Cologna regains Tour de Ski lead

Russian Alexander Legkov won the fifth stage of the Tour de Ski on Tuesday in Dobbiaco, Italy and defending champion Dario Cologna of Switzerland took the overall lead from Norway's Petter Northug.

With the Tour moving to Italy after four stages in Oberstdorf, Germany, Legkov completed the five-kilometre classical race in 13 minutes 49.5 seconds.

Eldar Roenning of Norway finished second in the individual start race, 1.7 seconds behind, and Cologna was third, 2.0 seconds back.

Cologna received a five-second bonus for his third-place result and finished 11.8 seconds in front of Northug, who was 12th in the stage.

With four stages remaining, Cologna now holds a 15.7-second lead over Northug in the overall standings.

Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., finished 18th in 14:14.1 but held on to fifth spot in the overall standings. Fresh snow overnight forced him to rough up the kick-zone of his ski with sandpaper rather than use wax, something Kershaw admitted he struggled with.

"I didn't have the power like I usually do with classic and I needed to trust my skis more," he said. "The skis were great, but it is tough to trust that when you don't ski much in these types of conditions because in your head you know there is no wax.

"The body felt good, but I had a really hard time transferring the power. In a short race like this — that is death."

Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., was 29th in 14:27 and dropped four spots in the overall standings to No. 15. Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., finished 72nd in 15:05.6 after injuring his wrist in a crash during Sunday's pursuit race.

In the women's three-kilometre event, Norway's Marit Bjoergen edged Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland by 3.9 seconds. Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen of Norway was 15.1 seconds back in third place.

Kowalczyk, the two-time defending champion, retained her overall lead.

Sprint freestyle races are scheduled for the sixth stage Wednesday. The final stage Sunday will feature a climb up Mount Cermis, which is otherwise used as a downhill skiing slope.