January 1, 2010 (Oberhof, Germany) – Petra Majdic (SLO) has won the opening Prologue event at the 2010 Tour de Ski, a 2.8km free style sprint with a time of 6:35.3, just 2.1 seconds ahead of Russian Natalia Korosteleva and 6.3 seconds ahead of sprint favourite, Justyna Kowalczyk (POL). Canada’s lone female, Sara Renner, finished tied for 27th at 23.9 seconds with Celia Bourgeois (Fra). There were seven ties and one four-way tie at the afternoon race. Athletes had to be fighting for every 1/10th of a second over the 6+ minute long course.

In the men’s 3.7km competition it was Norwegian ace Petter Northug stamping his mark on the 2010 Tour de Ski with the win in 7:37 while Canada’s George Grey signaled he’s ready for action leading the North American charge in 17th at 12.7s with team mate Alex Harvey just behind in 18th at 12.9s.

“It wasn’t a bad result and I am happy with it, but I was looking for a little more and a top-10 today,” said Grey. “I do look forward to the Prologue races and have done well in them for whatever reason. This is a good result to start things off.”

Sweden’s Marcus Hellner was second at 0.8 sec with local favourite Axel Teichmann was third at 2.0s and last year’s TdS and WCup overall winner, Dario Cologna (Sui), was just behind in 4th at 2.5s. Canada’s Devon Kershaw finished in 37th at 17.2s, Andy Newell (USA) was 48th at 20.7s and Ivan Babikov (Can) was 50th with a time of 7:58.9 at 21.5s behind Northug.

Grey, who enjoyed a breakthrough season last year where he captured his first World Cup medal at Whistler Olympic Park in the team sprint (with Harvey), was ninth at the 2009 TdS Prologue in Oberhof. “You really have to take it day-by-day in the Tour, but you can’t hold back either,” said Grey. “I am going to be a little more aggressive than usual this year, and you just hope the energy follows you with each charge that you make because it is a long event.”

“This was a pretty good start for us today, particularly George and Alex were quite strong,” said Dave Wood, team leader, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team. “Things are so tight in both the men’s and women’s and while we may be higher in the results, we are seconds away from the top-15 and not far from the fight. We expect things will change tomorrow.”

Women’s Prologue full results here.
Men’s Prologue full results here.

Women’s TdS Sprint Overall here.
Men’s TdS Sprint Overall here.

Women’s TdS Overall here.
Men’s TdS Overall here.

With files from Cross Country Canada.

Results

Women

1. Petra Majdic (SLO) 6:35.3
2. Natalia Korosteleva (RUS) +2.1
3. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) +6.3
4. Arianne Follis (ITA) +7.0
5. Miriam Goessner (GER) +12.7

27T. Sara Renner (CAN) +23.9

Men

1. Petter Northug (Nor) 7:37
2. Marcus Hellner (SWE) +0.8
3. Axel Teichmann (POL) +2.0
4. Dario Cologna (SUI) +2.5

17. George Grey (CAN) +12.7
18. Alex Harvey (CAN) +12.9
37. Devon Kershaw (CAN) +17.2
48. Andy Newell (USA) +20.7
50. Ivan Babikov (CAN) +21.5