January 10, 2010 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Lukas Bauer (CZE) left no doubt that he was out to win today’s 8th and final men’s 10km Free stage at the Tour de Ski, with 425-metre climb to the top of Alpe Cermis. Bauer, who won the Tour de Ski in 2008, started 8 seconds behind Petter Northug (NOR), caught him at 4.5km, and surged ahead with a relentless pace that dropped the Norwegian hard.

Bauer’s finishing time of 33:51.7 was a full one minute, 16 seconds ahead of Northug, while 2009 Tour winner, Dario Cologna (SUI), took the final podium spot in third at 1:32.2. Swedish fans were bolstered by Marcus Hellner’s fourth place, 1:41 back. Jean-Marc Gaillard (FRA) made a push to stay with Cologna and Hellner in the last 500 meters but did not have the legs and settled for fifth at 1:52.6.

For Canada, Ivan Babikov, who won this final TdS stage last year and thrives on these hill climbs, started in 13th and moved up to 9th overall, at 3:31.8, ahead of Italian veteran Giorgio Di Centa. Devon Kershaw, who started close to Babikov, finished 16th overall at 5:36.9, while Alex Harvey was 22nd, at 7:58.2.

Babikov, of Canmore, Alta. charged to the front of the pack to clock the fourth best time of day 33:48.7, his best finish of the year in the 10km pursuit race. “I am pretty satisfied, but I do think I was giving mercy to myself and I could have taken a little bit more pain,” said Babikov, who also posted the fastest time on Stage 6 of the Tour and was just under 3 seconds off the fastest time today. “I just tired to keep fighting the whole time and never give up. I tested myself to the limit and passed as many people as I could so I have to be satisfied.”

Babikov made history last year when he won the gold medal on the final TdS stage making him the first Canadian since Pierre Harvey to win a World Cup race. “This is my best Tour finish (9th) so it was a good experience, but our whole team could not perform at this level without the amazing job our wax team and support staff did out here,” added Babikov. “We’ve been racing so many days in a row that it is hard to believe we have tomorrow off. But I’m looking forward to getting home. My shape is good and I’m ready to prepare for the Olympics.”

With files from Cross Country Canada.

Unofficial live timing results here.
Men’s Stage 8 Handicap Start full results here.
Men’s Stage 8 Val Climb results here (pdf) or here.
Men’s Final TdS Overall here.

Results (brief)

1. Lukas Bauer (CZE) 33:51.7
2. Petter Northug (NOR) +1:16.4
3. Dario Cologna (SUI) +1:32.2
4. Marcus Hellner (SWE) +1:41.4
5. Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA) +1:52.6

9. Ivan Babikov (CAN) +3:31.8
16. Devon Kershaw (CAN) 5:36.9
22. Alex Harvey (CAN) +7:58.2

Final Overall (brief)

1. Lukas Bauer (CZE) 4:13:10.6
2. Petter Northug (NOR) 4:14:27.0 (+1:16.4)
3. Dario Cologna (SUI) 4:14:42.8 (+1:32.2)
4. Marcus Hellner (SWE) 4:14:52.0 (+1:41.4)
5. Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA) 4:15:03.2 (+1:52.6)

9. Ivan Babikov (CAN) +3:31.8
16. Devon Kershaw (CAN) 5:36.9
22. Alex Harvey (CAN) +7:58.2