MARCIALONGA: AN AUKLAND FAMILY AFFAIR

Jörgen Aukland beats Anders and Stanislav Rezac

Petter Northug jr. finishes in tenth place

Susanne Nyström climbs the first step of the ladies’ podium

Luca Orlandi and Veronica Cavallar dominate the Marcialonga Light

 

 

Marcialonga 2012 has crowned Jörgen Aukland ofNorwayand Susanne Nyström ofSweden, today inItaly’s Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa.

The Norwegian skier well remembered the Italian race as he had won it twice in the past (2003 and 2006), and today was determined to seize the gold once again. His main contenders were his brother Anders, last Marcialonga’s winner Jerry Ahrlin, Czech Stanislav Rezac and the Norwegian XC superstar Petter Northug jr, among others. ‘The eventual climb is just crazy’, today’s winner said at the end of his race, ‘especially cause it comes after 70k of hard double poling. But it’s been right there that I managed to earn some meters on Stan and Jerry.’

The three skiers together with Anders Aukland had shown up at the bottom of Cascata hill, while Petter Northug jr. had already thrown in the sponge. ‘When I reached the final climb’, Northug claimed, ‘I had totally run out of energies and I had to give up’. The battle between Jörgen and Ahrlin started soon, Rezac initially managed to keep their pace, whilst Anders seemed to control the opponents from a few meters back. All of a sudden, Jörgen found himself ahead of everyone with several meters advantage, and nobody could reach him any more. As for Anders, he couldn’t let his brother jump on the podium without him, and so changed gear on the climb and eventually seized the silver, followed by the Czech Rezac, who is now the new FIS Marathon Cup leader.

On the women’s side, Nyström’s race has not been easy at all. All the way from Moena up to the Cascata hill, she has fought against opponents Hansson, Kvelj, Svendsen, Confortola and Santer, and managed to get rid of them all along the 3k last steep climb. Nyström has today won her first Marcialonga, after the bronze medals she got in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Jenny Hansson has come in second and become the new FIS Marathon Cup leader.Italy’s Stephanie Santer seized the bronze medal.

The 45k Marcialonga Light race was won by Italian Luca Orlandi and Veronica Cavallar.

Marcialonga will be back with the 40th edition in 2013 when Val di Fiemme will be hosting the Nordic World Ski Championships.

Info: www.marcialonga.it

 

 

Download TV images:

www.broadcaster.it

 

Results:

 

Men70 Km

1. Aukland Jorgen Nor 02:55:37:3; 2. Aukland Anders Nor 02:55:39:0; 3. Rezac Stanislav Cze 02:55:44:2; 4. Ahrlin Jerry Swe 02:56:01:3; 5. Johnsson Jimmie Swe 02:56:35:8; 6. Brink Joergen Swe 02:56:41:4; 7. Morandini Nicola Ita 02:56:47:9; 8. Laugaland Audun Nor 02:56:49:5; 9. Dammen Kjetil Hagtvedt Nor 02:56:53:8; 10. Northug Petter Nor 02:56:56:1

 

Women 70 Km

1. Nystroem Susanne Swe 03:23:20:3; 2. Hansson Jenny Swe 03:24:16:5; 3. Santer Stephanie Ita 03:30:35:2; 4. Kveli Laila Nor 03:31:05:7; 5. Confortola Antonella Ita 03:33:30:3; 6. Svendsen Sara Nor 03:34:17:2; 7. Lintzen Nina Swe 3:43.56,3 ; 8. Ruud Astrid Kristin Nor 3:49.55,0; 9. Borutova Kamila Cze 3:51.24,6; 10. De Martin Pinter Veronica Ita 3:52.12,2

Men 45 Km

1. Orlandi Luca Ita 01:54:25:4; 2. Vanzetta Alex Ita 01:56:28:8; 3. Gismondi Matteo Ita 01:59:43:5; 4. Fanton Paolo Ita 02:02:28:0; 5. Valorz Pietro Ita 02:04:31:1; 6. Muller Marco Ita 02:22:47:0; 7. Degaudenz Roberto Ita 02:22:47:3; 8. Venturelli Christian Ita 02:26:00:4; 9. Custodero Tommaso Ita 02:38:04:0; 10. Salvi Danilo Ita 02:43:20:9

 

Women 45 Km

1. Cavallar Veronica Ita 02:14:40:9; 2. Valbusa Sabina Ita 02:18:37:7; 3. Morandini Lisa Ita 02:20:21:3; 4. Tiraboschi Carolina Ita 02:30:29:8; 5. Longo Alice Ita 02:31:17:5; 6. Sirio Valentina Ita 02:42:43:4; 7. Dybendahl Trude Nor 02:45:44:8; 8. Colnaghi Calissoni Laura Ita 02:46:52:9; 9. Boman-Larsen Anette Nor 03:00:30:3; 10. Muller Antonella Ita 03:01:51:6