Aukland Wins Third Straight Worldloppet Race, Daehlie 16th

FasterSkier · February 8, 2003

The following article is from <worldloppet.com

Joergen Aukland (NOR) managed to break away 3 km from the finish and won the 34. Tartu Maraton 63 km distance, the 4th FIS Marathon Cup race with the time 2:50.31,1. Stanislav Rezac (CZE) outsprinted Oskar SvÃ¤rd (SWE) and Raul Olle (EST) to get the second place, 12 second behind from the Norwegian. The legendary Bjoern Daehlie (NOR) dropped from the leader group after the first quarter and finished 16th 7.30 behind the winner.

Aukland has won the last three FIS Marathon Cup races in a row and is continuing on the leading position with 340 points. Rezac is 20, SvÃ¤rd 70 and Olle 158 points behind.

FIS Marathon Cup leader among women Lara Peyrot (ITA) finished only fourth, but maintained the lead in overall ranking with 350 points. The winner of Tartu Maraton, Svetlana Frizen (RUS), is second with 300 points. Monica Lazarut (GER) and Tatjana Mannima (EST) followed Frizen
at Tartu Maraton which were held in excellent weather and track conditions.

3042 skiers completed 34. Tartu Maraton (2384 main and 658 short distance).

The most famous participant of the 34th Tartu Maraton is eight times Olympic- and nine times world-champion, legendary Bjoern Daehlie.

On Saturday, February 8 Daehlie visits Club Tartu Maraton and Worldloppet General Secretariat, Tartu Maraton's children's races, Reception of Worldloppet Secretary General Mr. Madis LepajÃµe for Worldloppet Masters and meets Mr. Andrus Ansip, the Mayor of Tartu.

Daehlie visits Estonia together with Bernt Lund. Both men are accompanied by sons, who will participate in children's race Minimaraton on Saturday. The organisers have named this year's Tartu Maraton's children's events as Bjoern Daehlie Children's Day accordingly.

On Sunday Daehlie skis 34. Tartu Maraton (63 km).

Next FIS Marathon Cup race is Keskinada Loppet in Canada (50 km F) on 16th of February.