Virpi Kuitunen overhauled by Charlotte Kalla on gruelling final climb of Tour de Ski

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Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen finished second overall in the women’s Tour de Ski cross-country skiing tournament, which was concluded over the weekend in Italy’s Val di Fiemme.
      The victory was clinched by Sweden’s new star, 20-yea-old Charlotte Kalla.
      For the final leg of the 8-race tournament, a 9-kilometre freestyle pursuit event, Kuitunen started 39.7 seconds ahead of Kalla, who is known to be among the fastest freestyle skiers on the circuit.
     
The Finn held on to the lead for the better part of the race, maintaining her initial advantage and even extending it. In the gruelling final 3.65-kilometre climb, however, on a slope that is normally used in the other direction for downhill skiing, the Swede caught Kuitunen, hung behind her for some minutes, then overtook the Finn and rapidly left her for dead.
      In the end fully 36.4 seconds separated the two in Kalla’s favour. The vertical climb during the final uphill was a respectable 425 metres, and resembled nothing more than a mountain-stage of cycling's Tour de France.
      “At the beginning of the final climb Virpi had actually increased her lead slightly. But then I decided just to concentrate on my own skiing and gradually I realised I was gaining on her. Once I caught her, I had to rest for a while, but then I gave it my all”, Kalla ran through her spectacular final uphill performance to the Finnish news agency STT.
     
When Kalla overtook Kuitunen, the Finn was unable to respond.
      “When she took off like that there was nothing I could do”, Kuitunen admitted.
      Kuitunen was aware of Kalla’s tactics. During the race she overheard the Swedish team’s instructions to Kalla.
      Back pains impeded Kuitunen’s speed to a certain extent.
      “When your back hurts you just have to concentrate on moving your feet.”
     
Kuitunen, the defending champion, was satisfied with her second place.
      “Not one perfect race, and I still came in second overall”, she smiled.
      Kalla was particularly happy with her win after learning that her father had secretly arrived to witness his daughter’s success.
      “It is great that he was here”, Kalla rejoiced.
      The third place both in the concluding event and overall went to Italy’s Arianna Follis, who crossed the finish line 53.3 seconds behind Kalla.
      Of other Finns, Riitta-Liisa Roponen finished tenth 2 minutes and 31.7 seconds behind Kalla, Pirjo Muranen 15th (-3:49.2), and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen 17th (-4:07.1).


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish 1-2 victory accompanies Virpi Kuitunen´s rise to number one position at Tour de Ski (3.1.2008)

Links:
  FIS Tour de Ski

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