January 19, 2013 (La Clusaz, France) – In a nailbiter of a finish a final attack by Russia’s Alexander Bessmertnykh on the inside up the final climb before the finish took everyone by surprise except for Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ) who had his own designs on how the men’s 15km CL mass start race was going to play out.

As Bessmertnykh surged ahead into the finishing lanes on the outside track, having dispensed with Dario Cologna (SUI), Alexander Legkov (RUS) and Norway’s Didrik Toenseth, who also surprised the field with a late-race push, the wily Poltoranin took the inside lane and blasted to the line lunging for the win by 1/4 of a ski length ahead of Bessmertnykh. Cologna grabbed third as the pack flew in behind.

The big story for the North Americans was known sprinter Andy Newell (USA) landing in the points in 28th and leading both the USA and Canadian fields. His teammate Noah Hoffman started strong and was as high as 16th at one point but fell back and didn’t recover finishing 68th. Tad Elliott placed 69th.

Likewise the Canadians were not on form as Ivan Babikov finished 38th and Alex Harvey was 42nd with Len Valjas in 50th. Babikov and Harvey looked poised to do something but when the pace picked up at the halfway point they were not in the game. According to head coach Justin Wadsworth the men went on hard wax and the track glazed over – “…us and Finland both got caught out.”

Devon Kershaw did not start and has been sick recently following the Tour de Ski and perhaps decided to rest up for Sunday’s relay… “Devon got food poisoning, and is still in rough shape so no relay,” added Wadsworth.

Full results HERE.