. The two remaining stages have been won by athletes from the USA, Sophie Caldwell and Jessica Diggins winning one stage each in this year’s Tour de Ski.

Men

Martin Johnsrud Sundby looks set to become the third man to win the overall World Cup in three consecutive seasons. Bjørn Dæhlie (1994/95-1996/1997) and Gunde Svan (1983/84-1985/1986) are the two previous athletes to manage this feat.

Martin Johnsrud Sundby © Nordic Focus

Ahead of the Ski Tour Canada, Norway is holding the top four positions in the overall World Cup. If Norway takes the top four positions, it will be the first time a country wins more than the top three positions in the overall World Cup. Norway has never before won all the top three positions on the podium on the overall World Cup in the men’s competition. The only country to manage this is Sweden in 1986/1987 (Torgny Mogren, Thomas Wassberg, Gunde Svan).

Martin Johnsrud Sundby has won the last seven World Cup Tours held. He is unbeaten in Tours since he won the 3-days opening Tour in December 2013. No other athlete, male or female, has won more than two consecutive World Cup Tours.

With seven Tour-victories, Sundby has more than any other men. Dario Cologna and Petter Northug have five wins each. Only Marit Bjørgen has more wins in overall World Tours with 10. Martin Johnsrud Sundby has won 12 World Cup events this season, a new season record, ahead of Petter Northug’s nine in 2009/2010 and 2012/2013.

Dario Cologna (SUI) © Nordic Focus

Sundby has 16 World Cup podiums this season, equal with Northug from 09/10 in second place in the all-time list. First is Dario Cologna with 20 podiums from 2011/2012-season.
Petter Northug has the most overall podiums in World Cup Tour among the men with 12. Dario Cologna has 10, while Sundby is third with eight.

Northug has won 18 World Cup Tour stages, twice as many as Dario Cologna in second on the all-time list with nine. Martin Johnsrud Sundby has seven wins, the same as Lukas Bauer. Northug is equal with Therese Johaug on 18 stage wins. With his next win he will equal Justyna Kowalczyk on 19 stage wins. Marit Bjørgen has the most stage wins with 27.
Northug and Johaug are also equal on stage podiums in World Cup Tours, 42 each. Only Marit Bjørgen (51) has more.