Otepää, 21 st January 2012: FIS Tour de Ski winner, Dario Cologna (SUI) and shined again and took the victory in the classic sprint in Otepää.
Dario Cologna left no doubts who was the biggest candidate for victory today already in the qualification. Cologna chose to go on skate skis and put the fastest qualification time. He kept the winning momentum all the way through to the finals as he clearly dominated both quarterfinal and semifinal.
In the final heat all six skiers were using skate skis and it was again Cologna who had the most powerfull arms. He built up a winning margin that he could defend to the finish line.
Norway's Ola Vigan Hattestad and last year's winner Eirik Brandsdal were fighting hard for the second place and it was Hattestad who grabbed it. Brandsdal finished third and Dario Cologna could celebrate first victory in classical sprint World Cup.
Dario Cologna SUI
It was a perfect day for me. I had a good qualification and I got self-confidence for the heats. It was a great day for me. I'have been in good shape and recovered well from Tour de Ski. I hope I will ski fast and make a good result tomorrow. There are still many races to go before the end of the World Cup. It will be nice to win the Overall world Cup again.
Ola Vigen Hattestad NOR
I am really satisfied with my second place today. I did not have a chance against Dario. Second place is the maximum what I could achieve today. My shape has been good. The course is hard but in the finals everyone was double poling. I hope next time the sprint will be again in classical technique. Next Friday we are having national championships and then I will go to Moscow.
Eirik Brandsdal NOR
My goal was to finish top three today. The course fits me well. I like the long finishing straight most. I will also go to the nationals in Norway. The championships are big event. We meet there guys who don't compete at World Cup and they are very motivated to beat us.
