January 1, 2010 (Oberhof, Germany) – The weather forecast for Stage 2 of the 2010 Tour de Ski calls for temperatures just below zero tonight and some slight snow (1 cm) in the early morning hours. As of 9am, it should clear up and be partially cloudy with around -2 to -3 C for most the day. At night from Saturday to Sunday, again clear but a bit colder, perhaps -5C.

FIS XC Race Director Jürg Capol commented “It will be tight but exciting racing tomorrow. Especially in the men’s competition we will see how the free technique specialists, for example Marcus Hellner, will be able to follow the lead group. It’s an important day, but you will not lose the Tour tomorrow, either. Each day counts in the Tour. We also expect some race tactics by several of the Tour favorites as it’s a long time until Sunday, January 10 and the Final Climb in Italy.”

The procedure on Saturday will be a handicap start. No bonus seconds will be awarded and the first athlete at the finish is also the winner of the day and the Tour leader. All athletes from Friday’s prologue, with the exception of Miriam Goessner, will be at the start of (Saturday’s) 10km C / 15km C race – 74 women and 87 men will continue following the Prologue. It will be an exciting competition.

The gap among the top 30 men is not more than 30 seconds. Petter Northug (NOR) has gained an advantage of six (6) sec over Marcus Hellner (SWE) and 12 seconds over Axel Teichmann (GER). Canadians George Grey and Alex Harvey start in 17th and 18th at 28 seconds back; Devon Kershaw is 27th at +32 seconds; Andy Newell (USA) is 48th and Ivan Babikov (CAN) is 51st both at +36 seconds;

Petra Majdic (SLO) will hit the 10km C at 7s before Natalia Korosteleva of Russia and 16s ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk (POL). Sara Renner (CAN) starts in 27th place at 39 seconds behind Majdic.

Women’s 10km C Handicap Start List here.
Men’s 15km C Handicap Start List here.