19.2.2017

Pedersen wins 50. ČEZ Jizerská 50 in record time, Smutná dominated among women

In the 50th ČEZ Jizerská 50 we saw a really intriguing race! After a huge finish, Morten Eide Pedersen managed to beat Petter Eliassen by only half a second in a new record time! Kateřina Smutná won the women's race.

Russian Ermil Vokuev was first after 11 kilometres but there a big group of skiers was in the lead with just tiny margins. Eleven more kilometres later, a group of twelve competitors consisting of 10 Norwegians and 2 Russians pulled away from the rest of the rivals.

Eleven kilometres from the finish Petter Eliassen and Mortein Eide Pedersen took the lead and ran away from their followers. In the finish line, Pedersen was the faster one and managed to win.

Britta Norgren, Kateřina Smutná and Astrid Oyere Slind created a gap between them and the rest of the racers. After 22 kilometres the margin was more than two minutes and it was clear that one of the trio would win.

Smutná and Norgren lost Slind about fifteen kilometres from the finish and it was Kateřina Smutná who finished first. „I am absolutely exhausted! I must thank the fans, they were great and helped me to win!“ said happy Smutná after the race.

It was the second win at ČEZ Jizerská 50 for both winners. Smutná and Pedersen won also in 2015.

50^th ČEZ Jizerská 50

Men

1. Morten Eide Pedersen (NOR) 1:55:53.1

2. Petter Eliassen (NOR) 1:55:53.6

3. Tord Asle Gjerdalen (NOR) 1:57:06.7

Women

1. Kateřina Smutná (CZE) 2:17:34.8

2. Britta Norgren (SWE) 2:17:45.3

3. Astrid Oeyre Slind (NOR) 2:18:15.2