January 27, 2013 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – The names of the first three are the same as last year, only the second and the third have changed places. However, the race was a completely different one compared to last year. Has Joergen Aukland been about one minute behind at around 30km to go last year, he always was in the leading group this year. The tactic of team Xtra Personnell, the team of the best four men of this year’s race, was however, like last year, to push very hard in the beginning to split up the big group already as early as possible in order to prevent struggles later on in the flatter part of the race.

However, conditions were so slow this morning between the start in Moena and the highest point in Canazei, that this tactic didn’t really work: When the leading group came back down to Moena (Val di Fassa) and then to Val di Fiemme, it still counted about 30 racers. With no possibility to break the group up in the flat part until Molina, everybody just tried to stay out of trouble as much as possible. So, once again, the race was decided during the last three kilometres, on the famous climb (“la cascata”) and like last year it was Joergen Aukland who showed everybody else who the king of double poling is!

Behind him, Stanislav Rezac (CZE) tried everything to keep up with Aukland’s speed but he had to let him go. As Joergen’s brother Anders was not far behind, fighting hard with team mate Jerry Ahrlin (SWE) for the third place, Rezac could not calm down after seeing Joergen Aukland pass. In the end, Rezac secured the second place and Anders Aukland was victorious in the fight against Ahrlin for the third spot.

On the women’s side, it was a very clear victory of Seraina Boner (SUI). Pushing very hard from the beginning on, the girl from Davos had a large margin when she came to the final climb. Knowing that, she did not have to push herself to the very limit to get up that steep hill to the finish. Second placed Laila Kveli (NOR), like the best four men starting in the light green suits of Team Xtra Personnell, came almost two minutes behind Boner into the finish. Around thirty seconds later, it was time for the third lady to finish her race: Tatiana Jambaeva (RUS) secured the last podium place.

Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA), one of the local heroes and an Italian World Cup skier, who still hoped to qualify for the World Championships in Val di Fiemme, which will start in about three weeks, crashed into the barriers in on of the downhill parts at kilometre 30 while trying to catch the leading group again. During his crash he injured his right knee.

The Aukland brothers Joergen and Anders as well as Petter Northug (all NOR) are all in front of the overall FIS Marathon Cup ranking, having all won one race and having placed third in another. Therefore all three have 160 points. Behind them, Martin Bajcicak (SVK) follows with 139 points just in front of Stanislav Rezac (CZE) with 125 points.

On the women’s side, the ranking is much clearer: Seraina Boner (SUI) now leads after her victory today with 240 points in front of Tatiana Manimaa (EST, 193 points) and Antonella Confortola (ITA, 147 points).

The complete result list from today’s race & the actual overall FIS Marathon Cup standings HERE.

Quotes from the podium winners…

Joergen Aukland (NOR):
It was a really, really hard race today! Once again! And I am so very happy that I was able to gain the highest podium place in this 40^th edition of Marcialonga. It’s on of my favourite races and since I am best in double poling – and this race is one of those in which you need to be very good in double poling – the Marcialonga is one of my season highlights. Therefore I am very satisfied that it worked out again with the victory. We tried to break up the group already in the beginning with our team, but due to the very slow conditions at the start, it didn’t work out. So we were still around 30 racers at the bottom of “la cascata”. I placed myself in the front of the group and tried to stay out of trouble most of the way and I then attacked at the climb. It worked very well, however, I knew that Stanislav was not fare away so I had to push hard until the end. I was not sure of my victory until I saw the finish line! But then I was just happy to have done it again!

Stanislav Rezac (CZE):
For this race you really need to be good in double poling – every year it gets more important. I still have to do a lot of work in this area. I tried to stay with Joergen in the last uphill, but he was just too strong. I knew that Anders and Jerry were not far behind me so I really pushed hard to ensure the second place. I am very happy that it worked out!

Anders Aukland (NOR):
I am just really really happy with this third place today! It was a very hard race today and in the final climb I had a very serious fight with Jerry for the third place. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to win so I simply pushed hard. It was a complete different race this year, in comparison to last year, where our team was able to limit the size of the first group by pushing very hard in the beginning. So this time, we all just tried to make sure that we would stay out of trouble. The “real race” then just started in Molina and in the final uphill.

I know Val di Fiemme very well, and yes, I guess I would be able to start in the 50km race during the World Championships, but I focused this year completely on long distance skiing and the preparation is a bit different from the one you do for World Cups.

Seraina Boner (SUI):
I really love this race! It’s a great course, in a great scenery with the passages through all the villages and today was just another perfect day for me! I decided to go a hard pace already in the beginning because I knew that my advantage is in the uphills so I had to play this card already in the beginning to gain a lot of space between me and the other girls. It was a hard race since I also had to ski alone for quite a while, but when I came to the final climb and realised that I had quite a large advantage, I knew that I didn’t have to push me to the extreme limit to get up “la cascata” in order to win. My grip was not perfect so I tried to double pole most of the last uphill. This victory is very important for me since the Marcialonga is always a season highlight for me. To be in the leader bib of the FIS Marathon Cup now is like the cherry on the cake!

Laila Kveli (NOR):
I am very happy and proud to be under the top three in this famous race. It’s just a great atmosphere here during the race, people cheering all along the way and if it is sunny lilke today, it’s just great. It was a hard race but I organised it well so I am very happy that it also worked out with the podium!

Tatiana Jambaeva (ITA):
It was the first time for me here in the Marcialonga and I have to say that it’s a really nice race – but also a hard one. Today, Seraina and Laila were stronger and I am very happy that I could still climb onto the podium.

Important dates & Information:
February 2: König-Ludwig-Lauf (GER) – 5^th FIS Marathon Cup 2012-13 / 50km FT

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