10.1.2016

JIZERSKA PADESATKA

Petter Eliassen blows the field away and Britta Johansson Norgren also shines in women’s race...

The organizers of Jizerska Padesatka were once again facing challenging weather conditions when getting ready for the 2016 edition of this classic race. They were able to conjure up a four-kilometer lap, which was used by all the participants who were divided into separate starting groups of 400 skiers. Each group had a dedicated window of time to finish up their race before another group took off. This procedure was spread out within three days starting on Friday. Some of the groups even skied their race with headlamps on in the dark.

Visma Ski Classics elite race started at 8.30 on Sunday morning with about 120 men and 20 women. To keep the original distance, the organizers decided to have 15 laps, which has not been done before in a long distance ski race. Only 26 men and 7 women were able finish the whole course as the ones who were passed by the leading pack were taken out of the race to avoid confusion and overcrowding.

Once again Team Lease Plan’s Petter Eliassen showed what he is made of and claimed the victory 3.14 minutes before the second placed United Bakeries’ Johan Kjölstad. The ever-young Anders Aukland returned to the podium by taking the third place in a tight fight against Daniel Richardsson. All of them said they were very pleased with the decision of having 15 laps and a first real long distance race of the season. “I’m not counting laps, I’m counting kilometers,” smiling Johan Kjölstadt commented after the race.

Youth category winner Stian Hoelgaard had a really strong race by finishing 5 th.  He will certainly be a force to be reckon with in the upcoming events. The current sprint bib holder Andreas Nygaard was able to gain some extra points by winning the first sprint in the race and being in the top group in the second one as well. He was able to penetrate into the top 10 in the overall results as well.

On the women’s side Britta Johansson Nordgren gave a warning to everyone. Her double-poling seems to be in a perfect form as she managed to go through the course without kicking. As did Lina Korsgren and Sara Lindborg who took home the second and third places. They all agreed that the course was very tough and the conditions got much worse towards the end of the race due to warm and misty weather. Emilia Lindstedt claimed the youth category bib since Tuva Toftdahl Staver was not able to attend.

The new ski year is now officially on and the long distance ski marathon cup, Visma Ski Classics, is heading towards an exiting season as the  next race will be La Diagonela in Switzerland where a full course of 65 km should be ready for eager contestants.

Podium places in men’s and women’s categories:
MEN
1. Petter Eliassen  2:12:35.70
2. Johan Kjölstad  2:15:49:70
3. Anders Aukland   2:15:50.90

WOMEN
1. Britta Johansson Norgren  2:38:27.00
2. Lina Korsgren  2:39:28.90
3. Sara Lindborg  2:40:42:00

Visma Ski Classics standings after Jizerska:

STANDINGS

CHAMPION WOMEN

#			name	team	points
1	(2)		Britta Johansson Norgren	L157	420
2	(1)		Kateřina Smutná	SANT	370
3	(3)		Lina Korsgren	PIIN	340
4	(6)		Sara Lindborg	SBER	280
5	(4)		Seraina Boner	TEXS	250

CHAMPION MEN

#			name	team	points
1	(3)		Johan Kjølstad	UNBA	360
2	(9)		Petter Eliassen	LEAS	325
3	(1)		John Kristian Dahl	UNBA	297
4	(7)		Anders Aukland	SANT	280
5	(4)		Morten Eide Pedersen	TEXS	255

SPRINT PRESENTED BY SALTDALSHYTTA

#			name	team	points
1			Andreas Nygaard	SANT	140
2			Morten Eide Pedersen	TEXS	75
3			Stanislav Řezáč	SILV	30
4			Vetle Thyli	UNBA	30
5			Ville Nousiainen	PELT	30

TEAMS PRESENTED BY NORDICBET

#			name	team	points
1	(1)		Team Santander	SANT	1100
2	(1)		Team United Bakeries	UNBA	1015
3	(3)		Team Exspirit	TEXS	821
4	(4)		Lager 157 Ski Team	L157	737
5	(9)		Team LeasePlan Go	LEAS	521

YOUTH WOMEN PRESENTED BY NORDICBET

#			name	team	points
1	(12)		Emilia Lindstedt	SKIP	207
2	(11)		Tuva Toftdahl Staver	TEXS	116
3	(16)		Ekaterina Yadovina	MASS	94
4	(20)		Marte Sofie Buraas	SYNN	77
5	(21)		Svenja Hoelzle	SYNN	75

YOUTH MEN PRESENTED BY NORDICBET

#			name	team	points
1	(14)		Stian Hoelgaard	LEAS	204
2	(16)		Andreas Nygaard	SANT	177
3	(23)		Anders Høst	LEAS	165
4	(20)		Marcus Johansson	L157	116
5	(34)		Andreas Holmberg	MORA	62