Lager 157 Ski Team’s Emil Persson and Team Engcon’s Ida Dahl were victorious in the race, as the former won the men’s race over Andreas Nygaard and Kasper Stadaas, both from Team Ragde Charge. Ida Dahl dominated the women’s race, leaving Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, behind.
The longest and hardest race in the Drei Zinnen Dolomites (Three Peaks in the Dolomites), Pustertaler Ski Marathon offered a very challenging course, breathtaking scenery, and a real battle for the wins.
PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON – MEN’S RACE
The men’s race started at 9:00 CET, and there was no decisive action besides some breakaway attempts by Viktor Mäenpää, Team Mäenpää, and Mauro Brigadoi, Team Internorm Alpenplus Trentino, before the Sprint checkpoint, with all the favorites in the front group.
Well placed for the Sprint at Nordic Arena, 22.4km into the race, Vebjørn Moen, Team Aker Dæhlie, crossed the line first, followed by Marcus Johansson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden.
Heading to the Climb point, a big group was still in the front, with several teams taking the lead at a controlled pace before the start of the climb. With 28km to go, the speed started to rise with Torleif Syrstad, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Charge, in the front and preparing the way for the Climbing checkpoint.
At Cimabanche Climb point, 36.9km into the race, Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Charge, showed his strength, crossing first, followed by Herman Paus, Team Ramudden, and Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team.
After Cimabanche, a small but powerful group got a decisive break, with Emil Persson, Amund Riege, Oskar Kardin, Andreas Nygaard, and Kasper Stadaas setting a fast pace in the downhill section towards the finish line in Villabassa/Niederdorf.
With 12.2km to go, the leading group still worked strongly together and had a gap of 16 seconds over the chasers, growing to 19 seconds with 9km to go and 30 seconds with 4.8km to the finish.
With 500m to go, the fight was tight. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, hit the front, pushed hard, and won the race, followed by Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, and Kasper Stadaas, also from Team Ragde Charge.
Pustertaler Ski Marathon – Top 3 Men
- Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, 2:20:56.7
- Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, +0.9
- Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, +1.9
PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON – WOMEN’S RACE
In the women’s race, which started at 9:05 CET, it all started with a slow pace from a big group and no real moves at the beginning.
The real action started before the Sprint checkpoint when a group was formed by Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, and Jenny Larsson, both from Team Ragde Charge, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus.
In the only Sprint point of the day, 22.4km into the race, Anikken Gjerde Alnæs showed her strength and crossed the line first, followed by Ida Dahl and Magni Smedås.
Right after the Sprint at Nordic Arena, Ida Dahl kept the pace high and got a break, soon growing to 15 seconds over Anikken Gjerde Alnæs and Emilie Fleten with 38km to the finish.
Before the Cimabanche checkpoint, 36.9km into the race, Ida Dahl increased the gap, showing her strength and crossing the Climb first, 2:08.9 in front of Emilie Fleten and 2:14.0 ahead of Anikken Gjerde Alnæs.
With 17.3km to go, Dahl was still looking strong and had a gap of 2:28 over the closest chasers, growing to 2:38 with 3.5km to go, leaving Emilie Fleten and Anikken Gjerde Alnæs fighting for second and third places.
In the end, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, showed her phenomenal performance in another Pro Tour event and crossed the finish line in first place in a solo victory. Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, finished second, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, completed the podium in third place.
Pustertaler Ski Marathon – Top 3 Women
- Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, 2:42:23.5
- Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, +1:54.5
- Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, +2:00.0
Pustertaler Ski Marathon results can be found HERE.
SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS – CURRENT STANDINGS
After Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, lead the Champion bib competition. Ida Dahl is also carrying the Green bib of the Sprint competition, together with Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden.
Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, carry the bib for the Climb competition. The Pink bib for the best Youth is resting on the shoulders of Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Amund Riege, Team Ramudden.
The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 32km race in Italy tomorrow, January 15, 2023.
PRATO PIAZZA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 5
- Date: January 15, 2023
- Distance: 32km Classic Technique
- Location: Villabassa/Niederdorf, Italy (Start) – Prato Piazza (Finish)
- Start Time: Women 9:05 CET / Men 9:00 CET
- Number of SC Sprints: 1
- Sprint: Lago di Dobbiaco 8km
- Number of SC Climbs: 1
- Climb/Finish: Prato Piazza 32km
- Total Ascent: 1022m
More info about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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Top Photo: Vanzetta/NordicFocus
