Elite Sports Week Draws Top Athletes

FasterSkierAugust 7, 2008

“Elite Sports Week” was met with incredible success last weekend in the little town of Aure, Norway, as many of the world’s best Nordic skiers went head to head in a two-day quad-competition showdown. Names like Axel Teichmann,Eva Sachenbacher, Vincent Vittoz, Matthias Fredrickson, Charlotte Kalla and nearly the entire Finnish and Norwegian National Teams compiled the start lists.

Saturday’s events started with a 35 km mountain bike race, followed by a classic rollerski sprint race in the afternoon. Over 100 athletes took to the start line of the first competition. The top three results from four competitions would count for place points.

Oystein Petterson, nicknamed “Sausage” by his Sprint National Team teammates, dominated the mountain bike race by several minutes. Jens Fillbrich of Germany was his closest competition. Ida Ingemarsdotter of the Swedish National Team took top honors on the women’s side.

After only four hours of rest from the finish of the bike race, the classic roller ski sprint began in downtown Aure. Marit Bjorgen dominated, winning the prologue by 7 seconds and winning all of her heats through the final. It was a closer contest on the men’s side, but again, Petterson came out on top in a three way dive for the line with Tor Arne Hetland and Stein Vidar Thun.

Sunday proved no less demanding for the world class field. A 3000 meter road race started off the morning, where Hetland outsprinted Matthias Fredricksson of Sweden for the win. Young star Therese Johaug of Norway dominated the women’s field. Hetland posted a time of 8:22.8 and Johaug an impressive 9:17.6.

The afternoon followed with the much anticipated rollerski pursuit race. Bjorgen again showed her strength on rollerskis, continuing her unbeaten streak on wheels this summer. Aino Kaisa Saarinen followed in second, but over a minute behind. In the men’s race, it was again a thrilling finish for the large crowds packed along the course as Petter Northug outsprinted Fredricksson for the win.

With the best of three races scored for each athlete, Oystein Petterson held on to the victory with his two wins on the first day. Hetland was second and Northug third, completing the Norwegian sweep on their own soil. Bjorgen took top honors for the women, showing she is really on her way back to the top form she is reputed for. All in all, the week was received with great press from athletes, the public, and the sporting community in what is sure to become and annual event.

Bjorn Daehlie competed in the Masters division in the Mountain Bike, winning that class. Retired Olympian Frode Estil also competed as a master, winning the distance rollerski and the road race. He did not compete in a third event, preventing him from winning the overall Master's event.

Overall Results – This is a PDF with one class per page. You will need to scroll down to view additional results.
3000m Road Race Results
Distance Rollerski Results
Classic Rollerski Sprint Results
35km Mountain Bike Results

Source: langren.com, langd.se

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