. world ski news : John Kristian Dahl and Katerina Smutna wins Vasaloppet - 06 March 2016 - 20:28
Visma Ski Classics. The long distance ski championship.
SKI CLASSICS. John Kristian Dahl dominated the field as 19 skiers finished within five seconds and Katerina Smutna takes her first win in Vasaloppet. At the last Visma Ski Classics event in Dobbiaco/Toblach, John Kristian Dahl finished third and said in an interview that he feels confident and ready for Vasaloppet as his double-poling on flats is very strong. And extremely strong he was today when he claimed his second victory in the longest race in the Visma Ski Classics circuit.
It was a tight battle all the way to the end as 19 skiers were in the leading pack approaching the finish line in Mora. Stian Hoelgaard was right behind Dahl showing that his podium place in Italy (Marcialonga) was no fluke. Anders Höst finished third, which was quite a surprise to many but to himself as he felt strong in the race today.
This year’s special athlete guest Dario Cologna tried his wings on long distance skiing, and his attempt turned out to be very much what the doctor ordered. He did a great race but had to give room for four other skiers before him, taking home 5th place. The favorite Petter Eliassen was 21st but only six seconds behind his countryman Dahl.
In the women’s category, Katerina Smutna was two seconds faster than the double-poling expert Britta Johansson Norgren. Lina Korsgren took the last podium place seven seconds behind the winner. In this year’s somewhat challenging and slow conditions, the leading women were only about 10 minutes behind men.
The weather was around zero Celsius, - 2 C in Sälen at the time of the start, and some new snow fell on the tracks. About 300 skiers stayed intact for the first 30 km making it very stressful for skiers to proceed in a line format where long distance skiing became contact sport. After Risberg, the top skiers speeded up a bit making the pack spread out.
In the youth category, the aforementioned Hoelgaard has the lead while Emilia Lindstedt has secured her category victory. Andreas Nygaard keeps the green bib and remains the leader in the sprint competition.
The next Visma Ski Classics race is another legendary event. Norway’s Birkebeinerrennet takes place on Saturday, March 19. There are two more races left in the long distance cup and Årefjällsloppet in Åre, Sweden will tie up the season in the first weekend of April.
For todays results and Visma Ski Classics current standings visit www.vismaskiclassics.com
press release
Visma Ski Classics
Sun, March 6, 2016 8:18 pm
Photos by Magnus Östh / Visma Ski Classics
Visma Ski Classics 2015/2016
● December: The Prologue in Livigno, Italy: 15 km
● December: La Sgambeda in Livigno, Italy : 35 km
● January: Jizerska Bedrichov in Czech Republic: 50 km
● January: La Diagonela in St Moritz, Switzerland: 65 km
● January: Marcialonga in Trention, Italy: 70 km
● February: Kaiser Maximilian Lauf, Austria: 65 km
● February: Dobbiaco/Toblach-Cortina in Italy: 50 km
● March: Vasaloppet in Dalarna, Sweden: 90 km
● March: Birken in Lillehammer, Norway: 54 km
● April: Årefjällsloppet in Sweden: 65 km