More than a month before the final of cross-country ski races World Cup Justyna Kowalczyk for the first time in this season took the lead in the overall ranking. Kowalczyk  won the coveted points in Moscow, although she ill-favoures the course through the city.

In yesterday's competition Polish champion has won a short distance freestyle race for the first time in her career. She competed in extreme weather conditions: air temperature was around minus 18 Celsius degrees, piercing wind and snow falling constantly were making the race harder. - I like when it's cold - said happy Justyna at the finish.

Winning in Moscow Justyna Kowalczyk granted additional 100 points to overall classification. Thanks to that, Polish sportswoman became a leader of the World Cup, beating her biggest rival Norwegian Marit Bjoergen by 32 points.

The closest race in which Kowalczyk will start is going to be held in Rybinsk (Russia) already this Saturday.

Justyna will also race in Poland 17 and 18 February in Szklarska Poreba, where she will start in the sprint freestyle and 10 km’s classical style. The greatest emotions will be, however, on March 14, when the World Cup Final in Stockholm begins.

Justyna Kowalczyk (born Jan 19,1983 in Limanowa) is a Polish cross-country skier, multiple Polish champion and multi-medalits of Olympics and World Championships. Three times in a row Kowalczyk won the World Cup. She is also the only runner who for three seasons won the prestigious Tour de Ski. Her great successes have contributed to the popularization of cross-country skiing in Poland.

Check the Justyna Kowalczyk’s starts calendar.

Interview with Justyna after the sprint in Moscow

Source: Justyna Kowalczyk's official website