Ustiugov wins Tour de Ski in record fashion

Sergey Ustiugov of Russia, a World champion at the Junior and U23 levels is now a winner of the FIS Tour de Ski. Ustiugov impressively won 5 of 7 stages - a record for the Tour - in the 11th edition of the Tour de Ski to finish with a 1:02.9 minute lead over Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby.  Sundby managed to pull back only 9 seconds on the final stage climb up Alpe Cermis.  Perhaps the most exciting part of the men's competition was the battle for places 3rd - 7th which featured some of the World's fastest climbers. Switzerland's Dario Cologna began the day in third place roughly 30 seconds ahead of Finland's Matti Heikkinen and France's Maurice Manificat and was at one point with less than one kilometer remaining joined by Manificat.  Despite Manificat and Heikkinen recording the first and second fastest times of the day, Cologna held on for third place in the Tour finishing +1:19.1 behind Ustiugov and 7.8 seconds ahead of Manificat.  Heikkinen crossed the finish line another 4.4 seconds later for 5th place.

After finishing second place on time twice before Manificat completed the 9 km final stage in a time of 29:20.0 for the best of the day.  Norway's Hans Christer Holund recorded the third fastest time of the day +15.8 seconds back.  Heikkinen in second place was just +6.1 behind Manificat.  Sweden's Marcus Hellner who moved from 7th to 6th place on the final stage was the 4th fastest on the day +19.0, just ahead of Cologna in 5th +22.7.  Ustiugov recorded the 16th (1:07.7), Sundby 12th (58.7) and Canada's Alex Harvey who started the day in 3rd slipped to 7th with the 14th (1:04.9) time on the stage.

ATHLETE QUOTES

**Sergey Ustiugov (RUS)
**

It is amazing to win the Tour. It is like a dream come true. I fought very hard for this. Today was incredibly tough. I thought I was on autopilot, I did not actually realise I crossed the finish line. It is an amazing feeling to be a Tour de Ski champion.

**Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR)
**

I did everything I could today. It was an OK race from me today. But Sergey was too far away. I could not do anything about it. I am still very happy about the 2nd place.

**Dario Cologna (SUI)
**

It is great to be on the podium again. I think it was one of my best Final Climbs ever. I knew the group with Manificat and Heikkinen was going closer. When Maurice caught me, I tried to save some energy and I took off on the flat section before the finish.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

TOUR DE SKI - Final standings

1. USTIUGOV Sergey 1992 RUS 30:27.7
2. SUNDBY Martin Johnsrud 1984 NOR +1:02.9
3. COLOGNA Dario 1986 SUI +1:19.1
4. MANIFICAT Maurice 1986 FRA +1:26.9
5. HEIKKINEN Matti 1983 FIN +1:31.3

Complete results are available HERE.

FASTEST OF THE DAY

1. MANIFICAT Maurice 1986 FRA 29:20.0
2. HEIKKINEN Matti 1983 FIN +6.1
3. HOLUND Hans Christer 1989 NOR +15.8
4. HELLNER Marcus 1985 SWE +19.0
5. COLOGNA Dario 1986 SUI +22.7

Complete results are available HERE.