The Czech beats Northug, but the Norwegian remains at the head of the World Cup
Third, the Swiss Dario Cologna
-Numerous public at the “final climb” on Cermis
The Czech Lukas Bauer lights up Val di Fiemme during the Tour de Ski 2010. The Czech champion wins the last race of the Tour in the mythic Final Climb in the Alpe Cermis in Trentino. The Norweagian Northug –leader of the Tour up till yesterday- and the the Swiss Dario Cologna – winner of the continental kermesse last year and today third- were helpless spectators, or nearly so. Yesterday, Bauer gave a lesson to Northug, winning the 20km classic mass start at the stadium of Lago di Tesero, where today’s race started. This is Bauer’s second Tour, since he also won in the 2008.
The race took the characteristics of a private duel between Northug and Bauer from the beginning. At the start line, just 8 seconds separated the Czech from the Norwegian, but just after 1.5 km the distance was cut in two. Behing, the group of the other competitors had a delay of 1 minute and 30 seconds and the Swiss Dario Cologna was at the head of it together with Axel Teichmann, who came 3rd yesterday.
Bauer’s first attack came at the 4.5 km; he passed Northug who could do nothing but look at him flying away. On the Olimpia III, a fragment of the track which is like a slalom all uphill, Bauer took off and increased his advantage to 40 seconds.
The final was like a runway for Bauer, who took a flag from a spectator and cut the finish line in triumph. Both the Final Climb and the Tour de Ski are his; however, Northug remains the leader of the World Cup Overall.
With the Final Climb, today the sensational three day Nordic ski in Val di Fiemme finds its conclusion.
Val di Fiemme is the Italian cradle of nordic ski, and the organizing committee – Nordic Ski Fiemme – was impeccable. Now we wait for the approaching Nordic Ski World Championship of 2013!
Info: www.fiemme2013.com
Results Tour de Ski
1) Lukas Bauer (CZE) 4:13:10.6; 2) Petter Northug (NOR) +1:16.4; 3) Dario Cologna (SUI) +1:32.2; 4) Marcus Hellner (SWE) +1:41.4; 5) Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA) +1:52.6; 6) Rene Sommerfeldt (GER) +3:01.4; 7) Axel Teichmann (GER) +3:08.0; 
Daniel Rickardsson (SWE) +3:16.3; 9) Ivan Babikov (CAN) +3:31.8; 10) Giorgio Di Centa (ITA)
