Oberammergau, Germany – Stanislav Rezac (CZE) and Jenny Hansson won the 37th annual König Ludwig Lauf World Loppet. Rezac and Hansson both particpated in the 50km classic – the premier event of the weekend.
Rezac, a winner of the FIS marathon cup in 2005 and a familiar face on the World Loppet podium, edged Swede Jerry Ahrlin in a sprint to the finish. The final margin of victory was only .4 seconds after nearly two hours of racing. Ahrlin won the Italian entry in the World Loppet, the Marcialonga, last weekend.
The top 5 skiers ended the race in a mass sprint. Italian Marco Cattaneo crossed the line .3 seconds after Ahrlin, Norweigan Anders Aukland just inches behind him, and Daniel Tynell (SWE) a gaping .8 seconds after Aukland.
Joergen Aukland (NOR), brother of Anders, finished 6th.
A number of US skiers competed, led by William Bothe of Park City, Utah in 240th place. Over 1200 racers competed in the men’s 50km classic.
In the women’s 50km classic, Hansson skied away to win by 2:42 over fellow Swede Sandra Hansson. Nina Lintzen made it a Swedish sweep, taking third.
Hansson, who finished second in the FIS Marathon Cup last season, was second in the Marcialonga last weekend.
Only 158 women competed in the race, compared to over 1200 in the men’s event.
The 50km freestyle was held on Saturday. Marcus Enders (GER) won the event in yet another sprint, edging Michael Eberhearter (AUT) at the line. Brook Mullens was the top American finisher in 109th. Bothe also competed in the freestyle, and was 112th in the 472 skier field.
Pia Sundstedt (FIN) won the women’s 50km freestyle, beating out Sandra Wagenfuehr (SUI) by just over a minute. Sarah Max of Bend, Oregon finished 4th, +5:30 in the 50 woman field.
Sundstedt also finished 9th in the 50km classic – she was 21 minutes behind winner Hansson.
![The start of the 2008 König Ludwig Lauf](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/02/med_2008-04.jpg" "The start of the 2008 König Ludwig Lauf")
Topher Sabot
Topher Sabot is the editor of FasterSkier.
