Anders Aukland (NOR) won the 30km classic race in Gran Fondo Val Casies in Italy on Sunday. He feels that he is (finally) getting in shape for the 50km classic race at Sapporo World Championships.
Aukland on track for World Championship 50km
FasterSkier · February 20, 2007
 mass-start races recently and used them as hard training in his peak-plan towards Worlds.</p><p>“It has worked optimal. Racing long races is incredibly good training. It works for me,” says Aukland</p><p>He won the 30km classic Gran Fondo Val Casies in Italy on Sunday. The competition wasn’t all that great, but he still felt that it was very beneficial. He also won another race prior to this.</p><p>“I’m as well prepared as I desired.” </p></div><div class=)
He boarded a plane for Amsterdam on Monday and there he met up with other Norwegian skiers (that are not scheduled to race the early races) heading for Sapporo, Japan.
“It’s good to get going. I have waited for a long time, and I’m truly ready for Worlds.”
He doesn’t feel that illness and only a few race starts this season has reduced his chances to do well.
“The illness that set me back in Otepää and Cogne was not ideal, but I feel that I have been able to reset and come back,” says Aukland.
He considers the first race in Italy as his best and the one that benefited him the most.
“I was able to push hard and my body responded well. The second race was also a good workout.”
The 50km at Worlds is on March 4th and this might be Aukland’s last World Championship 50km race.
Retirement from the Norwegian national team is on his mind, but he is open to the idea of once again focus on long races like the Swedish Vasaloppet.
Some of Auland's top results include:
2nd Place 30km classic mass-start at Worlds 2005
1st Place Swedish Vasaloppet 2005
1st Place 15km classic World Cup Kuusamo, Finland 2003
1st Place 30km classic World Cup Cogne, Italy 2002
SOURCE: Langrenn.com