In heavy snowfall and tough conditions Petter Eliassen, Team Ragde Eiedom and Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden, won the 90 km long Vasaloppet.
Eliassen passed Stian Hoelgaard, Team Koteng, in the last few meters winning Vasaloppet for the second time with a winning margin of one second. The winning time was 4.25,14. Lina Korsgren skied to a big victory in the women’s class winning in 4.41,02 and 57th place in total of the race. Korsgren was more than six minutes ahead of Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team.

“I’m really glad for the victory. In the end, I tried to stay behind and then come with more speed at the finish,” says Eliassen.

“I had an amazing day and amazing skis,” says Korsgren.

In the men’s race Morten Eide Pedersen, Team Kaffebryggeriet, and Andreas Holmberg, Lager 157 Ski Team, set the pace from start and Pedersen was four-tenths of a second ahead of Holmberg at the climb point after 3 km.

Towards Smågan nine athletes got a gap with high speed despite the snowy conditions. They continued to go fast and the group contained athletes like Joar Thele, Team Ragde Eiendom, Viktor Mänepää, Team Mänepää, Øystein Pettersen and Stian Berg, Team Kaffebryggeiet and Andreas Holmberg, Lager 157 Ski Team. Berg was first at the sprint point at Mångsbodarna after 24 km a second ahead of Thele. A big group of chasers was 47 seconds behind.

Torleif Syrstad, Team Koteng, together with Alexander Panshinskiy, Team Robinson Trentino, made a move and catch the leading group after Mångsbodarna.

At the control point in Risberg after 34 km the leading group had extended the lead to the following group to one minute and 45 seconds.

At the sprint in Evertsberg at 47 km Stian Berg was first again and followed by six athletes: Syrstad, Pettersen, Holmberg, Mäenpää and Thele. The big group with Petter Eliassen, Team Ragde Eiendom in front, was three and a half minutes behind.

Thele and Pettersen then pushed hard at “Lundbäcksbackarna” towards Oxberg and was follwed by Syrstad, Holmberg, Mäenpää and Berg. Pettersen and Syrstad fell just before the control and Thele got a small gap out from Oxberg with 28 km to go. Petter Eliassen and Stian Hoelgaard, Team Koteng was almost catching up the leading group.

Soon after that Eliassen, Hoelgaard, Thele and Syrstad got a gap. With about 20 km to the finish, Eliassen and Hoelgaard moved away from the other two. The margin to Thele was 38 seconds and the big group was a minute behind at Hökberg with 19 km to go.

At the last control in Eldris with 9 km to the finish Eliassen and Hoelgaard a margin of 37 seconds to three following athletes: Klas Nilsson, Team Igne, Torleif Syrstad, Team Koteng and Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team Ragde Eiendom. The big group was two minutes and 18 seconds behind.

Eliassen and Hoelgaard could stay away from the followers and at the finish in Mora Eliassen had more power in the last meters passing Hoelgaard. This was Eliassens second victory in Vasaloppet. He also won in 2015.

“The race was a lot like last year. It was hard in the front with a small group. But I tried to stay in front and work hard. Then in the last part I tried to stay cool,” says Eliassen.

It was tough for Hoelgaard who has been top three the last four years in Vasaloppet.

“The last 40 km was hard. Petter and I worked hard together. But then the finish was not so good for me,” says Hoelgaard.

I the women’s race Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden, made a good start and was 35 seconds ahead of Britta Johansson Norgren at the climb point after 3,2 km. Korsgren stayed ahead of Johansson Norgren but at Mångsbodarna the margin was only 12 seconds and they were in the big second group in the field.

Korsgren and Johansson Norgren stayed together passing Risberg and Evertsberg with Korsgren in front at the control stations. Katerina Smutna, Ed System Bauer Team, was third but more than three minutes behind and followed by Ida Dahl only 16 seconds after.

Korsgren was really strong in the uphills towards Oxberg passing in 67th
position and with a lead of two minutes and 20 seconds ahead of Johansson Norgren. At Hökberg Korsgrens lead were four minutes and 16 seconds.

Korsgren just increased the distance to Johansson Norgren winning by six minutes and 9 seconds.

“I was surprised I got such a good start of the race. Then when I got a gap to Britta I understand it was my day,” says Korsgren.

Lina set a record today finishing 57th in total of the race.

“It´s good that we show that we girls are strong,” says Korsgren.

“There was not a perfect day for me and Lina was so strong,” Johansson Norgren says.
“It felt good until Evertsberg but then I had to dig deep”, Britta continues.

Leaders in the Hertz Champion bib competition after Vasaloppet is still Britta Johansson Norgren and Andreas Nygaard.

Max Novak, Team Ramudden takes over the lead in men’s Youth competition. Ida Dahl, Team Ramudden keeps her lead on the ladies’ side. Stian Berg and Lina Korsgren leads the sprint competition.

Morten Eide Pedersen and Britta Johansson Norgren both still have big leads in the Climb competition.

In the Pro Team competition, Team Ragde Eiendom is 105 points ahead of Lager 157 Ski Team. Team Koteng is third 115 points behind. Vasaloppet is the first stage in Visma Nordic Trophy combining the Scandinavian events and Lina Korsgren and Petter Eliassen takes the lead of it after today’s win.

The next event in Season X is Birkenbeinerrennt, 54 km classic, in Norway, on Mars 21, 2020.