The Official Tour Favorites

Just before the Tour de Ski started, the FIS put out parallel lists of favorites for the Tour de Ski. The women's list went out of date immediately, being headed by Charlotte Kalla, who withdrew from the Tour the day before it started. For the record, though, here are the lists. (Click through for brief blurbs on each racer.)

Women
Top Favorite
Charlotte Kalla

Favorites
Virpi Kuitunen
Marit Bjorgen
Justyna Kowalczyk
Aino Kaisa Saarinen
Arianna Follis

Challengers
Therese Johaug
Petra Majdic
Valentina Shevchenko
Kristin Stormer Steira
Marianna Longa

Men
Top Favorite
Lukas Bauer

Favorites
Martin Johnsrud Sundby
Alexander Legkov
Giorgio di Centa
Petter Northug
Pietro Piller Cottrer

Challengers
Tor Arne Hetland
Marcus Hellner
Rene Sommerfeldt
Sami Jauhojarvi
Tord Asle Gjerdalen