January 27, 2009 (Val di Femme, Italy) – Two strive for the victory…. and a third runs away with it. Everyone expected a duel between the Aukland brothers, Joergen and Anders from Norway and Italian Marco Cattaneo, but in the end it was Sweden’s Jerry Ahrlin who reached the top step of the podium at the 36th Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa.

It was Ahrlin who raised his arms in victory at the finish line in Viale Mendini in Cavalese, at the end of the 70km competition, that provided decisive moments along the “Cascata” ascent again. Along the steep ascent he was able to make a difference, as he did two years ago, and leave his rivals behind including Joergen Aukland (who finished second) and Daniel Tynell, from Sweden as well, who finished in third place. This is Ahrlin’s second consecutive win at the queen of Italian cross-country skiing marathons equalling Anders and Joergen Aukland, who both have won twice (Anders in 2004 and 2008, Joergen in 2003 and 2006).

Italian Marco Cattaneo finished in fourth place: he was close to the three skiers in the lead at the beginning of the last ascent but was not able to keep pace with them and had to surrender to the Scandinavian strength. And nothing could another favourite too, i.e. Anders Aukland, who received the applause of the public in any case. It is certainly unusual for a skier to compete in a 15 km World Cup race on Saturday, then travel from Otepaeae (Estonia) to Val di Fiemme, arrive to the hotel at 1:00 a.m. and after only 7 hours take part in a 70-km skiing marathon. Last year’s winner can walk tall in any case for his “heroic” performance.
Norwegian Hilde Pedersen delivered an heroic performance as well. The 44-year old skier (who had already won in 2007), had to compete against the much younger Jenny Hansson (28 years old) from Sweden who won in 2008. In this case too the final climb was decisive and saw talented Pedersen take the lead. Sweden’s Nina Lintzen ended in third place.

The victory of the Marcialonga Light (45 km from Moena to Predazzo) went to the athlete of the Italian team Nicola Morandini and to the marathons specialist Eugenja Bitchougova.

The attention of the public then went to the remaining 6,000 competitors, including 3,900 foreigners and 1,032 women, an unprecedented record. The queen of Italian cross-country skiing marathons was followed by a huge crowd of people as usual who enjoyed this 70-km-long competition, made of fatigue, competitive spirit, great performances and colours.
Info: www.marcialonga.it

Complete men’s results here
Complete women’s results here

Men
1. Jerry Ahrlin (SWE) 02:56:52
2. Joergen Aukland (NOR) 02:57:01
3. Daniel Tynell (SWE) 02:57:06
4. Marco Cattaneo (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 02: 57:34
5. Thomas Freimuth (GER) 02:57:38
6. Audun Laugaland (NOR) 02:58:20
7. Espen Harald Bjerke (NOR) 02:58:41
8. Rune Muller (NOR) 02:58:55
9. Svein Tore Sinnes (NOR) 02:59:02
10. Aliaksei Ivanov (BLR) 02:59:17.

Women
1. Hilde G. Pedersen (NOR) 03:22:58
2. Jenny Hansson (SWE) 03:23:17
3. Nina Lintzen (SWE) 03:31:26
4. Jannicke Ostby (NOR) 03:33:31
5. Hege Skari (NOR) 03:48:07
6. Unni Oedegaard (NOR) 03:49:57
7. Hanne Lilleby (NOR) 03:51:44
8. Suvi Karjaluoto (FIN) 03:55:06
9. Anette Rustad Nilssen (NOR) 03:55:15
10. Tove Frikstad (NOR) 04:00:09.