Anders Aukland (Team Xtra Personnel) a livré une grosse bataille aujourd'hui sur les 46km de cette Jizerska 2013, première manche du circuit Swix Ski Classics, et également manche du circuit FIS Marathon Cup.
Après un superbe et long duel avec le Tchèque Lukas Bauer sur un parcours valloné, c'est justement dans une bosse que la roc Norvégien a pu distancer son rival. Aukland a montré ses muscles après une trentaine de kilomètres avant de s'envoler en double poussée de bâtons.
Jusque là les deux hommes avaient parfaitement collaborés, prenant l'un et l'autre beaucoup de plaisir sur une trace glissante.
La fête pour la famille Aukland sera encore plus belle gràce à la troisième place du frère Joergen Aukland, lui aussi excellent spécialiste du genre.
L'Ukrainienne Valentina Shevchenko s'impose chez les dames gràce à son excellent finish. C'est la Finlandaise Saarinen, nouvelle venue sur ce type de course, qui a mené la danse jusqu'à 13km de l'arrivée avant de se faire dépasser par Shevchenko et la Suissesse Seraina Boner.
Les réactions (source FIS) :
Anders Aukland (NOR):
"It was a hard race. Especially in the beginning the pace was high as Lukas was pushing hard. I was about 34s behind him at the long uphill at 11km, but I could catch him 3-4km later. From then on, we went together. We shared the lead and worked well together which was good. Not too long before the finish I heard that Simen was coming closer and I thought about waiting for him, but only during the last kilometres. Then I pushed hard and counted on my double poling abilities and that worked. I passed Lukas and stayed well in front of him until the finish. The conditions today were just perfect and the race was very nice. I was hoping for the podium but I knew that there were a lot of strong skiers on the start line today. I even thought that Eldar (Roenning) might take the victory, but I am of course very happy that it was me in the end who finished first!"
Lukas Bauer (CZE):
"I got the permission from my team to attack right in the beginning and that was what I did. I got a nice gap between me and the others. After the long uphill at around 11km I went a bit slower and Anders could reach me. We went on together from this point and worked well together. In the end it was his experience and knowledge of when to attack right before the finish and his strong double poling which differentiated him from me today. However, I am very happy with my second place. I really enjoyed the last kilometres when it was clear that I would be on the podium! I don't take the race too much as a preparation for the World Championships as the profile of the race will be completely different but it was a nice experience, especially with all the crowd cheering so loudly!"
Valentina Shevchenko (UKR):
I am really really happy! I somehow even surprised myself with this victory. I was very tired after the Tour de Ski and in the beginning, the race was very hard. But I felt better and better along the way and therefore I pushed hard to get in front and to stay there until the finish. I prefer long races...they suit me best. I am looking forward to some more this winter!
Seraina Boner (SUI):
"It's a very hard track here – you always have to work, there is no real part where you can relax. But this year we had perfect conditions and when I saw the sun coming out this morning, I got another boost of motivation. I am really satisfied, especially since there were a lot of good racers on the start line. I wasn't sure at all, if a podium would be possible today, therefore I am really happy that it worked out! I didn't feel that well before Christmas but now it gets better and better and I am now looking really forward to the coming races!"
Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (FIN):
"Yesterday a Sprint race of 850m and today one of 50km – that's quite a change. But I really enjoyed the experience, even though the race was very hard. I prefer shorter uphills but then more of them where I can really use my legs. Here it was almost all about double poling...therefore the race was much harder then I had expected since I am not that used to only do double poling. My goal is a podium in Val di Fiemme, so it was a good training for me today."
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Les classements des meilleurs :
TOP 5 DES FEMMES
50 KM
# pays nom équipe temps
1 VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO IXMI 02:36:15.60
2 BONER SERAINA COOP 02:36:46.70
3 AINO-KAISA SAARINEN XTRA 02:38:48.70
4 SANDRA HANSSON MOEL 02:40:08.00
5 OLGA MIKHAILOVA VITA 02:41:11.30
TOP 25 HOMMES
50 KM
# pays nom équipe temps
1 ANDERS AUKLAND XTRA 02:12:19.40
2 LUKÁŠ BAUER COOP 02:12:44.10
3 JØRGEN AUKLAND XTRA 02:15:14.70
4 SIMEN ØSTENSEN XTRA 02:15:40.70
5 STANISLAV REZAC XTRA 02:16:04.90
6 PETR NOVÁK ATLA 02:16:07.70
7 ANDERS SÖDERGREN UNBA 02:16:08.20
8 ELDAR RØNNING UNBA 02:16:10.50
9 EGOR SORIN VITA 02:16:10.50
10 ALGO KARP N / A 02:16:13.70
11 ESPEN HARALD BJERKE COOP 02:16:29.90
12 JIMMIE JOHNSSON COOP 02:16:33.50
13 ANDERS HØST XTRA 02:17:13.00
14 MORTEN PEDERSEN EIDE COOP 02:17:13.30
15 MARTIN BAJČIČÁK IXMI 02:17:42.20
16 VADIM NESTEROV VITA 02:18:09.10
17 THOMAS HENRIKSEN UNBA 02:18:42.30
18 KUANYSH KAMBARBAEV VITA 02:18:42.50
19 GEIR LUDVIG AASEN OUREN NPRO 02:18:43.80
20 BØRRE NÆSS NPRO 02:19:03.30
21 AUDUN LAUGALAND UNBA 02:20:07.50
22 VASSILI ROTCHEV VITA 02:20:51.30
23 JERRY AHRLIN XTRA 02:20:52.40
24 BYSTRÖM FREDRIK HELS 02:21:11.40
25 SVEIN TORE SINNES NPRO 02:21:11.70
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Photos : Nordic Focus
