Ustiugov has more natural talent than Sundby. It showed in the juniors, it showed at the U23 level and it's showing at the seniors. He's had a natural, understandable progression. So far he hasn't had a season where his level dropped completely and he magically reappeared. He's 24, so maybe we will see that in the future, but right now, as far as his progression is concerned, there is nothing unusual. I completely agree with you, Python, about this particular TDS. He isn't blowing away everyone, he is simply skiing to his strengths-his sprinting/acceleration ability and being smart with his energy output. One of his biggest strengths is the skate sprint. He won that handily and picking up 60 bonus seconds on top of a 4+ second qualifier win and a comfortable win in the finals....he already gained an advantage there. After that it was two races that came down to the last few hundred meters, again, the bonus seconds for the wins is what is edging him forward. He didn't go for all of the bonus sprints in the skiathlon and he skied smart in the handicap pursuit. Sundby was slowly gaining on him, cutting the lead to 16 seconds, but a combination of Sundby starting to feel it and Ustiugov not giving in is what increased the lead. Again, 15 bonus seconds to Sundby's 10. Take away the sprint and the bonus seconds and the lead is what? Less than 15 or even 10 seconds? The tour format, despite only having one sprint, is also helping him. Lot's of skate legs, no Toblach 35 km pursuit (he surely would have been caught by Sundby in that one), and since it's a championship season, a stage or two less than last year. That is all playing into his favor. Is Sundby a little bit weaker than in the past at the tour? I think so. I also think that had there been another sprint, Ustiugov would be well over a minute ahead now, which would have raised even more eyebrows.