SWIX SKI CLASSICS. After days of rain, the day before race the weather eventually changed into heavy snowfall causing tough conditions for the 41st edition of the König Ludwig Lauf. The 42 km race in flat terrain over two 21 km laps ended up with a dramatic photo finish.

The speed of the skiers was quite slow from start due to heavy snowfall, and a lot of skiers remained for a long time in the leading group of the men´s competition. The speed was raised only just before the first sprint, won by Simen Østensen (Team Xtra Personell) closely followed teammate Stanislav Rezac and Morten Eide Pedersen (Team Coop).

 
After the first sprint Espen Harald Bjerke (Team Coop) and Audun Laugaland (Team United Bakeries) tried to break up the field and got a little gap but it didn´t last long. The big field kept a steady pace until the second sprint which again was won by Simen Østensen closely followed Morten Eide Pedersen second and Stanislav Rezac third.

 
At the finish a group of about ten skiers were fighting to get the victory which ended with a photo finish won by Jerry Ahrlin (Team Xtra Personell) before Jörgen Brink (Team United Bakeries) and third Anders Aukland (Team Xtra Personell). After being defeated on photo finished the last two years, a happy Ahrlin finally took the victory.

On the women´s side Seraina Boner (Team Coop) fell just after start and Jenny Hansson (Team Coop) took the lead followed by Ritta-Liisa Roponen (iXmind Racing Team) and Laila Kveli (Team Xtra Personell). But after around 4 km Seraina Boner took the lead and kept the competitors behind her the entire race. The women were in the men´s leading group for the entire first lap and it was difficult for the women to get an overview of their competitors in between all the men.
 
Jenny Hansson followed her teammate Seraina Boner half ways through the race with Ritta-Liisa Roponen close behind but then Boner showed her strength and won her second race in a row keeping the yellow bib in Swix Ski Classics. Jenny Hansson came second while Laila Kveli passed Ritta-Liisa Roponen and finished third.

Standigs at: www.swixskiclassics.com

Next event in Swix Ski Classics is Vasaloppet held in Sweden on March 3rd!

Swix Ski Classics
Sun, February 3, 2013
Photos by Magnus Östh
 
Swix Ski Classics 2013
Event 1:  Jizerská Padesatká       Czech Republic       January 13th, 2013
Event 2:  Marcialonga                   Italy                        January, 27th, 2013
Event 3:  König Ludwig Lauf         Germany                February 3rd, 2013
Event 4:  Vasaloppet                     Sweden                  March 3rd, 2013
Event 5:  Birkebeinerrennet           Norway                  March 16th, 2013
Event 6:  Swix Ski Classics Final   Sweden                  March 23rd, 2013