December 16, 2007 (Livigno, Italy) – Sweden’s Jerry Ahrlin repeated as the winner of the 18th edition of La Sgambeda, the FIS Marathon Cup 2008 opener, today in Livigno, Italy. Following in second was Anders Aukland (Nor) and Marco Cattaneo, Italy’s top distance national team racer in third. The 29-year-old winner from Ostersund was with the lead group for most of the 42 km race, but once they arrived in the stadium area, Ahrlin speeded up to get to the front to sprint for the win in the final meters. Aukland and his brother Joergen were racing together and tried to break away before reaching the finish area, but the lead group of 25 skiers would not allow them to get away.

“It’s been a great race, the toughest I ever made, it was really cold with a slow snow,” said Ahrlin. “I don’t know which was the temperature level, but I felt like there were – 50°C, especially the last part of the track was tough. Many strong competitors in the last kilometer, but than I made it in sprint and I’m satisfied, winning La Sgambeda for the second time, just like I did last year.”

Russia’s Tatiana Jambaeva, rollerskiing world champion, took the women’s race over Norway’s Hilde Pedersen who lead for the first half of the race but started having problems and almost lost her second place position to Sweden’s Elin Ek in third. “I like Italy an I’m quite happy about today’s results – nice track, nice weather conditions and a beautiful sunny day,” said Jambaeva.

More than 1,100 cross-country skiers from 23 countries were at the start line and were greeted with sunshine and very low temperatures for today’s event.

Results

Men
1. Ahrlin Jerry (SWE) 1:45.22,9
2. Aukland Anders (NOR) 1:45.23,0
3. Cattaneo Marco (ITA) 1:45.23,1
4. Grandelis Tullio (ITA) 1:45.23,3
5. Debertolis Bruno (ITA) 1:45.23,6
6. Carrara Bruno (ITA) 1:45.24,1
7. Freimuth Thomas (GER) 1:45.24,4
8. Clementi Federico (ITA) 1:45.24,5
9. De Zolt Roberto (ITA) 1:45.26,1
10. Novotny Viktor (CZE) 1:45.27,2

Women
1. Jambaeva Tatiana (RUS) 1:57.59,6
2. Pedersen Hilde (NOR) 2:01.31,7
3. Ek Elin (SWE) 2:02.53,6
4. Hansson Jenny (SWE) 2:03.18,7
5. L. Cortesi Nathascia (SUI) 2:03.21,7
6. Nunige-Baumann Jasmine (SUI) 2:06.22,6
7. De Martin Veronica (ITA) 2:11.14,3
8. Carmagnola Daniela (ITA) 2:13.44,1
9. Jetmarova Jana (CZE) 2:15.52,5
10. Felgenhauer Stefanie (GER) 2:28.47,1

Full results here.