Classical Style Races: 30km, 15km and 10km
A large crowd of people gathered to attend a very solemn prize giving ceremony on the village square, ending the first day of competitions. The youngest medalist was just 30 years old, the oldest was 89 and came from Finland. He raced the 15 km event in only 48’39’’!
The sun from the first day turned into snow on the Vercors for the women’s classical events. The second day wass dedicated to women and the first starts were logically given by the great female cyclist Jeannie Longo, who was visiting Autrans as a friend and neighbor.
Just as with the men a very high level competitions was witnessed and great battles in classical style where the skiers aged 45 and over excel.
French skiers are really at ease on the Autrans Nordic ski tracks. Christophe Walter, the Vosges skier in M1 category’s performance has to be noted. He finished Silver medalist behind the Austrian Peter Marchl. Olivier Bulle from Autrans (M3 category) won his race with over 2’ lead in front of the Italian Corrado Vanini and the German Peter Milz.
Special honors went to the M7 category with 100% Norwegian podium !
Women who were honored today gave us a real show. Murielle Lobier from Autrans won the F1 category race, and Florence Marguet, Raid World Champion, finished second in the F3 category behind Kerstin Drexlex (Germany).
Classical and Skate Style Races: 10km and 5km
On the third day of competition the morning was contested with classical style races (10km and 5km) and the afternoon competitions were skate (10km and 5km).
48 different race starts took place today, making it the day with the most races. The start and finish areas looked like a beehive. The weather forecast turned out all right again compared to what had been announced. Stable conditions help make the show especially for classical style races. Christophe Walter (Vosges) won Silver Medal in the M1 category (classic). Norway and Russia are in the lead for medals, especially in those classical style races. The day’s special honors went to the female F8 category with 100% Russian podium!
In the skating races, French people carry on compiling performances. Team Grenoble Lilian Gaillard’s second victory has to be noted, for a Gold Medal this time in M2 category (Skate) in front of the Italian Di Gregorio and Nicolas Krempp (Vosges) with Bronze. In M3, Didier Boeglin from Vosges again wins Gold in front of a Russian skier, with Benoit Chopard-Lallier from Massif Central finishing 3rd. In the Female classical races, Annick Vaxelaire wins her 2nd Silver Medal behind a Russian skier. In Skating races, the local female skier Anne-Laure Mignerey wins Gold in F2 category.
The climax was certainly the visit of Gilles Dumolard, President of PRO GRENOBLE 2018 Association. With the encouragement of the Administration Office Members, he announced today the official support of 850 companies to PRO 2018, actively promoting Grenoble Olympic Games Candidacy. Gilles Dumolard’s objective is to reach a total of 1000 companies by the end of March, when a French town will be chosen.
American finishers in the top 20
M04 – 30 Km (Race 1 – Free)
11 MURDOCH, Kent 4097 1:28:10,9 0:05:13,9 20,416 10593 USA 37,846 1961
12 BAIC, Milan 4095 1:29:20,7 0:06:23,8 20,149 9447 USA 46,269 1959
13 LYAPIN, Aleksandr 4075 1:29:38,0 0:06:41,0 20,082 9705 RUS 48,353 1960
14 KHUDYAKOV, Alexey 4079 1:32:02,3 0:09:05,3 19,558 9583 RUS 65,745 1962
15 ELLERTSON, Scott 4094 1:32:25,511038 USA 68,540 1961
M08 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
17 GRAY, Bob 8083 0:52:34,07110 USA 99,642 1939
M09 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
9 CARTER, Tim 8685 0:55:47,2 10816 USA 62,438 1935
14 BILDEN, Donald 8680 0:57:31,47119 USA 83,060 1937
F01 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
6 SCHEVE, Inge 113 0:48:13,510586 USA 76,682 1974
F02 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
9 ENGEL, Cynthia 224 0:52:39,5 10818 USA 124,387 1970
F05 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
6 SINGLETON, Rosalyn 528 0:53:07,010833 USA 79,266 1956
WILSON, Tina 0:57:05,7 10815 USA 130,140 1956
F06 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
7 FILLMORE, Maggie 0:58:27,9 0:07:31,5 15,398 7360 USA 88,633 1950
8 HEERDT, Meg 626 1:01:38,7 10306 USA 126,100 1950
11 SIMPSON, Sally 627 1:05:37,511034 USA 172,979 1949
14 MANLEY, Rebecca 624 1:12:50,58673 USA 257,967 1949
F07 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
10 LARSEN, Paula 733 1:04:05,611172 USA 133,506 1945
15 DIXON, Sherry 734 1:11:39,7 0:19:14,0 12,561 6901 USA 220,113 1947
16 WURSTER, Mary Jane 731 1:19:36,710276 USA 311,102 1946
F08 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
6 COURY, Audrae 834 1:02:42,3 0:04:08,9 14,354 10955 USA 42,510 1942
8 WHOLEY, Louise 836 1:03:48,7 0:05:15,3 14,107 9489 USA 53,846 1941
F08 – 15 Km (Race 1 – Free)
13 ICKS, Abett 835 1:11:53,06123 USA 136,546 1940
16 LOCKSPEISER, Nancy 832 1:28:32,5 10310 USA 307,235 1941
F09- 10 Km (Race 1 – Free)
3 LEGNER, Diane 912 0:42:01,27059 USA 38,847 1938
M05 – 30 Km (Race 1 – CL)
14 EDIC, David 5127 1:52:30,69481 USA 69,813 1957
17 BAKER, Bob 5128 1:56:09,99482 USA 91,566 1958
M07 – 15 Km (Race 1 – CL)
16 ARMSTRONG, Doug 7138 0:55:52,07620 USA 83,890 1948
M09 – 15 Km (Race 1 – CL)
8 KARIG, Dan 8679 0:59:29,96335 USA 74,440 1937
M10- 10 Km (Race 1 – CL)
10 DEPREY, Reno 9035 0:49:38,47636 USA 242,858 1930
15 KAALD, Paul 9034 0:57:42,3115 USA 379,789 1933
F03 – 15 Km (Race 1 – CL)
5 BOSWELL, Poppet 327 0:59:53,011578 USA 62,554 1968
F05 – 15 Km (Race 1 – CL)
14 LINDGREN, Birgitta 529 1:54:51,5 10582 USA 762,644 1955
F06 – 15 Km (Race 1 – CL)
9 STEINBACH, Lori 1:19:46,7
F07 – 15 Km (Race 1 – CL)
12 BAUER, Nancy 732 1:22:52,110282 USA 198,373 1947
F09- 10 Km (Race 1 – CL)
5 LEWIS, Barbara 911 1:12:19,3 0:25:01,9 8,297 770 USA 317,606 1936
6 KAALD, Patricia 914 1:13:18,611167 USA 330,127 1937
M07 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
4 ARMSTRONG, Doug 7138 0:32:33,17620 USA 21,102 1948
M09 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
4 KARIG, Dan 8679 0:36:56,6 0:04:36,16335 USA 85,391 1937
14 CARTER, Tim 8685 0:41:16,410816 USA 165,729 1935
M10 – 05 Km (Race 2 – CL)
18 DEPREY, Reno
9035 0:25:05,67636 USA 208,028 1930
F01 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
4 SCHEVE, Inge 113 0:37:46,410586 USA 103,312 1974
F02 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
4 ENGEL, Cynthia 224 0:40:54,0 10818 USA 48,971 1970
F03 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
9 BOSWELL, Poppet 327 0:37:16,411578 USA 84,148 1968
F05 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
11 SINGLETON, Rosalyn 528 0:40:58,710833 USA 162,796 1956
15 WILSON, Tina 530 0:45:58,110815 USA 255,688 1956
F06 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
9 HEERDT, Meg 626 0:48:53,5 0:10:58,4 12,274 10306 USA 173,650 1950
10 MANLEY, Rebecca 624 0:51:21,78673 USA 212,734 1949
F07 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
16 WURSTER, Mary Jane 731 0:55:46,810276 USA 243,719 1946
F08 – 10 Km (Race 2 – CL)
5 WHOLEY, Louise 836 0:45:31,89489 USA 38,900 1941
16 HENRY, Joan 833 0:54:29,310587 USA 164,598 1940
F09 – 05 Km (Race 2 – CL)
5 KAALD, Patricia 914 0:33:19,3 0:09:34,8 9,005 11167 USA 242,102 1937
6 LEWIS, Barbara 911 0:33:55,0 0:10:10,4 8,845 770 USA 257,125 1936
7 MURRAY, Jean 913 0:34:22,3 10009 USA 268,615 1938
M02 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
20 BOSWELL, Charlie 2058 0:31:55,011577 USA 132,481 1970
M04 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
5 MURDOCH, Kent 4097 0:29:16,410593 USA 14,154 1961
9 BAIC, Milan 4095 0:29:37,29447 USA 21,412 1959
17 ELLERTSON, Scott 4094 0:31:54,911038 USA 69,549 1961
M05 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
5 REYNOLDS, Rick 5126 0:29:36,38172 USA 24,644 1957
M09 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
16 BILDEN, Donald 8680 0:37:41,87119 USA 135,603 1937
F06 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
6 FILLMORE, Maggie 622 0:37:15,27360 USA 105,628 1950
8 STEINBACH, Lori 625 0:39:08,210295 USA 141,301 1949
11 SIMPSON, Sally 627 0:40:12,511034 USA 161,605 1949
F07 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
5 LARSEN, Paula 733 0:37:33,411172 USA 62,802 1945
10 BAUER, Nancy 732 0:39:33,610282 USA 98,161 1947
13 DIXON, Sherry 734 0:42:55,76901 USA 157,577 1947
F08 – 10 Km (Race 2 – F)
7 COURY, Audrae 834 0:41:17,410955 USA 65,393 1942
11 ICKS, Abett 835 0:44:21,3 0:07:07,3 13,529 6123 USA 114,781 1940
13 LOCKSPEISER, Nancy 832 0:51:20,110310 USA 227,258 1941
Complete results can be found at the following website:
http://wma.autrans-sports.com/page25.html
Photos from the first days of competition:
