The long distance ski championships across Europe, Ski Classics, move this weekend to Italy and Marcialonga where the second stage of the series will be held. Ski Classics consist of the six most prestigious cross country events in the world. Marcialonga is a 70km race in classic technique running through the two picturesque Dolomite valleys of Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme.
The winner of the Jizerska Padesatka, the first stage in Ski Classics, Anders Aukland, Team Xtra Personell, will try to defend his leading position in the Ski Classics Champions race, but he will have a tough battle against not at least last year´s Marcialonga winner Oskar Svärd from Team Exspirit who is second in the overall Ski Classics standings. In the women competition Sandra Hansson, Team United Bakeries, will be challenged by the two Team Exspirit skiers Jenny Hansson and Susanne Nyström as well as the two skiers from Team Engadinskimarathon Seraina Boner and Seraina Mischol. The team competition, where two male and one female skiers counts, Swedish based Team Exspirit is in the lead with 211 points ahead of the two Norwegian teams Team United Bakeries and Team Xtra Personell with 162 and 141 points.
“Marcialonga is one of the most classic ski races and is situated in fantastic surroundings!” says David Nilsson, Executive Director of Ski Classics and continues “The race begins with 18km uphill to Canazei before in turns around and go 45km downhill until the village of Molina, there it turns once again uphill and at 3km left to the finish the skiers reach the notorious climb of Cascata. This last climb is not to be missed! It is maybe the toughest climb in cross country skiing, having in mind the skiers have already covered 70km! And most of the times it is also in this climb that the competition is decided.”
The race can be followed live at the Ski Classics Live Center at www.skiclassics.com
Information and current standings at: www.skiclassics.com
Ski Classics events 2011:
Ski Classics Event 1 – Jizerska Padesatka Czech Republic 9 January 2011
Ski Classics Event 2 – Marcialonga Italy 30 January 2011
Ski Classics Event 3 – König Ludwig Lauf Germany 6 February 2011
Ski Classics Event 4 – Vasaloppet Sweden 6 March 2011
Ski Classics Event 5 – Birkebeinerrennet Norway 19 March 2011
Ski Classics Final – Norefjellrennet Norway 2 April 2011
Source: Ski Classics Press Release
