December 31, 2011 (Obertsdorf, Germany) – Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk was on fire again today nailing her third consecutive TdS win taking the women’s 1.2km CL Sprint as Kikkan Randall suffered a surprising and unfortnate fall as she rounded the final corner heading into the finishing straight about 200m from the line. She and Kowalczyk had a comfortable lead over the chase group that included Marit Bjoergen (NOR). Conditions were challenging again with rain and snow making it challenging for the wax teams and the skiers on course as several crashed like Randall.

“OMG, I’m not even sure what really happened,” Randall told us post-race. “I think one of my skis may have grabbed and then crossed over my other ski and it just flipped me into the air. It was a total surprise.” (check back for more from Randall on her fitness and the Tour).

Randall looked strong all day placing fourth in the qualifications with Kowalczyk topping the field followed by Bjoergen in second. All three won their 1/4 final heats handily with Randall’s being the fastest as she and Charlotte Kalla (SWE) advanced taking both Lucky Losers, Vesna Fabjan (SLO) and Anastasia Dotsenko (RUS) in their heat, with them to the Semis.

Kowalczyk and Randall matched up their semi with Kowalcyzk leading from the start as two pulled away on the second climb but Randall’s fall gave Aurore Jean from the France a post-Xmas gift into the final. Meanwhile Bjoergen had to recover from a flub at the start to regain control in her semi – the fastest of the day – as Natalia Matveeva (RUS) and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (NOR) both made it thru to the final as Lucky Losers.

In the final, Kowalczyk was taking no prisoners again and was not to be denied as she powered to the front after the gun went off to take an unchallenged win, her third consecutive victory at the Tour de Ski, with Bjoergen settling for second and Ida Ingemarsdotter (SWE) taking third.

Kowalczyk continues to lead the Tour by 22s over Bjoergen with Therese Johaug (NOR) in third followed by  Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) in 4th with Randall at 1:40 in 5th.

Sprint results HERE.
TdS Women’s Standings HERE.