In the women’s race, the pace was high from the start with Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, taking control of the race and setting a furious pace, splitting the leading group already in the first kilometers and going solo for the rest of the race.
At the first split, 4.6 km into the race, Fleten was already 46.8 seconds ahead of a large group of 15 riders. Team Eksjöhus with Kati Roivas and Magni Smedås tried to close the gap.
In the only sprint of the day, 8.3 km into the race, Emilie Fleten crossed the line first and solo, followed by Anniken Gjerde Alnæs and Magni Smedås, 51 seconds behind the leader.
After the sprint, Fleten kept the speed high and increased the lead gap. With about 40 km to go, she had a gap of 1:35 over the first chase group of 14 riders.
At today’s mountain prize 26.6 km into the race, Emilie Fleten increased the lead to the chasers, showed her strength and passed with a lead of 1:32.4 ahead of Kati Roivas in second and 1:38.8 ahead of Anniken Gjerde Alnæs in third place.
After the climb, Fleten still looked strong and the battle for the remaining podium places was fierce between Roivas and Gjerde Alnæs, with the other chasing group (the Smedås group) a further 0:47 back.
With 13 km to go, Anniken increased the speed and gained a small gap over Roivas, who began to struggle to follow.
Finally, Team Ramudden’s Emilie Fleten showed her winning form in yet another Pro Tour event, crossing the finish line in first place in a decisive solo victory. With the win, Fleten won her fifth Ski Classics Pro Tour event and became a Ski Classics Legend.
Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, finished second, 1:31.4 behind, and Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, completed the podium in third, 2:23.0 behind the winner. The best Swede was Jenny Larsson, Team Ragde Charge in fourth place.
Evener in the men’s race
The men’s race with a controlled pace from a large group and no real moves before the sprint after just over 8km, with all the favorites in the front group, apart from Marcialonga winner Runar Mathisen Skaug and Amund Riege who both broke a pole early in the race.
At the sprint 8.3 km into the race, Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, crossed the line first, followed by Vebjørn Moen, Team Eksjöhus, and Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet.
On the way to the mountain prize, a large group was still at the front, with German Thomas Bing doing most of the work there. At the mountain stage, 26.6 km into the race, Thomas Bing, eD-system Silvini Team, showed his strength and crossed the line first, followed by Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus, and Morten Eide Pedersen, Team Eksjöhus.
The pace was controlled and 24 riders were in the tight group on the second of the two three-mile laps on the total 60 km course.
With less than 7 km left, Alvar Myhlback and Oskar Kardin were on the offensive, but no one could get a gap, which left the race open for an exciting final sprint and without Emil Persson, who had to let go.
With 4km to go, Kasper Stadaas took the lead and increased the pace, trying to make a selection for the final climb of the day.
In the end, the battle for position was tight. With around 300 meters to go, Kasper Stadaas hit the front, pushed hard and won the race, followed by Andreas Nygaard in second and Johan Hoel, who completed the podium in third and total dominance from Team Ragde Charge.
Oskar Kardin, Lager 157 was the best Swede in fourth place after the three Norwegians.
– It’s a bit of a shame to miss the podium, but I’m in good shape inside, says Kardin, who hopes to be able to fight for victory in the Vasaloppet as well.
You will find the results here.
