January 05, 2014 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Martin Johnsrud Sundby finally did what no other Norwegian man has been able to accomplish – he won the Tour de Ski. His teammate Chris Jespersen was a revelation this year at his inaugural Tour earned high marks as well as he placed second overall with the second fastest time on the final 9km FR Stage 7 up Alpe Cermis.

The great Petter Northug Jr. is still great, but it seems the Tour title or even the final podium may be outside of his grasp as the gruelling final climb remains his undoing. First Jespersen passed him and then Austria’s Johannes Duerr charged by him as well with fastest time of the day landing third on the final podium.

For the Canadian camp it was also a day to give thanks as Ivan Babikov had the fourth fastest time moving up to 16th from his start in 21st despite breaking another pole about 1km from the start – the same thing happened to him during the 35km FR race in Cortina.

Babikov had the fastest time up Cermis back in 2009 and was second fastest last year to claim 7th overall, his best result at the Tour. According to Russian-born skier who makes Canmore, Alta. his home… “I just love climbing and I just go with it.”

“Ivan was really good today. He is just so tough and good technically going up that mountain,” said Justin Wadsworth, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team in a team release. “You can be extremely fit, but that climb takes a special person because you need to be fit but you also have to be really good technically. Ivan is a perfect mix and he has such good technique.”

For the American camp Noah Hoffman was the lone skier on the start line hoping for a top-20 finish ending up 25th overall as he pushed to the very end and managed to move up a commendable six spots from his starting position in 31st.

“It was not quite the day I was hoping for, but I am satisfied with my improvement in the Tour over last season. Conditions were tough today because the precipitation switched from rain to snow just as the girls were starting. By the time the men started it was very slow. I struggled on the first five kilometers of the course down the valley from the stadium to the base of Alpe Cermis.

“I’m not sure why and I’m disappointed with my skiing, but I feel I skied well once we hit the base of the climb. I narrowly missed my goal of a top-20 finish in the tour, but I’m looking forward to another opportunity next year. In the meantime I have a lot of other goals to accomplish this season. I’m looking forward to a short break then a great training camp in Seiser Alm, Italy before the World Cup race in Poland,” the Hoff told SkiTrax once the dust settled on the day.

Full results here.
TdS Overall here.