Norwegian Marit Bjoergen runs during the 10-km women’s pursuit race in the classic style at the FIS Tour de Ski in Oberstdorf, Germany, yesterday. Bjoergen, who has multiple Olympic and world titles but has never won the Tour de Ski, now has a clear lead in the seven-stage Tour de Ski which ends next Sunday in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (EPA)
Marit Bjoergen made it a weekend double in cross-country skiing’s Tour de Ski by winning yesterday’s women’s pursuit race in another Norwegian podium clean sweep.
Norwegian domination was completed by Petter Northug whose late surge earned him victory in the men’s pursuit to give him the Tour lead.
World Cup leader Bjoergen, who won Saturday’s prologue, took the 10-kilometre classic-style pursuit in 29 minutes 27.6 seconds, 56.2 seconds ahead of Heidi Weng, with Therese Johaug third.
Weng had also finished second on Saturday behind Bjoergen, who has multiple Olympic and world titles but has never won the Tour de Ski.
Johaug, the 2014 Tour de Ski winner, improved from fourth on Saturday.
Bjoergen now has a clear lead in the seven-stage Tour de Ski which ends next Sunday in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
“My goal for today was to stay focused on my performance and my competition. “I had perfect skis and very good grip on the climbs,” Bjoergen said.
Northug meanwhile followed up third place in the prologue by winning the 15km men’s pursuit ahead of Alex Harvey of Canada and Sweden’s Calle Halfvarsson.
“There was a lot of fighting for positions. It was better for me stay little bit back and save energy for the last lap,” Northug said.
Swiss three-time Tour winner Dario Cologna, who won Saturday’s prologue ahead of Halfvarsson and Northug, finished sixth.
The Tour now moves to Val Mustair, Switzerland Tuesday for a free technique sprint competition.
In Schonach, Germany, Austria’s Lukas Klapfer won his maiden Nordic combined World Cup event ahead of Japan’s Akito Watabe and Norway’s Jan Schmid.
Klapfer posted 24 minutes 38.2 seconds after the ski jump and 10km cross-country leg, 1 second up on Watabe and 2.3 seconds ahead of Schmid.