Sweden is one step above the rest of the cross-country field in the 37th Marcialonga. Oskar Svärd claimed victory for the first time. Jenny Hansson had already won this race in the past. Svärd had been chasing this success for seven years, having won three Vasaloppet races.

There were 6500 athletes yesterday at the start from Moena, Trentino, on a cold and gray day turned into clear blue sky; a tactical race along 70 km and decided, as expected, only at the "final climb" of Cascata, just before the finish line of Cavalese.
Before the start, a scoop about the three top athletes: Aukland brothers and Rezac decided to start with skating ski and therefore without wax, and Svärd started with the classic cross-country, but without the wax needed to be faster; hence, for them an all double pole race.

All the best competitors remained in the head group without any twist, if we exclude a fast start by Bruno Debertolis (ITA) who was caught immediately by the Scandinavians, the breaking of a ski by Anders Aukland, and a broken pole of Jörgen Aukland.

Things warmed up at the beginning of the "Cascata" climb, where Aukland, Svärd and Ahrlin flew away on their own, with the first one dictating the pace. Then, in the center of Cavalese, Svärd took the initiative gaining a few meters, with Ahrlin right behind him; the two then fought for success and sprinted at the finish line. Svärd won with 3h02'28 ", beating the second Ahrlin by 1" 4 and the third, Aukland, by 13 "3.

Also Rezac did well, fourth, before the home favourite Marco Cattaneo who after a slow start was able to catch the leading group. He came on a very good fifth place.

"Monotone" was instead the women's race with Jenny Hansson always in lead, never threatened by the competitors Sandra Hansson and Susanne Nystrom, who finished on the podium in this order.

Marcialonga Light (45 km) was instead won by Fulvio Scola and Antonella Confortola.

Large numbers of spectators were on the side of the track to encourage the competitors. Great success then for the 37th edition of Marcialonga, which ends with the Swedish flag raised twice to salute the winners Svärd and Hansson, who are now the leaders of the FIS Marathon Cup.

FIScrosscountry.com
Monday 1 February 2010

Results Marcialonga - 70km

Men
1) Svard Oskar (Swe) 3:02.28,0; 2) Ahrlin Jerry (Swe) 3:02.29,4; 3) Aukland Jorgen (Nor) 3:02.41,3 4) Rezac Stanislav (Cze) 3:02.57,0; 5) Cattaneo Marco (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 3:02.58,4; 6) Debertolis Bruno (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 3:03.16,4; 7) Morandini Nicola (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 3:03.23,4; 8) Aukland Anders (Nor) 3:03.43,4; 9) Alsgaard Thomas (Nor) 3:04.00,6; 10) Bonaldi Sergio (C.S. Esercito) 3:04.23,1

Ladies
1) Hansson Jenny (Swe) 3:32.07,8; 2) Hansson Sandra (Swe) 3:33.43,5; 3) Nystrom Susanne (Swe) 3:34.01,7; 4) Lintzen Nina (Swe) 3:39.42,6; 5) Sandbakken Ellen (Nor) 3:48.01,0;6) Monrad-Hansen Marte (Nor) 3:49.00,3; 7) Benedicic Maja (Slo) 3:50.22,2; 8) Kruger Inger Hegstad (Nor) 3:59.15,1; 9) Skari Hege (Nor) 3:59.36,9; 10) Ruud Astrid (Nor) 4:04.14,2

Results Marcialonga Light - 45km

Men
1) Scola Fulvio (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 1:58.18,2; 2) Orlandi Luca (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 1:58.21,2; 3) Vanzetta Alex (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 2:01.02,1; 4) Zattoni Andrea (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 2:01.49,5; 5) Fiorentin Marco (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 2:02.42,7; 6) Rigoni Sergio G.S. Fiamme Oro) 2:06.09,5; 7) Ceol Matteo G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 2:08.15,0; 8) Muller Marco (S.C. Weissenfels) 2:12.30,9; 9) Zampieri Stefano G.S. Castionese) 2:16.45,6; 10) Cordoni Stefano G.S. I Camosci) 2:24.37,4

Ladies
1) Confortola Antonella (C.S. Forestale Dello Stato) 2:17.49,2; 2) Antonelli Barbara (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 2:22.34,8; 3) Grill Elisa (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 2:23.29,6; 4) Pellegrini Sara (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 2:26.02,4; 5) Bitchougova Eugenia (G.S. Hartmann) 2:34.19,9; 6) Sirio Valentina (Polisp. Le Prese) 2:36.28,7; 7) Colnaghi Calissoni Laura (G.S. I Camosci) 2:44.14,5; 8) Koenig Silke (Ger) 2:58.13,3; 9) Jensen Marte (Nor) 3:00.16,3; 10) Pittino Denise (S.C. Weissenfels) 3:07.43,3;