by skitrax.com
Stepen (l) and Randall on their way to the Blink Festival... © courtesy of Kikkan Randall
July 19, 2012 – The USA’s Liz Stephen landed in 3rd place on the podium at the 7.5km Lysebotn Opp, the opening round of the Blink Festival, a popular three-day rollerski race event in Norway, that was won by local star Therese Johaug.
Johaug and Stephen on the podium... © courtesy of Kikkan Randall
According to Kikkan Randall, who invited Stephen to race with her at the Blink competition, “Liz scored a podium today in the epic uphill battle up Lysboten Opp!! Yeehaw. As you can see, we’re not having any fun over here at all.”
Johaug wins © Christian Stahl
Johaug was the clear winner of the uphill roller skiing climb with a time of 32:34, almost a minute ahead of her compatriot Heidi Weng. Stephen had a stellar performance to claim the bronze at 01:01 off the pace.
Maurice Manificat led the French skiers to success © courtesy of Kikkan Randall
The men’s competition was much more dramatic and more of a race as Maurice Manificat led the French skiers to success and dominated the men’s competition in 29:02.5. Jean Marc Gaillard lost to Manificat by only +1.8 sec to finish second. Curdin Perl of Switzerland crossed the finish line +5.8 sec behind the winner in third.
Randall and Stephen making friends... © courtesy of Kikkan Randall
Women’s results
HERE.
Men’s results
HERE.
More photos
HERE.
With files from FIS XC
![Stepen (l) and Randall on their way to the Blink Festival... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-111-125x125.jpg "Stepen (l) and Randall on their way to the Blink Festival... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Stepen (l) and Randall on their way to the Blink Festival… courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Johaug wins [P] Christian Stahl](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Johaug-Wins-892-125x125.jpg "Johaug wins [P] Christian Stahl")
- Johaug wins Christian Stahl
![Galliard looking back to see Magnificat chasing. [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-108-125x125.jpg "Galliard looking back to see Magnificat chasing. [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Galliard looking back to see Magnificat chasing. courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Randall and Stephen making friends... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-107-125x125.jpg "Randall and Stephen making friends... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Randall and Stephen making friends… courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Bjorndalen on the move... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-109-125x125.jpg "Bjorndalen on the move... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Bjorndalen on the move… courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Liz taking in the view of the fjord. [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-110-125x125.jpg "Liz taking in the view of the fjord. [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Liz taking in the view of the fjord. courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Johaug and Stephen on the podium... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-112-125x125.jpg "Johaug and Stephen on the podium... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Johaug and Stephen on the podium… courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Martin Jonsrud Sunby [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-113-125x125.jpg "Martin Jonsrud Sunby [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Martin Jonsrud Sunby courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Johaug (l) and Stephen... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-114-125x125.jpg "Johaug (l) and Stephen... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Johaug (l) and Stephen… courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Liz with the Swiss girls... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Untitled-115-125x125.jpg "Liz with the Swiss girls... [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Liz with the Swiss girls… courtesy of Kikkan Randall
![Stephen (ll) and Randall [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Stephen-Randall-Untitled-111.2-125x125.jpg "Stephen (ll) and Randall [P] courtesy of Kikkan Randall")
- Stephen (ll) and Randall courtesy of Kikkan Randall
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