13.2.2022

Nyggard and Dahl made their mark on the record-breaking ČEZ Jizerská 50

ČEZ Jizerská 50 skiing festival finished in beautiful weather. The wonderful race was dominated by Norway’s Andreas Nygaard and Sweden’s Ida Dahl. Their victories were definitely not identical. Nygaard dominated the sprint of the four-man group, Dahl was best in the climbs. 4,444 competitors took to the course in a fabulous backdrop. A great advertisement for cross-country skiing, a great poster of the beauty of the Czech Republic!

Men’s race:

The first wave of the men’s race took off 10 minutes after the women’s elite. The race list started to crumble after just a few kilometres and the long climb to Čihadla tested the skiers. It was here that Russian Ermil Vokuev showed his strength. Max Novak, on the other hand, had a crisis in the first half hour and moved down to 19th place, 30 seconds behind. The best Czech in the race – Jiří Pliska – must have been shocked who he was skiing behind today. Stanislav Řezáč skied at a nice 24th place at Knajpa. Jan Šrail and Fabián Štoček stayed in touch with him.

In the sprint at Jizerka, Norway’s Torgei Suvlen Hovland was the fastest. The bonus was the main goal in the race for him. The elite group went through the first bonus quite spread out, with its last member Torleif Syrstad 18 seconds behind in 17th place.

In the second hard climb Ermil Vokuev didn’t let anyone overtake him and reduced the elite group down to just five. He was followed by Johannes Eklöf, Andreas Nygaard, Alexander Greberenko, Martin Löwström Nyeget.

The best of the Czechs was Jiří Pliska, in the 21st place, who was part of the fourth group. Stanislav Řezáč continued to stay in contact with him, and Max Novak surprisingly struggled in the same group.

Andreas Nygaard confirmed his qualities in the finish and celebrated his victory. Close up to him was Martin Löwström Nyeget, who finished second and Johannes Eklöf finished third. Ermil Vokuev had the worst finish and placed fourth.

The best of the Czechs was Jiří Plisek, who finished in the top 20. He was only 22 seconds short of being able to claim that he had completed Jizerská 50 in under two hours. The legendary Stanislav Řezáč took 23rd place and the third best Czech was Jan Šrail in 27th place.

Women’s race

In the women’s race, the top six skiers were quickly determined, with Team Ramudden having the upper hand thanks to Ida Dahl and Lina Korsgren. Dahl won points from the first climbing bonus at Knajpa. Kateřina Smutná was the best of the Czechs, coming up the first climb in ninth place. Sandra Schützová and Karolína Grohová were close behind her.

The prestigious sprinter bonus on Jizerka was surprisingly won by the Norwegian Anniken Gjerde Alnaes, who glided on really fast skis. However, she then fell through the ranks. On the other hand, in the hardest climb on the route from Smědava to Knajpa, the field was torn apart by the light-handed Ida Dahl, who outsprinted Astrid Oyre Slind and Britta Johansson Norgren by 21 seconds.  The Swedish dynamo easily defended her lead. Britta Johansson Norgren came in second. The bronze form Jizerská 50 goes to a surprising owner, Norway’s Thea Krokan Murud.  

Kateřina Smutná was the best of the Czechs, she just managed to squeeze in the top ten. Sandra Schützová finished about 40 seconds behind her in a solid 11th place. Karolína Grohová also took to the podium for the best Czech women, supported by the 17th position in the overall classification.