The Czech skiers had decent performance at the second stage of the FIS Tour de Ski. Lukas Bauer moved up on the overall Tour de Ski standing to seventh place. On the ladies’ side Eva Nyvltova had the 21st fastest time of the day and is currently placed 25th overall.
“I’ve proved to myself and to the others that after the unconvincing start of the Tour I’m in shape. I’m looking forward to the next stages of the Tour, although getting through the qualification in Oberstdorf would be a surprise,“ Bauer said.
He was fighting for the podium in yesterday’s 15 km classic but was slowed down by the mayhem caused by Dario Cologna’s fall in the last curve before the straight finish. “Lukas was excellent, if he hadn't been involved in the crash he would have been fighting for the podium. His position is perfectly built up before next stages and that's what's most important, he is 100% healthy,” a happy head coach Miroslav Petrasek said to www.czech-ski.com.
Axel Teichmann scored on his home turf a sensational win. Petter Northug defended second place. In spite of the fall, Dario Cologna landed in third place. After two stages Lukas Bauer is holding 7th place, 21 seconds behind the leader. “The main goal was to reduce the gap after the prologue,” Bauer wrote on his Twitter. “The race developed better than expected. I must admit I was little bit afraid. I was losing grip on my warming up skis. Right before the start I got a pair of no wax skis but I was not sure about the glide in the downhills. I didn't put on any pressure in the two first laps. I was skiing in the group, paying attention about what was going on around me and was aiming for the best track,” Bauer explained.
Northug and Cologna were soon caught up by the masses behind. “I had a good feeling the whole race. In the donwhills my skis were one of the fastest. Last two laps I was skiing in front and guys behind my were stepping on my ski tails but it’s part of the game. 500 m to go I was seconds behind Teichmann. Cologna tried to squeeze in before me and fell down, which meant I was out from the fight for bonus seconds. The main goal of the day was completed but every bonus second would have helped,” Bauer added.
Czech head coach Miroslav Petrasek praised good work of the service staff. “They were debating about which skis to select because excellent skis were the key to success. Lukas knows the business on heavy snow,“ he added. Another Czech skier Martin Jaks moved up to 28th place overall. “Jakšik (Martin Jaks) did a decent race. We’re moving forward,” Petrasek commented the performance of his charge
On the ladies’ side Eva Nyvltova pleased Czech fans with a solid race. “It was tough, but my no wax skis were perfect. It was up and down; I was not looking back and was going full speed. Many girls did not get it right with waxing. I’ve gained self-confidence, I’m there and I can fight. It’s a success to be in top 30 on the Tour,” Nyvltova said which is currently ranked 25th overall.
