Ustiugov keeps streak alive - UPDATED

Sergey Ustiugov (RUS) had already set a Tour de Ski record for men with his 4th consecutive win after stage 4 and has now won his 5th in a row Toblach, Italy.  No male athlete had won more than four stages in the previous 10 editions of the Tour de Ski. Today's win in the 10km free technique was also his first ever win in an individual start competition on World Cup.  France's Maurice Manificat put in another strong effort in Toblach to take second place just +0.4 seconds back.  Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway recorded his first ever World Cup podium with a third place finish +16.6 seconds behind Ustiugov.  Krueger took third place away from Finland's Matti Heikkinen but just 0.7 seconds.

Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby struggled on today's stage and finished in 14th place and lost valuable time to Ustiugov in the overall standings.  He remains in second place but is now 1:34 back.  Switzerland's Dario Cologna has moved up to third in the overall +2:07.5 back and just 0.5 ahead of Canada's Alex Harvey.  With his result today Manificat has moved up to 5th in the overall.  Third to ninth place in the overall are separated by less than 40 seconds with just two stages remaining.

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ATHLETE QUOTES

Sergey Ustiugov (RUS)
I had extra motivation today because it’s my mother’s birthday. I pushed very hard from the start. I wanted to extend the overall Tour de Ski lead.

Maurice Manificat (FRA)
I had a great day. I felt perfect on skis, I got a great glide and I found a very good rhythm. I love the course in Toblach. There are steady climbs and nice downhills.

Simen Hegstad Krueger (NOR)
It is absolutely unbelievable. I would not have thought I could be 3rd today. It’s a big moment for me to win the first World Cup podium.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS

MEN - 10 km F interval start

1. USTIUGOV Sergey 1992 RUS 21:47.9
2. MANIFICAT Maurice 1986 FRA +0.4
3. KRUEGER Simen Hegstad 1993 NOR +16.6
4. HEIKKINEN Matti 1983 FIN +17.3
5. HELLNER Marcus 1985 SWE +25.8

Complete results are available HERE.

TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS - After stage 5

1. USTIUGOV Sergey RUS 2:13:51.0
2. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud NOR +1:34.1
3. COLOGNA Dario SUI +2:07.5
4. HARVEY Alex CAN +2:08.0
5. MANIFICAT Maurice FRA +2:14.5

*Complete Tour standings available .