30 km Skiathlon, Men

The event was changed again. In 2002 it was contested as 10 km classical followed by 10 km freestyle pursuit, but in 2006 both distances were increased to 15 km. Also, while the event had previously been run with interval starts in the classical, it was now a mass start, a format that was first débuted internationally at the 2005 World Championships. This was an unusual event as no skier was able to place in the top eight of both styles. The leader after the classical was Czech Lukáš Bauer. Back in 13th place was Norwegian Frode Estil, but he could be excused. He fell at the start and broke a ski, and by the time it was replaced, he was in last place of the 76 starters, but skied brilliantly from there and was only 3.7 seconds out of the lead at the finish. In the freestyle pursuit, the leader for most of the race was Italy’s Pietro Piller Cottrer, who had been third in the morning race. But he was caught at the line by Russian Yevgeny Dementyev, who won a surprising gold medal. Estil also caught Piller Cottrer at the line. The finish was the closest podium ever in cross-country pursuit, with only 0.9 seconds separating the three medalists. Piller Cottrer was one of only three skiers to place in the top 10 in both styles.