March 16, 2013 (Norway) – Seraina Boner (Team Coop) and Anders Aukland (Team Xtra Personell) won Birkebeinerrennet today. Birkebeinerrennet is the fifth out of six events in Swix Ski Classics and it is by far the hilliest, with several long climbs.

The pace was high already from the start and at the first sprint at Skramstadsætra after 9km uphill, the leading group consisted of only twelve skiers. Roger Aa Djupvik (Team Coop) took that sprint ahead of teammate Espen Harald Bjerke and Simen Østensen (Team Xtra Personell).

After 11km, Bjerke surged away in a long climb and at one time he had a gap of 55 seconds. He won the second sprint at Kvarstad after 27 km, but with 20 km go to he was caught by Anders Aukland (Team Xtra Personell) and Eldar Rönning (Team United Bakeries). These three skiers stayed more or less together until 2km to finish, when one of Aukland’s many attempts to attack finally succeeded, and he could win ahead of Rønning and Bjerke.

“I am very happy to be first today, Aukland said after winning Birkebeinerrennet for the 4th time. I knew my chance was to push hard in the double poling parts and it worked,” said Aukland.

“Anders was too strong for me today,” commented Rönning as he applauded Aukland. “I had faster skis, but I am simply not as good as the long distance skiers on double poling. My triceps cramped the last 10 km.”

Jørgen Aukland (Team Xtra Pesonell) put on an amazing performance by finishing 4th by double poling the entire race without kickwax and it will be the two Aukland brothers that will fight for the overall title of Swix Ski Classics at Årefjällsloppet next weekend. The two Czech skiers Lukas Bauer (Team Coop) and Stanislav Rezac was surprisingly far behind, finishing 14th and 16th, respectively.

Boner Swix Ski Classics Champion
Seraina Boner (Team Coop) took a landslide victory in the women’s race and won by almost 6 minutes. Already at Skramstadsætra after 9 km she had a gap of 53 seconds to teammate Jenny Hansson and 1.05 minutes to Sandra Hansson (Team Moelven/Oslo Sportslager).

“This was the toughest race I have ever done,” Boner said after winning the Birkebeinerrennet for the third consecutive year. “I was so tired in the mountains, it was snowing and the conditions were slow. But it feels great to win, both this race and Swix Ski Classic overall. Now I will stay in Vålådalen and relax until the Swix Ski Classics Final event.”

Behind Boner, Jenny Hansson was in second place for most of the race, but was passed by Sandra in the flat parts just a few kilometers before finish.

“I was sick after the Vasaloppet and took antibiotics, so the long climbs were hard for me. Then I gained in the last part of the race and I am very satisfied with my second place,” said Hansson.

The final event in the Swix Ski Classics series is the Årefjällsloppet in Sweden, March 23th.

Results

Men

1. Anders Aukland (Team Xtra Personell) 2:42:38
2. Eldar Rønning (Team United Bakeries) 2:42:51
3. Espen Harald Bjerke (Team Coop) 2:43:02
4. Jørgen Aukland (Team Xtra Personell) 2:43:30
5. Jörgen Brink (Team United Bakeries) 2:43:33
6. Morten Eide Pederser (Team Coop) 2:43:48
7. Audun Laugaland (Team United Bakeries) 2:44:05
8. Simen Østensen (Team Xtra Personell) 2:44:25
9. Svein Tore Sinnes (Team NPRO) 2:46:42
10. Pål Golberg 2:46:43

Women

1. Seraina Boner (Team Coop) 3:09:12
2. Sandra Hansson (Team Moelven/Oslo Sportslager) 3:15:06
3. Jenny Hansson (Team Coop) 3:15:14
4. Susanne Nyström (Team Xtra Personell) 3:17:38
5. Laila Ahrlin Kveli (Team Xtra Personell) 3:18:00
6. May Bente Weng 3:21:21
7. Inger Hegstad Krüger 3:22:35
8. Stephanie Santer (iXmind Racing Team) 3:22:42
9. Ingrid Damgaard 3:24:15
10. Astrid-Kristin Ruud 3:24:30

More results, with splits HERE.