Petter Northug, Jr., (NOR) hung on to his 30-second lead in the 15 k freestyle pursuit on Sunday, the fourth and final stage of World Cup Finals, to win both the mini-tour and widen his margin of victory in the overall World Cup for 2012-2013. He maintained his half-minute margin over teammates Finn Haagen Krogh and Martin Johnsrud Sundby until the final straightaway, when he slowed down to wave to the crowd, and crossed the finish-line 0.7 seconds ahead of Krogh.

In the battle for second in the World Cup overall, Alexander Legkov (RUS) held off Dario Cologna (SUI) in a sprint finish four fourth and fifth in the pursuit. Legkov won the duel by 0.3 seconds and will take second in the overall standings.

Alex Harvey (CAN) was the top North American finisher in 25th, 3:40.5 back, and Noah Hoffman was close behind for the U.S. in 27th (+3:41.9).

Devon Kershaw (CAN) came through in 31st in a photo finish with Chris Andre Jespersen (NOR), +4:27.4, Torin Koos (USA) took 35th (+4:52.6), Andy Newell (USA) finished 38th (+5:25.4) and Lenny Valjas finished 48th out of 48 finishers (+10:02.9).

Results

Ideally positioned coming into the final corner, Eldar Rønning tucked behind the two leaders, Norwegian teammate Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Russia’s Maxim Vylegzhanin, and accelerated before the line, winning Saturday’s 15 k classic mass start at World Cup Finals in Falun, Sweden.

Rønning outlunged Vylegzhanin by 0.1 seconds, and Sundby settled for third 1.0 seconds back. After a rough start, in which Petter Northug was skiing outside the top 20, the Norwegian World Cup leader finished fourth, 5.5 seconds behind to maintain his lead in the mini tour.

Leading into the last of five laps, Daniel Richardsson of Sweden ended up fifth (+5.8), Italy’s Giorgio Di Centa notched sixth (+7.2) and teammate Dietmar Noeckler was seventh (+13.8).

Finn Hagen Krogh of Norway placed eighth, Sweden’s Emil Jonsson took ninth (after leading the third and fourth laps) and Russia’s Evgeniy Belov finished 10th.

Dario Cologna and Alexander Legkov didn’t come close enough to Northug to challenge him for the overall World Cup title, placing 12th and 15th, respectively. Legkov is now 80 points behind in the overall standings, and Northug is 30.5 seconds ahead of Vylegzhanin and 40.2 seconds ahead of Rønning in the mini tour heading into the final freestyle pursuit.

Noah Hoffman led the Americans in 25th (+1:16.3). Canada’s Alex Harvey was 30th for the second-straight day, and Devon Kershaw placed 36th. Andy Newell of the U.S. was 38th, Torin Koos (Bridger Ski Foundation/Rossignol) placed 39th, and Canadian Ivan Babikov was 41st.

Also for Canada, Lenny Valjas finished 50th and Michael Somppi (AWCA) was last in 51st.

Results

Petter Northug clearly wants to end 2012/2013 on a high note as evidenced by his dominating victory on Wednesday in the men’s World Cup 1.1 k classic sprint in Stockholm, Sweden.

On a flat-and-windy course, Northug put himself in prime position to seal the win — his first in Stockholm. He out-doublepoled all of his competitors (also on skate skis) to win the final by 0.74 seconds over teammate Eirik Brandsdal. Russian Nikita Kriukov was third, 1.14 seconds back.

The lone Swede in the final with three Norwegians, Teodor Peterson took fourth (+1.61), Petter’s younger brother Tomas Northug was fifth (+2.56) and Sergey Ustiugov of Russia finished sixth (+2.68).

Andy Newell (US Ski Team) was the only North American to make the semifinals, where he was sixth for 11th overall.

Canada’s Devon Kershaw was fourth in his quarterfinal to end up 18th, and Lenny Valjas on classic skis took fourth in his quarterfinal and was ultimately 20th. Torin Koos (Bridger Ski Foundation/Rossignol) placed 25th after finishing fifth in his quarterfinal.

Results

Coming off two World Championships gold medals and a 15 k classic victory in Lahti, Norway’s Petter Northug continued his dominance on Wednesday, winning the World Cup 1.3 k classic sprint in downtown Drammen, Norway.

After beating teammate Paal Golberg and little brother Tomas Northug, respectively in the quarterfinal, Northug went on to finish second to Kazakhstan’s Alexey Poltoranin in the semifinal. In the final, with Poltoranin leading into the finishing straight, Northug (who raced on skate skis) made sure it didn’t happen again, double poling past him to capture his first victory in Drammen.

Northug won by 2.15 seconds, Poltoranin was second and Nikita Kriukov of Russia placed third (+4.96). At home in front of thousands of fans, Norway’s John Kristian Dahl finished fourth (+6.22) and Øystein Pettersen was fifth (+7.74). The lone Cologna racing on Wednesday (with Dario resting up for the Holmenkollen 50 k), Gianluca Cologna of Switzerland was sixth (+11.95).

Two Canadians — Lenny Valjas and Alex Harvey — narrowly qualified for the heats in 29th and 30th, respectively. Valjas went on to place third in his quarterfinal, 0.7 seconds behind Norway’s Finn Haagen Krogh and Dahl, respectively. He ultimately didn’t advance and ended up 16th overall. Harvey was fourth in his quarterfinal (behind Petter Northug, Golberg and Thomas Northug), avoiding two crashes (first by American Andy Newell, then a separate fall by Swede Johan Edin). Harvey placed 20th overall and Newell was 27th.

Torin Koos (Bridger Ski Foundation/Rossignol) led the U.S. in 18th after finishing fourth in his quarterfinal to Cologna, Eirik Brandsdal (NOR) and Nikolay Chebotko (KAZ), respectively.

Results

Continuing his winning ways, Petter Northug tallied a 31.7-second victory in Sunday’s 15 k classic in Lahti, Finland, for his second-straight individual start win since World Championships.

Northug topped Kazakhstan’s Alexey Poltoranin, who was second, and Norwegian teammate Martin Johnsrud Sundby, who was sick for nearly two weeks during and after World Championships, in third (+35.1).

Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic notched a World Cup season-best in fourth, missing his first individual podium of the year by 7.9 seconds. Germany’s Tobias Angerer was fifth (+43.0).

Leading the North Americans, Kris Freeman (U.S.) was 25th. Noah Hoffman placed 40th, Andy Newell was 61st, Torin Koos (Bridger Ski Foundation/Rossignol) was 67th, and Tad Elliott 77th for the U.S. Ski Team.

Canada’s Alex Harvey was 41st, and Alberta World Cup Academy teammates Graeme Killick placed 55th, Michael Somppi was 72nd and Jesse Cockney 78th.

Results

Petter Northug, Jr. (NOR) climbing to the high point of the 15 k course in Val di Fiemme on Wednesday. He won the event in 34:37.1 for his eighth career World Championships victory and his first in the distance. Photo: Fiemme 2013.

VAL DI FIEMME, Italy — Denied a gold medal in the skiathlon and classic sprint earlier this week at World Championships, Norway’s Petter Northug, Jr., finally claimed the top of the podium in the 15 k individual freestyle on Wednesday for his eighth career win at World Championships and his first in the 15 k distance. He had the fastest time at every checkpoint and the effort showed as he came into the stadium, staggering over the last hill and collapsing at the finish line. Johan Olsson (SWE) was 11.8 seconds behind for silver and Tord Asle Gjerdalen (NOR), a last-minute replacement for an ill Martin Johnsrud Sundby, took bronze.

Ivan Babikov (CAN) had the race of his life in fourth place, 53.6 seconds back from Northug’s time and 31 seconds, for the best finish Canada has ever had at World Championships in the 15 k.

Dario Cologna (SUI), winner of the skiathlon and a heavy favorite before the race, finished eighth (+1:21).

Noah Hoffman (USA) finished career-best 15th (+1:50) to lead the Americans.

Results.

Full report to follow.

Norway’s Petter Northug knew exactly what he was doing Friday. If he didn’t, he sure made it work out, coming from behind in fourth to move to second before the finish of the World Cup 1.8-kilometer freestyle sprint final in Sochi, Russia.

Northug outlasted the field and beat Switzerland’s Dario Cologna – the top qualifier — to the line by 0.57 seconds. After leading up the last grueling hill, Italian David Hofer placed third (+0.81) for his first World Cup podium. Russia swept the next three places, with Sergey Ustiugov in fourth (+1:26), Nikita Kriukov in fifth (+6.92) and Alexey Petukhov in sixth (+13.53).

Canada’s Devon Kershaw posted a season best in eighth after qualifying in 24th, advancing as a lucky loser out of the quarterfinals and placing fourth in his semifinal. Teammate Lenny Valjas qualified in 15th and went on to place 20th. Alex Harvey did not race and won’t compete this weekend after dislocating his shoulder in training.

After qualifying in sixth, American Andy Newell went on to place 13th after taking third in his quarterfinal. Teammate Simi Hamilton qualified in 11th and missed advancing out of the heats by 0.2 seconds for 17th overall. Noah Hoffman (USA) was 67th.

Men’s results

The Russians want this Tour. Maxim Vylegzhanin and Alexander Legkov pushed the pace early and held on to nab first and second, respectively, in Sunday’s 15 k classic pursuit. The two overtook Norwegian leader Petter Northug within the first few kilometers with teammate Ilia Chernousov, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Canadian Alex Harvey.

Despite changing leads several times, it was always the Russians up front, and at the finish, Vylegzhanin and Legkov broke away to take the top two spots on the podium. Vylegzhanin won in 39.47 and Legkov was given the same time.

Meanwhile, Northug and Cologna switched positions in the back of the seven-man pack, and the two overtook Harvey, who was running in third, at the finish. Northug claimed third (+6.4) and Cologna was fourth by 0.2 seconds, while Harvey was fifth (+7.6) one second later.

Chernousov placed sixth (+20.4), Matti Heikkinen (FIN) salvaged seventh after tripping up on a lane change, Lukas Bauer (CZE) was eighth, Sergey Turyshev (RUS) was ninth, and Johan Olsson (SWE) took 10th.

Canadian Ivan Babikov finished 19th (+1:29.3) after starting 32nd, Devon Kershaw placed 27th (+1:55.3) and Lenny Valjas was 33rd (+1:59.8).

American Kris Freeman ended up 58th (+3:11.0), Noah Hoffman was 69th (+3:37.2) and Andy Newell was 74th (+4:20.9).

Results

Petter Northug proved he hasn’t been slacking off the past few weeks despite missing the Canadian World Cups. The Norwegian won the 42 k La Sgambeda Marathon nearly two weeks ago in Livigno, Italy, then kicked off the Tour de Ski on Saturday with a victory in the 4 k freestyle prologue in Oberhof, Germany.

Northug beat runner-up Marcus Hellner of Sweden by 6.1 seconds, and Alexander Legkov of Russia was third (+7.2). Defending TdS champ Dario Cologna was fourth (+10.1) and Ilia Chernousov (RUS) took fifth (+10.7). Canadian Alex Harvey finished sixth (+11.3) for his best result of the season just ahead of Maxim Vlegzhanin (RUS) and Martin Jaks (CZE), who tied for seventh (+11.8).

Andy Newell led the U.S. in 21st (+22.2), Ivan Babikov of Canada was 32nd (+25.7) and Kris Freeman (USA) was 35th (+27.0).

Other North Americans: 48. Devon Kershaw (CAN), 52. Lenny Valjas (CAN), 94. Noah Hoffman (USA)

Men’s prologue results

Tour de Ski men’s standings after Stage 1

After two straight days of finish-line losses to Russians in Finland, Norwegian Petter Northug wasn’t going to let it happen again on Sunday, especially not to Russia. Northug barely held off Maxim Vlegzhanin (RUS) to win the Kuusamo World Cup 15 k classic pursuit by 1.4 seconds in 41:38.3.

Vlegzhanin surged late after skiing behind two of his teammates, Dmitriy Japarov and Alexander Legkov, who led a 15-person chase group with Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ) for most of the 15 k pursuit. Poltoranin took third (+3.4) in the all-out sprint to the finish, and Dario Cologna finished fourth (+7.8) after starting 1:12 back from Northug.

About 30 seconds separated the top 10, with Ilia Chernousov (RUS) in fifth (+21.1), Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) in sixth, and Legkov and Japarov in seventh and eighth, respectively. Emil Joensson (SWE) took ninth and Evgeniy Belov (RUS) was 10th.

On the last day of the Ruka Triple mini tour, a couple Canadians moved up the ranks, with Devon Kershaw finishing 22nd (+1:39.6) ahead of teammate Alex Harvey in 23rd (+1:40.5). Ivan Babikov was 25th (+1:53.4), and American Noah Hoffman placed 26th (+1:55.1).

Kevin Sandau (CAN) was 63rd, and Americans Tad Elliott and Sylvan Ellefson were 77th and 83rd, respectively.

Men’s 15 k pursuit results