February 12, 2012 (Mouthe, France) – The temperature of -15 degrees at the start in Lamoura did not sound that cold – but with the strong easterly wind “La bise” it was biting cold! Over 3,000 racers took on the challenge to either race the 76km or the 54km skating course. Race direction: Directly into the wind!! Long time, a large group of men skied together, nobody really wanting to lead, having to open the track for the others and letting too much energy at the same time. The French Adrien Mougel tried to get away during the last 10km, but he had to pay for his risky try: He finished 12th in the end.

Another favourite of the day, Fabio Santus (ITA) had a crash at the last downhill and couldn’t challenge the first ones any more in the finish sprint. His team mate Florian Kostner took the wrong corridor and didn’t make it to put his foot over the line before one of the three others, therefore he finished fourth in the end. Last year’s winner, Benoît Chauvet (FRA), back from sickness which already stopped him from a better result in the Marcialonga (ITA), took tenth place.

The Skinfit Racing Team from Ramsau am Dachstein (AUT) was the lucky winner of today: Not only Ivanou belongs to this team but also third placed Martin Koukal (CZE), who had his best result this season in a FIS Marathon Cup today, as well as the winner on the women’s side, Valentina Shevchenko. Sergio Bonaldi (ITA) took his chances and finished second.

From kilometre 15 onwards and right at the start of the first long uphill, the Ukranian found herself alone – and it stayed that way right until the finish. Racing alone the whole time, right into the face of the wind made her victory even bigger as she was leading in the end almost seven minutes in front of the others!!! Stephanie Santer (ITA) and Tatiana Manimaa (EST), the second and third placed, were racing in a group of five, however, at every uphill, Santer lost contact with the group and had to catch it again in the flat part. However, she was able to use her speed on the flat part to the finish and could therefore finish second before the Estonian.

Blue sky, wonderful sunshine and a great scenery made the race, despite the wind and the cold temperatures, to a great success for racers and spectators alike! Stanislav Rezac (CZE) still leader of the overall FIS Marathon Cup with 260 points – Stephanie Santer (ITA) new leader on the women’s side!

No changes in the men’s ranking of the overall FIS Marathon Cup: Stanislav Rezac (CZE) leads with 260 points in front of Joergen Aukland (NOR, 220 points). Aliaksei Ivanou (BLR) is now and Jerry Ahrlin (SWE, 180 points). On the women’s side it’s now Stephanie Santer, who, after he second place today, leads the overall ranking with 271 points in front of Susanny Nystöm (265 points) and Jenny Hansson (SWE, 252 points) who both didn’t take part in La Transjurassienne.

The next FIS Marathon Cup race will be the Tartu Maraton (EST), 63km classic technique.

Quotes of the top three:

Aliaksei Ivanou (BLR):
It was a very hard race. I have won La Transjurassienne already one time, but then, it was not as hard ass today. The wind made it very difficult to race and nobody wanted to lead. I lost contact with the big group between km 30 and 40, but luckily I could catch them again. On top, I was not in a very good position in the last two kilometres, so I didn’t know what my chances were. The track seemed this year to be narrower before the finish, so there were no real opportunities to pass the others like in the other years. Therefore I am so happy, that I had enough power left for the finish sprint and that I could win again!!! On top, it’s a great team result!

Sergio Bonaldi (ITA):
I skied almost the whole course in front, together with the other two, who are on the podium with me. It was hard to race in this kind of wind and you lost a lot of energy when you were leading the whole time. The wind blocked the group in a way, so you couldn’t really get away. I really hoped to be on the podium today, but I knew that the conditions were really difficult. However, I am very happy now that I could make it that well through the race.

Martin Koukal (CZE):
I really wanted to show what I am capable of. I am a good skating skier, but until now, I wasn’t on the podium in a FIS Marathon Cup this season. We raced as a team today, even though everybody was of course also focusing on his individual result. It was a hard race, that’s for sure. It was not so much the cold but the strong wind which made it difficult to race. I was always in the front pack and we tried several times to get away from the others, but on a flat part, where the wind was the strongest, nobody wanted to lead and we lost all the advantage we had gained before. Aliaksei had the most power left today, but I am happy with my third place. My goal for today was a podium place and I got that, so I am satisfied!

Valentina Shevchenko (UKR):
It was a really exhausting race, but in comparision with the König-Ludwig-Lauf, it was not the cold which made it difficult, but the strong wind. I felt good even if I had some problems after the König_Ludwig-Lauf with my feed which were frozen, so I didn’t know exactly how it would go today. From km 15 on, I was alone and had to race the whole time into the wind, opening the track for myself. I hoped the whole time that I would be able to keep the advantage I had gained, but if you race alone, this is never clear. I put on several layers of clothing, so I was warm and confortable on that side and I like the track as the track is pretty difficult which is perfect for me.

Stephanie Santer (ITA):
It’s my first time here and of course I hoped to be on the podium, but I didn’t know what to expect. Several times during the race, I lost contact with the group and didn’t know if I would be able to catch them again – so I was close to quitting already. However, I always caught the group in the flatter parts as I had great skies!! Somehow I had enough power left for the finish sprint, so I am really, really happy with my second place! To be the new leader of the overall FIS MC is even more incredible!

Tatiana Manimaa (EST):
That was a hard race today. The wind was blowing so hard today. That’s why I decided to stay with the group because I knew I wouldn’t make it if I had to ski just by myself. The track is really hard which is what I really like here! I didn’t prepare especially for this race, I just tried to recover from the König-Ludwig-Lauf, which was very hard, too with the cold temperatures. I really enjoyed racing despite the strong wind!

More pictures from the race HERE.

For the results of the elite athletes click HERE.
Full results will be put online as soon as possible HERE:

For more information on La Transjurassienne click HERE.

Next FIS Marathon Cup: February 19 – Tartu Maraton (EST), 63km classic technique