January 03, 2011 (Oberstdorf, Germany) – Sweden delivered a 1-2 punch in the women’s 10km pursuit (5kmCL+5kmF) as Ann Haag took the win followed by Charlotte Kalle in second moving her up to 1:19 behind Tour leader Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) who finished fifth today but made her mark earning 30 bonus seconds. Claiming third was Norway’s Marthe Kristoffersen while Italy’s Arianna Follis finished fourth.

Yesterday’s big winner Petra Majdic (SLO) started strong with Kowalczyk, Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) and Italy’s Marianna Longa setting the pace. Kowalczyk would continue to suffer on the downhills and regain her positioning on the uphills while both Majdic and Saarinen soon began to fall back.

It was Kowalczyk taking the first bonus 15 seconds of the day at 4.5km with Kristoffersen next for 10s and Longa grabbing 5s over Haag who was up there as well.

Longa took over the lead as the women made their exchange and Haag moved up to second with Kowalczyk in third as both Follis and Kalle began to react behind and started to make gains. Majdic continued to hang back in the high teens perhaps fatigued by her efforts in the sprints the day before. The USA’s Kikkan Randall came through the classic leg in 25th hoping to move up in the skating leg.

At the 7.5km mark scored again taking 15 bonus seconds but Kalle was making her presence known moving up to score 10 bonus seconds with Follis grabbing 5s for good measure.

Kalle took over the lead as Therese Johaug (NOR) bridged to the front group with Haag close behind as Krista Lahteenmaki and Riita Liissa Roponen also joined the mix for Finland while Saarinen had faded.

Johaug was now the race leader with Kowalczyk in second followed by Kalle and Haag. Then Kalle attacked taking the inside lane on the final hill and Haag went with her. Kowalczyk tried to respond but as they crested and headed into the final downhill she couldn’t keep up and it was now a race between the Swedes for the win.

Haag led into the finish stretch with Kalla behind to take the win as they both pumped their arms in victory for Sweden followed by a big hug in the finish area.

“I am really proud of what I did today. I am not sure why I was so strong, I really wanted to have a good race, and I just made up my mind to go hard and ski well. I have not done any races this good earlier in Tour de Ski, and I look forward to have a soft, relaxing day tomorrow,” said Haag following her victory.

Kowalczyk was fifth on the day passed by Kristoffersen in third and Follis in 4th and retains her overall lead while Kalle now moves up into second overall with Longa in third. Majdic was able to regroup at the end to finish 10th and sits in 4th overall.

“I am really really really tired, my legs are dead and my hands are cold,” said Kowalczyk. “I struggled a bit both uphill and downhill today, but my skis were not that bad, just a small mistake with the grip. I was very tired in the last uphill, and that hill was all about the Swedish girls.”

The USA’s Randall grabbed 30th in a photo finish over three others scoring a WCup point and dropped to 24th overall.

“It was an average day for me,” said Randall. “I knew today was going to be tough. I had a good classic portion and just missed getting caught in a big crash on the first lap, but struggled and lost a few places in the skate. Climbing felt good and my fitness was ok on the 2nd half but I wasn’t gliding as well in the flats. Definitely looking forward to day off and then a skate sprint!”

A welcome a rest day greets skiers on Tuesday before the Tour resumes on Wednesday in Toblach, Italy with the 1.2km freestyle sprints, Randall’s forte.

Pursuit Results HERE.
Overall HERE
Overall detail HERE.