January 01, 2014 (Lenzerheide, Switzerland) – Kerttu Niskanen delivered a strong victory for Finland today in the women’s mass start 10km CL fending off challenges from two of Norway’s strongest skiers, Therese Johaug and Astrid Jacobsen, as she captured her first stage World Cup victory at the Tour de Ski.

Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) is all smiles in Lenzerheide with her first stage WCup victory. © Nordic Focus

Niskanen. who attacked at the halfway mark reversing a 56-second deficit to take the lead couldn’t be reeled in despite numerous attempts by the Norwegian posse chasing her, becoming the fifth athlete at this year’s Tour to earn an inaugural stage World Cup. With the departure of Marit Bjoergen this morning due to illness, Jacobsen took over the race lead as skiers enjoy the second rest day tomorrow.

The top North American was Liz Stephen who placed 26th moving up from 37th at the start as the distance skiers will strut their stuff over the remaing three stages. Fans will remember that last year, Stephen had the second fastest time up Alpe Cermis, the final stage at the Tour.

Final podium (l-r) Johaug 2nd, Niskanen 1st, Jacobsen 3rd. © Nordic Focus

Jesse Diggins, who was skiing well in 21st started to feel the affects of racing each day and fell back to 32nd at the finish while Sophie Caldwell ended up 33rd on the day and 16th overall as today was her last race at her inagural Tour.

The USA’s Holly Brooks finished 50th, Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova was 59th and fellow Canuck Perianne Jones was on today’s start line as 11 skiers in total abandoned the Tour today. Norway’s Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, 10th today retains the Sprint leaders bib but will withdraw tomorrow to prepare for the next World Cup sprint weekend in Nove Mesto, Cze. Jan. 11-12.

“The bright spot today was Liz Stephen having a strong classic race and moving up the Tour standings to 22nd. Her classic race demonstrates the kind of form that she is in and highlights her potential to really climb the ranks in the last three stages.

“With Jessie Diggins in 21st, Liz in 22nd and Holly Brooks in 42nd in the Tour standings, all are poised to really move up the ranks in Toblach and in Val di Fiemme where the focus will be on distance skate races – a technique and format that favors all three women. Their forward progress will be accelerated by the fact that Sophie and few other athletes will be abandoning the Tour now,” commented Chris Grover, US Cross Country Head Coach.

After Thursday’s rest day the Tour de Ski will move to Italy for Stages 5, 6 and 7.

Full results here.