Les Norvégiens sont soulagés, ils tiennent enfin leur récompense suprême. Une médaille d'or qui a tout de même mis cinq jours avant d'arriver aujourd'hui autour du cou de la talentueuse Martine Ek Hagen, digne héritière de ses glorieuses ainées.

C'est la révélation Américaine Jessica Diggins qui a pris le meilleur départ dans ce skiathlon en passant en tête à mi-course après la partie en classique. Ensuite Hagen et l'Italienne Agreiter sont très vites revenues sur elle. La Norvégienne a ensuite placé son attaque décisive dans le longue montée, et cela lors de la seconde et dernire boucle en skating.

Martine Ek Hagen file alors remporter le premier titre mondial individuel de sa carrière sur ce skiathlon des mondiaux U23. La Norvégienne s'impose en 43'52 avec 14sec d'avance sur l'Italienne Debora Agreiter qui s'est offert un sacré beau cadeau le jour de ses 21 ans. Voilà peut-être la fondeuse qui succédera à Follis ou Longa.

La Suédoise Emma Wiken complète le podium à 34sec et obtient sa seconde médaille de ces mondiaux après l'argent du sprint. Comme Hagen et Agreiter, elle a profité de la partie en skating pour revenir sur le podium.

Côté Français on note la 25e place de Manon Locatelli et la 28e de Célia Aymonier pour cette dernière épreuve des mondiaux U23 2012.

Les réactions (source FIS)

Martine Ek Hagen  (NOR) 
"I decided not to open too fast in the classical part and speed up in free technique and see what happens. I was expecting Jessica Diggins to follow us but it was only me and Debora in front. I was never sure about the victory. Debora was very strong today. When I opened up a gap on Debora I was hoping I could keep the margin to the finish. The World Championships here were excellent. It was great weather and courses were perfect. I will be racing at World Cup in Oslo in 30 km classic."
 
Debora Agreiter (ITA)
"Today I was feeling very good, especially in classic. I'm better in skating but the pace after the start was not that high as normally. After classical part I was surprised I was still in the leading group. After the exchange I was following Martine Ek Hagen and we were skiing together. In the second round Hagen went away, but I am very happy for the silver. I was a bit surprised that Jessica Diggins was not in front after the ski exchange. I was expecting her go away in the free technique part as she is very strong in skating I have to thank the whole team for great work. I had excellent skis. There is a very young group of skiers in Italy. I hope one day we will have the same results as Arianna Follis or Marianna Longa. "
 
Emma Wiken (SWE)
"I am very satisfied about my performance today. I was not hoping for a medal. I wished to be in top 10 and to do a good result. I tried to follow Russian girls in the free technique part. I felt very strong. I never thought I would win two medals in Erzurum. I hope I will be competing next weekend in Lahti." 

Le classement complet ICI