SKI CLASSICS. The organizers of Jizerska Padesatka were once again facing challenging weather conditions when getting ready for the 2016 edition of this classic race. They were able to conjure up a four-kilometer lap, which was used by all the participants who were divided into separate starting groups of 400 skiers. Each group had a dedicated window of time to finish up their race before another group took off. This procedure was spread out within three days starting on Friday. Some of the groups even skied their race with headlamps on in the dark.

Visma Ski Classics elite race started at 8.30 on Sunday morning with about 120 men and 20 women. To keep the original distance, the organizers decided to have 15 laps, which has not been done before in a long distance ski race. Only 26 men and 7 women were able finish the whole course as the ones who were passed by the leading pack were taken out of the race to avoid confusion and overcrowding.

Once again Team Lease Plan’s Petter Eliassen showed what he is made of and claimed the victory 3.14 minutes before the second placed United Bakeries’ Johan Kjölstad. The ever-young Anders Aukland returned to the podium by taking the third place in a tight fight against Daniel Richardsson. All of them said they were very pleased with the decision of having 15 laps and a first real long distance race of the season. “I’m not counting laps, I’m counting kilometers,” smiling Johan Kjölstadt commented after the race.

Youth category winner Stian Hoelgaard had a really strong race by finishing 5th. He will certainly be a force to be reckon with in the upcoming events. The current sprint bib holder Andreas Nygaard was able to gain some extra points by winning the first sprint in the race and being in the top group in the second one as well. He was able to penetrate into the top 10 in the overall results as well.

On the women’s side Britta Johansson Nordgren gave a warning to everyone. Her double-poling seems to be in a perfect form as she managed to go through the course without kicking. As did Lina Korsgren and Sara Lindborg who took home the second and third places. They all agreed that the course was very tough and the conditions got much worse towards the end of the race due to warm and misty weather. Emilia Lindstedt claimed the youth category bib since Tuva Toftdahl Staver was not able to attend.

The new ski year is now officially on and the long distance ski marathon cup, Visma Ski Classics, is heading towards an exiting season as the next race will be La Diagonela in Switzerland where a full course of 65 km should be ready for eager contestants.

Podium places in men’s and women’s categories:

MEN
1. Petter Eliassen 2:12:35.70
2. Johan Kjölstad 2:15:49:70
3. Anders Aukland 2:15:50.90

WOMEN
1. Britta Johansson Norgren 2:38:27.00
2. Lina Korsgren 2:39:28.90
3. Sara Lindborg 2:40:42:00

Visma Ski Classics standings after Jizerska:
STANDINGS

Champion CHAMPION WOMEN

# name team points
1 (2) Britta Johansson Norgren L157 420
2 (1) Kateřina Smutná SANT 370
3 (3) Lina Korsgren PIIN 340
4 (6) Sara Lindborg SBER 280
5 (4) Seraina Boner TEXS 250

Champion CHAMPION MEN

# name team points
1 (3) Johan Kjølstad UNBA 360
2 (9) Petter Eliassen LEAS 325
3 (1) John Kristian Dahl UNBA 297
4 (7) Anders Aukland SANT 280
5 (4) Morten Eide Pedersen TEXS 255

Sprint SPRINT PRESENTED BY SALTDALSHYTTA

# name team points
1 Andreas Nygaard SANT 140
2 Morten Eide Pedersen TEXS 75
3 Stanislav Řezáč SILV 30
4 Vetle Thyli UNBA 30
5 Ville Nousiainen PELT 30

Team TEAMS PRESENTED BY NORDICBET

# name team points
1 (1) Team Santander SANT 1100
2 (1) Team United Bakeries UNBA 1015
3 (3) Team Exspirit TEXS 821
4 (4) Lager 157 Ski Team L157 737
5 (9) Team LeasePlan Go LEAS 521

Youth YOUTH WOMEN PRESENTED BY NORDICBET

# name team points
1 (12) Emilia Lindstedt SKIP 207
2 (11) Tuva Toftdahl Staver TEXS 116
3 (16) Ekaterina Yadovina MASS 94
4 (20) Marte Sofie Buraas SYNN 77
5 (21) Svenja Hoelzle SYNN 75

Youth YOUTH MEN PRESENTED BY NORDICBET

# name team points
1 (14) Stian Hoelgaard LEAS 204
2 (16) Andreas Nygaard SANT 177
3 (23) Anders Høst LEAS 165
4 (20) Marcus Johansson L157 116
5 (34) Andreas Holmberg MORA 62

press release
Visma Ski Classics
www.vismaskiclassics.com
Sun, January 10, 2016 2:55 pm
The long distance ski championship.
The Prologue - La Sgambeda - Jizerska 50 - La Diagonela Marcialonga - König Ludwig Lauf -Toblach Cortina Vasaloppet - Birkebeinerrennet - Årefjällsloppet

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