Magic Majdic tops podium

The result catapulted Majdic into second place in the overall Tour de Ski standings, 20.4 seconds behind Steira.

Virpi Kuitunen mounted the bottom step of the podium to sty in overall contention, 26 seconds off the front.

Valentina Shevchenko went quickest over the first 5km loop, but faded as the race went on and came in fourth.

The performance of the day came from Marianna Longa, who finished seventh after being involved in a heavy crash and losing a ski pole.

The Italian would surely have taken a podium position had she not been brought down on the first half of the course.

Estonia's Kristina Smigun did not start the race and was therefore eliminated from the Tour de Ski. She was well out of contention after the opening two stages.

Three stages remain, and will take place at Asiago and Val di Femme, concluding on Sunday.

1 - Petra Majdic (SLO) 28:44.8
2 - Kristin Steira (NOR) +27.2
3 - Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) +33.8
4 - Valentina Shevchenko (UKR) +37.1
5 - Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) +37.9
6 - Vibeke Skofterud (NOR) +38.3
7 - Marianna Longa (ITA) +54.8
8 - Viola Bauer (GER) +56.0
9 - Evi Stehle Sachenbacher (GER) +59.5
10 - Kamila Rajdlova (CZE) +1:04.2

1 - Kristin Steira (NOR) 1:00.05.9
2 - Patra Majdic (SLO) +20.4
3 - Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) +23.2
4 - Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) +26.4
5 - Valentina Shevchenko (UKR) +27.9
6 - Vibeke Skofterud (NOR) +41.5
7 - Marit Bjoergen (NOR) +43.9
8 - Evi Stehle Sachenbacher (GER) +52.3
9 - Marianna Longa (ITA) +52.7
10 - Olga Savialova (RUS) +1:06.3