Last years Swedish Vasaloppet winner, Anders Aukland of Norway might not defend his victory in this year’s race, reports Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.
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Aukland says that his big goal for the season is the 50-kilometer race at the Worlds in Oberstdorf and won’t decide about Vasaloppet participation before after that race is over.</p>
<p>Another Vasaloppet race is not out of the question, but not top priority as last year.</p>
<p>– I won last year and my brother Jorgen was third. We raced as a team and I felt that he was as good as me. I want to help my brother win if I’m going to race this year, says Aukland.</p>
<p>Aukland was supposed to be at an on-snow training camp in Val Senales, Italy with the rest of the national team now, but decided to delay his departure due to a small cold. Â </p>
<p>– I’m leaving on Tuesday. The non-sprinters like me, that are not racing the sprint World Cup opener in Düsseldorf are not coming home before October 29, so it will regardless be a long altitude camp.</p>
<p>Aukland's focus is clear:</p>
<p>– I want to fight for podiums in classic. I will for that reason drop a few skate races this season, at least in the period toward Worlds.</p>
<p>Source: Dagbladet</p>
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Last years Swedish Vasaloppet winner, Anders Aukland of Norway might not defend his victory in this year’s race, reports Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.