Team Mäenpää’s Niko Koskela has finally overcome his illness and returned to skiing. He raced in the FIS Worldloppet Cup race Tartu Marathon in Estonia today and won the race with the record time 2.31.08 He also became the first Finnish skier to win Tartu Marathon, which had its 46th edition this year. Koskela was followed by E-Liberty Ski Team member Damien Tarantola and Fabio Lechner from Switzerland. 

In the women’s race, Maria Gräfnings, Team ParkettPartner, was the fastest lady in Elva, the finish of the race. Tatjana Mannima from Estonia was second and Marie Kromer, E-Liberty Team, third.

Results: http://www.championchip.ee/live/1216

Gsiesertal Lauf took place in Italy today, and a few World Cup skiers participated in the race as their final preparation for the upcoming FIS World Championships in Seefeld, Austria. The race was won by Alexey Chervotkin from Russia, and Matti Heikkinen from Finland was second. These two skiers broke away from the pack, and the Russian skier was declared the winner after a photo finish. Riitta-Liisa Roponen from Finland was the fastest women in the race.

Tomorrow, you can read more about Niko Koskela, his thoughts on the historic feat in Tartu Marathon and his Vasaloppet goal.