Toblach Pursuit Preview

PREVIEW Ladies' 10KM PURSUIT Classic – Sunday 17 Dec 2017

• The last 31 pursuit races in the World Cup were all part of one of the Tours (3-Days Tour, Tour de Ski, World Cup Final, Ski Tour Canada).
• The last pursuit before the introduction of the Tours was held on 9 March 2002, when Stefania Belmondo (ITA) won the 5km pursuit in Falun.
• Of all active athletes, only Marit Bjørgen (NOR), Riitta-Liisa Roponen (FIN) and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) competed in one of the pursuit races before the introduction of the Tours.
• Roponen, Saarinen and Bjørgen finished in 11th, 18th and 26th place respectively in Falun in March 2002, in the last pursuit held before the introduction of the Tours.
• Toblach will host a pursuit race for the third time in World Cup history (Tours not included) after 1998 and 1993. Bente Skari (NOR) won in 1998. Manuela Di Centa (ITA) triumphed on home snow in 1993.

PREVIEW Men's 15KM PURSUIT Classic

• The last 31 pursuit races in the World Cup were all part of one of the Tours (3-Days Tour, Tour de Ski, World Cup Final, Ski Tour Canada).
• The last pursuit before the introduction of the Tours was held on 9 March 2002, when Thomas Alsgaard (NOR) won the 10km pursuit in Falun.
• Of all active athletes, only Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA), Sergei Dolidovich (BLR) and Martin Møller (DEN) competed in one of the pursuit races before the introduction of the Tours.
• Gaillard finished in 73rd place in Falun in March 2002, in the last pursuit race held before the introduction of the Tours.
• Toblach will host a pursuit race for the second time in World Cup history (Tours not included) after 1998, when Bjørn Dæhlie (NOR) recorded his last pursuit victory of his career.
• Dolidovich finished in 32nd place in the 15km pursuit race in Toblach in 1998, two minutes and 19 seconds behind winner Dæhlie.
• Lucas Chanavat (FRA) celebrates his 23rd birthday on the day of this event. Jovian Hediger (SUI) turns 27 on Sunday.