Alexander Bolshunov wins the Tour de Ski!
Jan 05, 2020·Cross-Country
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Sergey Ustiugov and Alexander Bolshunov were handled as favourites in todays grand final of the 14th edition of the Tour de Ski, the final climb to Alpe Cermis. The Norwegian team however had another skilled duo in the pack and thus, the mass start for the traditional competition in Val di Fiemme saw Simen Hegstad Krüger cross the finish line 31.9 seconds before Sjur Roethe.
"It hasn't quite worked out in the Tour so far so I hoped to get a good finish. I knew that this hill suits me well and so I just tried to keep that steady pace and to keep it going all the way to the top and it was fun to cross the finish line as the first thanks to the mass start.
Sjur and I were going together and he looked strong so I was far from sure that I was going to win but it was also tough going first so I really had to push," said the proud Simen Hegstad Krüger in the finish at Alpe Cermis.
On the chase of the two Norwegians were the three Russians Alexander Bolshunov, Denis Spitsov and Sergey Ustiugov. Bolhunov and Ustiugov kept the pace high and thus fought for important seconds in regards for the overall title whereas current leader of the Overall Tour and winner of the past years Tour, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was fighting the climb in the casing group.
Bolshunov managed to break away from the trio and attacked the last stretch of the tough course with powerful strokes.
Alexander Bolshunov takes the overall win of the Tour de Ski with a margin of 27.3 seconds before Sergey Ustiugov and 1:09 minute before Johannes Høstflot Klæbo. The same trio successfully also leads the point standing ranking which Klæbo wins before Bolshunov and Ustiugov.
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