February 2, 2008 – There is no doubt that the Marcialonga is one of the most loved cross-country skiing competitions of the world. On Sunday morning (Jan. 27) on the starting line of the 35th Marcialonga there were more than 5.000 people, but at 11.24 a.m. Anders Aukland (NOR) was all alone when he crossed the finish line in viale Mendini in Cavalese, in front of more than 10.000 people on a spring-like day. The 70 km track floated into the wonderful landscapes of Fiemme and Fassa Valleys. A huge crowd all along the track (more than 70.000 people) cheering and clapping their hands for the competitors.

Anders Aukland, who was thought to win on the competition’s eve, confirms his great shape and his leadership in the FIS Marathon Cup. The winner of the 35th edition of the Marcialonga is again Aukland who also won the World Cup edition of 2004 with a finish time just a few seconds faster than this year.

Wearing the red bib of the leader, Aukland took it easy at the start keeping up with the leaders until the second half part of the race, where he speeded up and left the others behind. Basically, a 35km long breakaway which started right after Moena. The followers were unable to react and the gap from the leader was getting bigger and bigger every kilometre. On the finish line in Cavalese, Joergen Aukland, Anders’s brother and winner of two Marcialonga’s editions, ranked second with a 2’48” delay.

Jerry Ahrlin (SWE), winner of the last edition, ranked third with a 2’57” delay, while one of the big favourites, Oskar Svaerd (SWE), got fourth just in front of his teammate Mathias Fredriksson.

Only a disappointing 19th position for Odd Bjoern Hjelmeset (NOR), one of the best World Cup athletes, who felt twice during the race. His teammate Frode Estil, another important athlete for the Norwegian World Cup team, finished 10th.

Among the ladies, the strong Hilde Pedersen (NOR) was absent and it turned out to be an all-Swedish race and as a matter of fact on the podium stepped three Swedish ladies. On the higher step it was Jenny Hansson who celebrated the victory, while her teammates Elin Ek and Susanne Nystrom finished respectivily second and third.

This is how the 35th edition of the queen of the long-distance cross-country Italian races ends, colored also by the presence of more than 3200 foreign competitors, including 1700 Norwegian athletes. Info: www.marcialonga.it

Results

70km Men
1. Aukland Anders (NOR) 3:09.32
2. Aukland Joergen (NOR) 3:12.16
3. Ahrlin Jerry (SWE) 3:12.25
4. Svaerd Oskar (SWE) 3:12.31
5. Fredriksson Mathias (SWE) 3:12.38
6. Costantin Pierluigi (ITA) 3:13.06
7. Cattaneo Marco (ITA), 3:13.29
8. Palmer Anders (SWE) 3:14.24
9. Karlsson Niklas (SWE) 3:14.46
10. Estil Frode (NOR) 3:15.10

70km Women
1. Hansson Jenny (SWE) 03:43:27
2. Ek Elin (SWE) 03:46:41
3. Nystrom Susanne (SWE) 03:48:49
4. Nafranovich Irina (BLR) 03:56:54
5. Lilleby Hanne (NOR) 04:10:28
6. Skari Hege (NOR) 04:16:44
7. Breda Tille Marie (NOR) 04:18:06
8. Thagaard Kristin Sem (NOR) 04:19:17
9. Druidi Viviana (ITA) 04:21:45
10. Nereng Silje (NOR) 04:22:36

45km Men
1. Orlandi Luca (ITA) 2:08.31
2. Morandini Nicola (ITA) 2:11.05
3. Zattoni Andrea (ITA) 2:11.59
4. Lurvik Darell Fredrik (NOR) 2:39.08
5. Chiocchetti Pierluigi (ITA) 2:39.13
6. Eggen Rismark Lars (NOR) 02:47:28
7. Lo Piccolo Andrea (ITA) 02:49:35
8. Molly Olivier (SUI) 02:55:00
9. Mischkot Michele (ITA) 02:57:44
10. Rigoni Giancarlo (ITA) 02:59:16

45km Women
1. Colnaghi Calissoni Laura (ITA) 02:55:03
2. Ewen Tracy (CAN) 02:57:18
3. Svare Kjellfrid (NOR) 03:07:35
4. Nordvik-Hiller Monica Diana (NOR) 03:16:37
5. Stuve Hanne (NOR) 03:25:02
6. Tessaro Michela (ITA) 03:33:54
7. Darell Siri (NOR) 03:34:17
8. Eggen Kristin (NOR) 03:37:08
9. Svobodova Katerina (CZE) 03:38:40
10. Rauhala Sirpa (FIN) 03:47:10