March 08, 2015 (Mora, Sweden) – The Vasaloppet is the seventh event in the Swix Ski Classics tour and the start of the second half of the season. Warm and wet conditions made the 90km from Sälen to Mora extra tough with big time gaps between the athletes. With ten kilometers to go there was only three athletes left in the leading group; Petter Eliassen Team LeasPlan Go, Anders Aukland Team Santander and Stanislav Rezac Silvini Madshus Team. With two kilometers to go Petter Eliassen started to push hard and won Vasaloppet for the first time, just ahead of Anders Aukland.

Kowalczyk and Eliassen © Nordic Focus

“Amazing to win Vasaloppet and it is hard to believe. I was hoping to fight for the podium today but I never really believed that I could win. But the race developed my way and the tactic was to not use any energy before Oxberg. Then I tried to push hard in the last two hills to get a gap before the finish sprint, says Petter Eliassen.

Also the women had a tough race were Justyna Kowalczyk Russian Marathon Team won ahead of Britta Johansson Norgren Team SkiProAm and Seraina Boner Team Coop.

“It was a really tough race and I broke my pole directly at the start. An amazing experience winning Vasaloppet and I felt great the first 75km. But the last 15km was very painful and I am super happy to win, says Justyna Kowalczyk.

Anders Aukland, Team Santander and Katerina Smutna, Team Madshus Silvini are still leading the Swix Ski Classics Champion competition presented by Rottefella. Andreas Nygaard Team LeasPlan Go took back the green sprint bib and Team Santander is still leading the Team Competition. Anders Høst Team Lyn Ski took over the lead in the men’s youth competition and Tone Sundvor, Team Synnfjell is still leading the women’s youth competition.

Men’s results here.
Women’s results here.