Après la Marcialonga les grands spécialistes du classique longue distance ont pris quelques jours de repos. Pour la plupart, pas question de venir à la Transjurassienne, la suite de leur programme c'était ce dimanche en Estonie pour le fameux Tartu Marathon.
Et tout cela pour une nouvelle bataille de Scandinavie entre Suédois et Norvégiens avec aujourd'hui un très net avantage à la Suède. Battus par les frères Aukland sur la Marcialonga, la revanche aura été éclatante avec le succès de Jörgen Brink devant ses compatriotes Daniel Rickardsson, qui avait abandonné le circuit coupe du monde pour l'occasion, et Jimmie Johnsson.
Meilleur Norvégien, Anders Aukland 4 qui devance sur le fil le vétéran Thomas Alsgaard et l'increvable Tchèque Stanislav Rezac. A noter le belle 9e place de l'Italien Florian Kostner.
Chez les dames c'est encore la Suède qui triomphe gràce à Susanne Nystroem devant Jenny Hansson et la Suissesse Seraina Boner qui skie pour le Team Suédois Expirit !
Les réactions : source FIS
Jörgen Brink (SWE):
It was a really nice race today, even though it was pretty hard. I really like the track here, I think it's even the best track of the FIS Marathon Cup! But this year, there wasn't so much snow so often, little stones and other things got into the track. Our team tried to be offensive the whole time, push hard in the uphills and to keep the speed high. But due to the wind, it was hard to get away. However, our tactic worked very well today. At the start, it was pretty cold, especially due to the wind, but once you were racing, it was ok. I didn't feel very well yesterday when we were testing skis, I was even thinking of staying in bed today. So the victory is a big surprise and definitely a wonderful one!
Daniel Richardsson (SWE):
It was a hard race as the wind was blowing quite hard most of the time. Nobody wanted to lead into this kind of wind so the pace was pretty slow, especially in the beginning. When we came out of the woods and the wind was blowing snow in the tracks, nobody wanted to play the cleaner. But the last eight kilometres got pretty fast and I was happy that I could follow the speed. I was still pretty tired in the beginning as I skied in the World Cup yesterday in Poland and the trip to Tartu was quite long. Surely, seeing my team mate Johan Olsson winning was a perfect motivation. Even though it was quite exhausting to come here, I really wanted to try this kind of race as I pretty much like long distance races. However, this was my first FIS Marathon Cup and I really enjoyed it! Maybe I will race the Vasaloppet now, too!?
Susanne Nyström (SWE):
That was a tough race! It's the first time fir me that I participated in this race and with all the little uphills – and today with the wind – it got pretty demanding! So I was more careful in the steeper uphills in order to keep some force for the end!I didn't really expect to win here as this is not exactly my kind of track and with the wind always blowing new snow in the tracks it was quite difficult to ski sometimes. However, I had really good skis with a great grip which helped me a lot today! A big thanks to my skimen!!Jenny Hansson (SWE): Once again a great race with perfect team work! But it was also a tough race and I think without the team work, this result would not have been possible. Skiing together is just so much easier than skiing along the whole time, especially in these conditions. But you also had to be in front sometimes today in order to keep the speed up, but as a team, you take your turns. Even though I am really satisfied with my race today, I will surely do everything to be in the top spot next time!
Seraina Boner (SUI):
It was a really nice race today. After La Transjurassienne last weekend, I didn't even find it that windy today! I double poled a lot during the race and it was not a big problem. Unfortunately I picked the wrong curve right before the finish as I didn't know the track really and so I finished third. Skiing in the woods was pretty nice and there, the wind didn't bother at all. As we three got away straight from the start, we helped each other and skied together until the end.
Photos : Nordic Focus
Les résultats complets ICI
Le top 20 masculin :
1. Jörgen Brink TUB, 02:43:20.1
2. Daniel Rickardsson, NSW 2:43:21.0
3. Jimmie Johnsson, EXS 2:43:22.5
4. Anders Aukland, XTR 2:43:23.4
5. Thomas Alsgaard, TUB 2:43:23.4
6. Stanislav Rezác, PDT 2:43:23.7
7. Jørgen Aukland, XTR 2:43:36.1
8. Anders Högberg, TRA 2:43:36.5
9. Florian Kostner, MES 2:43:37.0
10. Thomas Henriksen, TUB 2:43:37.1
11. Børre Næss, NPR 2:43:39.4
12. Audun Laugaland, TUB 2:43:40.4
13. Arne Post, TUB 2:43:42.2
14. Jerry Ahrlin, XTR 2:43:50.2
15. Morten Eide Pedersen, BIR 2:43:57.0
16. Mathias Fredriksson, EXS 2:43:57.6
17. Svein Tore Sinnes, NPR 2:44:04.7
18. Rikard Andréasson, EXS 2:44:08.8
19. Anders Myrland, TUB 2:44:09.5
20. Kjetil Dammen, XTR 2:44:42.1
Le top 9 féminin
1. Susanne Nyström, 3:06:26.6
2. Jenny Hansson, 3:06:27.4
3. Seraina Boner, 3:06:30.1
4. Stephanie Santer, 3:10:22.1
5. Tatjana Mannima, 3:12:24.7
6. Sara Svendsen, 3:14:50.8
7. Laila Kveli, 3:16:36.6
8. Mari Riseth Guin, 3:19:13.3
9. Laura Rohtla, 3:20:40.8
