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Déjà vainqueur de la Sgambeda en 2012, une course longue de 42km en skating, le Norvégien était motivé pour renouveler l'expérience.
D'après lui, il manque encore de kilomètres dans les jambes alors cette épreuve tombait à pic après Davos et avant un long stage qu'il entamera dès demain à Livigno, lieu d'arrivée de cette Sgambeda.
Fidèle à ses habitudes Petter Northug a attendu le sprint final pour dévoiler ses cartouches. Le Norvégien s'impose au terme d'un long sprint devant le Tchèque Novak et le Biélorusse Ivanou.
4e place pour le Suisse Livers. Benoit Chauvet 12e, Christophe Perrillat 13e.
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Les réactions :
Petter Northug Jr. (NOR):
I had it on my plan to come back here, but I wanted to see how I was feeling after the race in Davos. Finally, I decided to give it a go and do the race. I really enjoyed the race. It was a good race for me with fast conditions, however, that made it difficult to break away. Therefore I had to race tactical and bet on my sprinting capacities. I needed a good position during the last 5km and I could get it. However, the others didn't make it that easy to win this time. I will now stay here for training and this race was the perfect start into this period.
Petr Novak (CZE):
I am really happy. Finally it worked out with the podium! I was so many times fourth or fifth so I really wanted to have this podium. But for sure, everybody would like to be on the podium. We are here already a week and we tested a lot. Luckily the weather stayed the same this time so all the testing payed off. We waxed for the second lap so I had to try to stay with the other in the first round, which was pretty hard, especially since I broke a pole and lost around 50 positions. However, I hoped that our plan would work for the second round. About 1.5km before the finish I was still only in 10th position and I was stuck but suddenly Petter moved to the left and everybody with him to I had a free space in front of me which I used to overtake around 5 people. Suddenly I was behind Petter and stayed there until the end. Of course I tried hard to overtake him but he is strong in the finish. I am glad that I could ensure the second place.
Aliaksei Ivanou (BLR):
I didn't feel very good this morning and thought that this would be a very tough race. But somehow, I got into my race more and more and in the end I was in front, right behind Petter and Petr and it's wonderful to finish third here today! Once, I got caught as some people in front of me fell down right in front of me and I thought I would have lost the possibility to do anything good today. But suddenly, right before the finish I saw that the right side was free and I took this opportunity. I pushed really hard and it worked out. I am really happy!
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Photo : Nordic Focus