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Novak fait un grand pas vers le général

Environ 1500 fondeurs étaient présents sur la ligne de départ pour cette épreuve populaire en classique longue de 51km. 27 nations présentes pour l'évènement avec un joli tracé dans les forêts de la Jizera.

Il faut attendre la mi-course pour voir les meilleurs prendre le large. Un groupe de sept s'en va seul, puis à 10km du but les Tchèques Novak et Rezac parviennent à distancer Benoit Chauvet, leur ultime rival.

Novak prendra le meilleur sur son coéquipier sur la dernière bosse avant de remportert la victoire et surtout faire un grand pas vers le général FIS Marathon Cup.

Le Mégevan Benoit Chauvet termine finalement sa course avec une belle troisième place.

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Chez les dames, la leader du général Holly Brooks s'est fait lâcher à mi-course. 

L'Estonienne Mannima, la Tchèque Moravcova et Aurélie Dabudyk ont ensuite skier ensemble avant de s'expliquer au sprint pour la victoire.

Avec son succès Mannima passe Brooks au général, Dabudyk pointe au 3eme rang.

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Il reste encore deux épreuves au programme, le Marathon de l'Engadin dimanche prochain, puis une course à Khanty-Mansiysk.

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Les résultats sont disponibles ICI

(suite sous la photo)

BIEG PIASTOV DAMES.jpg

Les réactions : 

1st Petr Novak (CZE):

"After the waxing disaster in the US, I came home very disappointed and did not feel well. On the other hand it gave me some extra motivation to have a good race today. I wanted to be at the head of the race to control the situation and not to spend too much energy.

I knew that with Rezac I would need to save enough energy for the finish sprint. I thought that he will start pushing hard on the last uphill and I needed to keep up with him there. 1 km before the finish there was a little bump and I took my chance and accelerated there.

Luckily I was able to keep the gap until fthe inish line. I am very happy, especially after the race in the US. My skis were gliding a little bit better in some parts of the course but generally I had similar skis as Stan."

2nd Stanislav Rezac (CZE)

"Petr and me, we have both won this race already a couple of time and we know the course pretty well. Today, Petr had great skis and was just the tiny bit better which was why I had to settle for second place. However, I am satisfied with the race."

3rd Benoit Chauvet (FRA):

"It was a hard race today but I had really good skis. It is hard for me when there is double poling all the way through and Petr is very strong in this. On the uphill about 10 km before the finish Rezac and Novak created a gap that I could not close anymore. I am happy however, that I could kept my 3rd place until the end. Thanks to the OC for a good race. I really want to come back here next year. Now it will be hard to beat Petr for FMC overall but I will do my best."

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Dames

1st Tatjana Mannima (EST):

"It was a hard race but I had very good skis, especially in the downhills! I had a big advantage of good glide which helped me a lot. On the uphills all of us were girls were pretty equal. I am very happy win here today and with it, to get the red bib back again – I hope I can now keep it until the end o the season!"

2nd Klara Moravcova (CZE):

"I am so happy with my second place today. It was a tough race and with such a high class field, so I am just so happy to end up second. Of course, it was very close in the end, but Tatjana was just a bit stronger in the end today."

3rd Aurelie Dabudyk (FRA):

"I did not have the best skis and as the last part towards the finish was downhill, it was not possible for me to beat Tatjana."