Près de 10 000 fondeurs au départ, plus de 20 chaines de TV intéressés et une retransmission complète en direct sur internet.
Le décor de la Marcialonga 2014 est planté avec un intérêt de plus en plus fort pour ces épreuves longue distance en classique. Comme chaque année les Norvégiens sont venus par milliers tout comme les Suédois.
Tous ne sont pas venus pour jouer la gagne mais seulement pour participer à ce grand rassemblement populaire. Le circuits Ski Classics attire les foules et les organisateurs Français seraient bien inspirés de se faire une place au soleil.
Avec les belles épreuves que l'on connait chez nous, il y a de quoi faire (on parle évidemment de créer une épreuve en style classique).
Revenons à cette édition 2014 de la Marcialonga qui a débuté sur une trace très lente en raison des récentes chute de neige. Du coup tout le monde est parti prudemment jusqu'au Lac de Tesero ou une vingtaine de fondeurs se sont détachés.
Devant c'est Simen Östensen qui dicte un ryhtme de plus en plus élevé. En grande forme, le récent champion de Norvège du 15km classique, fait exploser progressivement tout le monde avant de se retrouver seul à 3km du but.
Östensen ne sera plus rejoint et passera la ligne en grand vainqueur avec son chrono de 3'10"16. Son compatriote Jon Kristian Dahl boucle les 70km au deuxième rang à 12sec juste devant Jörgen Aukland et Johan Kjölstad qui se sont disputés au sprint la troisième place.
Anders Aukland prend le 5e rang.
...
Les réactions :
1st Simen Oestensen (NOR):
"I am very happy and satisfied! I have already been close several times here, but I never made it. But today was my day, I went for it, I pushed hard and I got it. It was a very tough race, especially with the new snow in the first part of the race. We stayed a very large group until very late in the race and I always tried to be in the front group to be out of any trouble. It worked out fine and when I saw that I still had good power left and a good glide, I just went for it and pushed and pushed and the gap between me and the followers grew. But you never have to underestimate the last climb, so I pushed on – and finished first! It was really my big goal this season and I am very happy to have achieved it!"
2nd John Kristian Dahl (NOR):
"It's a great feeling to be on the podium in Marcialonga. I had very good skis and I tried to race smartly. I always tried to be in the main group, close to the front. In case I would break a pole, I would still be able to catch up with the group which is essential when you do long distance racing. Racing alone is not good if you want to catch somone. I knew that the race really starts from Lago di Tesero on. I had a good position and I could keep it into the last uphill. I knew that Joergen is very strong in this uphill, so I pushed and pushed. It was so close in the end and I am relly happy that it worked out with this second place."
3rd Joergen Aukland (NOR):
"I am satisfied with this third place. Sure the preparation with my shoulder injury wasn't perfect, but luckily it didn't disturb me at all during the race. It was a tough one with all this new snow in the track, especially after Canazei – nobody could get away so we were still a big group when we came back to Moena. Later in the race, Simen got a gap and I tried to stay with the followers. John Kristian was very strong in the uphill and I am really happy that I managed to stay with him and to put my foot over the line as third! It was very close in the end!"
Le top 25 :
| # | pays | nom | équipe | temps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
SIMEN ØSTENSEN | CENT | 03:10:16.10 |
| 2 | |
JOHN KRISTIAN DAHL | UNBA | 03:10:28.80 |
| 3 | |
JØRGEN AUKLAND | CENT | 03:10:29.10 |
| 4 | |
JOHAN KJØLSTAD | UNBA | 03:10:29.30 |
| 5 | |
ANDERS AUKLAND | CENT | 03:11:02.70 |
| 6 | |
TORE BJØRSETH BERDAL | UNBA | 03:11:05.30 |
| 7 |  |
STANISLAV ŘEZÁČ | CENT | 03:11:12.10 |
| 8 |  |
JÖRGEN BRINK | LEA | 03:11:14.90 |
| 9 | |
CHRISTOFFER CALLESEN | LEA | 03:11:21.80 |
| 10 | |
DANIEL TYNELL | TTYN | 03:11:33.90 |
| 11 |  |
BRUNO DEBERTOLIS | ROSS | 03:11:47.00 |
| 12 |  |
ALEXEY DVOSKIN | VITA | 03:11:50.80 |
| 13 | |
JIMMIE JOHNSSON | COOP | 03:11:58.60 |
| 14 | |
KJETIL DAMMEN | LEA | 03:12:03.90 |
| 15 | |
OSKAR SVÄRD | COOP | 03:12:06.90 |
| 16 | |
STIAN HOELGAARD | NPRO | 03:12:07.90 |
| 17 | |
SVEIN TORE SINNES | NPRO | 03:12:24.10 |
| 18 | |
AUDUN LAUGALAND | LEA | 03:12:30.50 |
| 19 | |
LE PROJET DE LOI IMPOLA | COOP | 03:12:32.90 |
| 20 | |
NIKOLAY BOLOTOV | VITA | 03:12:33.20 |
| 21 | |
MORTEN PEDERSEN EIDE | COOP | 03:12:44.90 |
| 22 | |
EUGENIY DEMENTIEV | VITA | 03:12:49.50 |
| 23 | |
THOMAS HENRIKSEN | LEA | 03:13:24.30 |
| 24 | |
FREDRIK BYSTRÖM | HELS | 03:13:27.70 |
| 25 | |
JENS ERIKSSON | CENT | 03:13:37.20 |
Photo : Nordic Focus