Ski Classics moves to Estonia and Tartu Maraton!
Ski Classics, the long distance championship across Europe, consists of the 7 most prestigous long distance ski races.The seven races are: Jizerska Padesatka, Marcialonga, König Ludwig Lauf, Tartu Maraton, Vasaloppet, Birkebeinerrennet, and The Ski Classics Final in Norefjell. On Sunday, the 19th of February, all the best long distance cross-country skiers in the world will be in Estonia, ready for Tartu Maraton.The 63km race starts these days in the village of Otepää and passes, during a climb, Matu and Ande before leaving the mountainous area into the forest lands via Kuutse, Peebu, Palu, Hellenurme and Kohvipunkti, where coffee is handed out, before the finish in the city of Elva.
The current leader in the Ski Classics Champion competition is Stanislav Rezac, Patria Direct Team and in the women class Susanne Nyström, Team Exspirit. They will of course be in front trying to defend their yellow jerseys.
In the men class stars like last years Tartu Maraton winner Jerry Ahrlin, Team Xtra Personell, together with his teammates Jörgen Aukland and Anders Aukland, and Team Exspirit 2012 sensation Jimmie Johnsson and his team mate Mathias Fredriksson, Team United Bakeries Jörgen Brink and Thomas Alsgaard are some of the challengers. An other interesting start in Ski Classics Tartu event is Daniel Richardsson, Team New Sweden, the olympic gold medalist will try his strength in long distance skiing, where he already showed in last seasons Ski Classics final Norefjell that he will be fighting for top positions.
In the women class Susanne Nyström will be challanged by her two Team Exspirit team companions Seraina Boner and Jenny Hansson. Other challengers are the norwegian Team Xtra Personell duo Laila Kveli and Sara Svendsen. Maybe last years Tartu Maraton winner Sandra Hansson, Team Moelven, will do her Ski Classics debut after illness on Sunday, and on the start line are also stars like Italian Stephanie Santer and Estonian Tatjana Mannima.
Stanislav Rezac also leads the green Ski Classics Sprint competition before Jerry Ahrlin. The current pink jersey holder Laila Kveli from Team Xtra Personell, leading the women youth competition. Team Xtra Personell also holds the men pink bib by Christoffer Callesen and the Ski Classics team competition where each teams two best men and single best female are counted.
The Ski Classics Teams and Athletes are ready for Tartu Maraton! Follow it live on the Live Center at www.skiclassics.com from CET 0750 Sunday morning, where GPS tracking, live video and live updates results/split times are available.
Ski Classics standings before Tartu Maraton:
Ski Classics Champion men
# Name Team Points
1 STANISLAV ŘEZÁČ PDT 520
2 JØRGEN AUKLAND XTR 440
3 JERRY AHRLIN XTR 360
4 JIMMIE JOHNSSON EXS 350
5 ANDERS AUKLAND XTR 250
Ski Classics Champion Women
# Name Team Points
1 SUSANNE NYSTRÖM EXS 472
2 JENNY HANSSON EXS 440
3 SARA SVENDSEN XTR 380
4 STEPHANIE SANTER MES 310
5 LAILA KVELI XTR 260
Ski Classics Sprint Men
# Name Team Points
1 STANISLAV ŘEZÁČ PDT 85
2 JERRY AHRLIN XTR 55
3 JØRGEN AUKLAND XTR 25
Ski Classics Team
# Team Points
1 TEAM XTRA PERSONELL 1378
2 TEAM EXSPIRIT 1085
3 PATRIA DIRECT TEAM 737
Ski Classics Youth Men
# Name Team Points
1 CHRISTOFFER CALLESEN XTR 76
Ski Classics Youth Women
# Name Team Points
1 LAILA KVELI XTR 260