In the women’s race, five skiers broke away in the first long climb up to Yllästunturi, within the three Fischer skiers Britta Johansson Norgren, Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes, (Team Santander, Fischer skis and boots) and Justyna Kowalczyk (Team Trentino Robinson Trainer, Fischer). Britta Johansson Norgren managed to finish in second place ahead of Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes, who was especially happy about her podium: “After my ankle injury in January it was the big goal to make the podium in Ylläs-Levi – and I am really happy that I made it.”
In the men’s race, there were more than 20 skiers in the leading group through the first two sprints. There was an exciting fight between Morten Eide Pedersen (Team BN Bank, Fischer skis and boots) and Tord Asle Gjerdalen (Team Santander, Fischer skis and boots) for the climb competition up on Kukastunturi where the former was stronger taking home that overall climb trophy.
Then about 30 kilometers before the finish, four Team Santander athletes followed by Tore Björseth Berdal (Team Koteng, Fischer skis and boots) broke away. The Santander skiers worked together and soon Berdal had to gave in. Anders Aukland (Team Santander, Fischer skis and boots), Andreas Nygaard, Tord Asle Gjerdalen and Öyvind Moen Feld (Team Santander, Fischer) came to the finish area together, and Andreas Nygaard was the strongest in the sprint followed by Gjerdalen, Aukland and Moen Fjeld respectively.
“The last 20 kilometers were tough,” the happy winner Andreas Nygaard said. “I was tired in the end, but so was Tord Asle. He pushed really hard in the last kilometers. But I was able to speed up in the final meters and win the race. It feels so good to end the season on a high note.”
The queen of long distance skiing this season was definitely Britta Johansson Norgren by winning the overall ranking, as well as the sprint and the climb ranking. On the men’s side Tord Asle Gjerdalen won the overall ranking while Anton Karlsson (Lager 157 Ski Team, Fischer) won the sprint one and Morten Eide Pedersen, was the king of the hill by winning the climb ranking.
Results Ylläs-Levi
