From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

The Tour Is Won on the Alpe

Oh, man. The Final Climb on the Alpe Cermis tomorrow is going to be pretty exciting – just the sort of stage that should conclude the Tour de Ski.

On the men’s side, I can’t see Cologna doing anything but finishing first (becoming the first triple champion of the Tour de Ski), but I’m very eager to see the fight behind him for third – or maybe second, if Northug fades. He’s only 40-some seconds