One of the summer highlights for the Cross-Country skiers is the so-called Tour de Trøndelag, in Meraker (NOR). The three-day event again attracted many of the leading Cross-Country stars to test their mid-summer shape last weekend.
This summer Tour included two roller ski races (mass start and pursuit) and a cross-country race on snow. Racing on his home turf, the triple world champion from Liberec 2009, Petter Northug (NOR) again demonstrated his invincibility in the men’s race. He prevailed after the third and last leg, a pursuit roller ski race in free technique, in strong fashion. Teammate Eldar Roenning finished 2nd ahead of World Cup overall champion Dario Cologna (SUI). Cologna won the second stage, a 12 km classical Cross-Country race up the Kirkeby Fell above Meraker ahead of the Norwegians who fought it out in a photo finish.
The ladies’ Cross-Country stage was dominated by the Finnish team led by Aino Kaisa Saarinen ahead of Virpi Kuitunen and Pirjo Muranen. However, the ladies’ three-day overall victory went to Maja Benedic of Slovenia.
Source: FIS
