February 20, 2016 (Hayward, Wisconsin) – Caitlin Gregg of Team Gregg/Madshus claimed a record fourth career win at the 51km FR American Birkebeiner, winning a sprint finish down Main Street against France’s Aurelie Dabudyk, the current leader of the FIS Marathon Cup, on a warm cloudy day in Wisconsin. Erika Flowers of Stratton Mountain School T2 won a come-from-behind sprint finish to take third place.

Women's podium © Worldloppet

With volatile conditions in the days before the start, organizers closed the race course to preserve the snow-pack through periods of rainfall, but the snow remained firm for the elite racers. At the start, the temperature hovered around 40º F (4º C). Gregg made several attacks in the last ten kilometers and was able to break all of her competitors except Dabudyk, who won the intermediate sprint at the OO checkpoint.

“It’s a long, challenging course,” said Gregg at the press conference after the race. “I’ve been feeling really, really good. I knew if I could get ahead over the bridge I could have a good finishing sprint.”

Dabudyk opened up a sizable gap in the overall FIS Marathon Cup standings, already having a 60-point lead going into the race. “The goal of the FIS World Loppet lead is very important,” said the 27-year old through a translator, “Caitlin was too fast so congratulations to her.”

Flowers lost the two leaders with about ten kilometers to go when Gregg made her move. “I was in the back of the pack when Caitlin made her break,” she said, “With more experience I’ll know when to make the moves.”

The competitors emphasized that the groomers made the best of the tough conditions, but that did not make the final kilometers over Lake Hayward any easier. While most years competitors deal with blistering headwinds, this year, sections of the lake had melted into a soft slush after the previous day’s rain. “It was mushy,” said Flowers.

Results here and the FIS Worldloppet Cup standings on here.