Two strive for the victory…. and a third runs away with it. Everyone expected a duel between the Aukland brothers, Joergen and Anders from Norway and Italian Marco Cattaneo, but in the end it was Swedish Jerry Ahrlin who climbed the first step of the podium in the 36th Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa.
It was he who raised his arms in victory at the finishing line in Viale Mendini in Cavalese, at the end of the 70 km-competition, that lived the decisive moments along the "Cascata" ascent again. Along the steep ascent he was actually able to make the difference, just like two years ago, and to leave his adversaries behind, i.e. Joergen Aukland (who finished second) and Daniel Tynell, from Sweden too, who finished in third place. This is Ahrlin's second success in the queen of Italian cross-country skiing marathons and he thus equals Anders and Joergen Aukland, who won twice each (Anders in 2004 and 2008, Joergen in 2003 and 2006).
Italian Marco Cattaneo finished in fourth place: he was close to the three skiers in the lead at the beginning of the last ascent but was not able to keep pace with them and had to surrender to the Scandinavian strength. And nothing could another favourite too, i.e. Anders Aukland, who received the applause of the public in any case. It is certainly unusual for a skier to compete in a 15 km World Cup race on Saturday, then travel from Otepaeae (Estonia) to Val di Fiemme, arrive to the hotel at 1:00 a.m. and after only 7 hours take part in a 70-km skiing marathon. Last year's winner can walk tall in any case for his "heroic" performance.
And heroic was 44-year old Norwegian Hilde Pedersen too (who had already won in 2007), who had to compete with much younger Swedish Jenny Hansson (28 years old) who had won in 2008. In this case too the final climb was decisive and saw talented Pedersen take the lead. Swedish Nina Lintzen ended in third place.
The victory of the Marcialonga Light (45 km from Moena to Predazzo) went to the athlete of the Italian team Nicola Morandini and to the marathons specialist Eugenja Bitchougova.
The attention of the public then went to the remaining 6,000 competitors, including 3,900 foreigners and 1,032 women, an unprecedented record. The queen of Italian cross-country skiing marathons was followed by a huge crowd of people as usual who enjoyed this 70-km-long competition, made of fatigue, competitive spirit, great performances and colours.

www.marcialonga.it
January, 25 2009

Men results - 70 km
1) Jerry Ahrlin (SWE) 02:56:52; 2) Joergen Aukland (NOR) 02:57:01; 3) Daniel Tynell (SWE) 02:57:06; 4) Marco Cattaneo (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 02: 57:34; 5) Thomas Freimuth (GER) 02:57:38; 6) Audun Laugaland (NOR) 02:58:20; 7) Espen Harald Bjerke (NOR) 02:58:41; 8) Rune Muller (NOR) 02:58:55; 9) Svein Tore Sinnes (NOR) 02:59:02; 10) Aliaksei Ivanov (BLR) 02:59:17.

Ladies results - 70 km
1) Hilde G. Pedersen (NOR) 03:22:58; 2) Jenny Hansson (SWE) 03:23:17; 3) Nina Lintzen (SWE) 03:31:26; 4) Jannicke Ostby (NOR) 03:33:31; 5) Hege Skari (NOR) 03:48:07; 6) Unni Oedegaard (NOR) 03:49:57; 7) Hanne Lilleby (NOR) 03:51:44; 8) Suvi Karjaluoto (FIN) 03:55:06; 9) Anette Rustad Nilssen (NOR) 03:55:15; 19) Tove Frikstad (NOR) 04:00:09.

Men results – Marcialonga Light – 45 km
1) Nicola Morandini (G:S: Fiamme Gialle) 01:56:49; 2) Marco Muller (S.C. Weissenfels) 02:13:00; 3) Michele Mischkott (S.C. Weissenfels) 02:15:20; 4) Marco Bozzolo (S:C: Cunardo) 02:22:41; 5) Luca Messina (G.S. Sci nordico BZ) 02:31:01; 6) Michele Coser SC Vigolo Vattaro) 02.31.24; 7) Claudio Mueller (SC Weissenfels) 02.31.27; 8) Oliver Molly (SUI) 02.33.34; 9) Antti Niemi (Finlandia) 02.35.37; 10) Alberto Vitali (SC Leffe) 02.36.01

Ladies results – Marcialonga Light – 45 km
1) Eugenja Bitchougova (G.S. Hartmann) 02:24:20; 2) Laura Colnaghi Calissoni (G.S. Camosci) 02:34:40; 3) Ester Valle (G.S. Aldo Moro) 02:47:20; 4) Lisa Hallberg (SWE) 02:51:24; 5) Monica Diana Nordvik Hiller (NOR) 02:56:04; 6) Alicia Kallin (SWE) 03.12.13; 7) Alma Combalia Clavierias (SPA) 03.14.24; 8) Helle Lorentzen (NOR) 03.16.17; 9) Silke Koenig (GER) 03.19.54; 10) Sofie Waage Skjelfo (NOR) 03.29.09