SKI MARATHON. Stanislav Rezac (CZE) wins the 40th edition of the König-Ludwig-Lauf (50km classic) – Susanne Nyström (SWE) winner on the women's side.

Photo © Nordic Focus

Perfect sunshine, clear white snow wherever you looked but also freezing temperatures were the marking of this year's 40th edition of the König-Ludwig-Lauf in Oberammergau (GER). Around -17°C at the start made it possible that the race commenced on time at 9am. Over 2000 skiers fought the cold in the 50km classic race which passed this year again the chateâu Linderhof, the little palace which Ludwig II had been build between 1869 and 1886. Perfectly prepared tracks made the race quite fast and after 2h 16min and 35s, Stanislav Rezac (CZE) crossed the finish line. However, it was not at once clear that it was him who had won as it was a photo finish with Jerry Ahrlin (SWE), and in the end only centimetres divided the two. Joergen Aukland (NOR) got third, 1.2s behind Rezac. In total, a group of around 25 athletes came to the finish together.

Twenty minutes later, the first woman came into the finish: Susanne Nyström (SWE), who won, like last weekend in the Marcialonga (ITA), in front of her team mate Jenny Hansson (SWE). This time, the podium was completed with another team Exspirit member: Seraina Boner (SUI).

Photo © Nordic Focus

All athletes were marked by the cold conditions – wrapped into several layers of clothing, some men had icicles hanging off their beards, others were taped in the whole face in order to prevent the cheeks from freezing.

Unfortunately, there is also a very sad story to tell: A man, born in 1937, got a heart attack only around 500m after the start and was brought to the hospital in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. But all tries to reanimate him were not fruitful and so he died one hour later in the hospital.

Stanislav Rezac (CZE) now leads the overall FIS Marathon Cup with 260 points – Susanne Nyström with 265 points in front on the ladies' side!

Stanislav Rezac (CZE) is the new leader of the FIS Marathon Cup with 260 points in front of Joergen Aukland (NOR, 220 points) and Jerry Ahrlin (SWE, 180 points).

On the women's side it's Susanny Nystöm who leads with 265 points in front of Jenny Hansson (SWE, 252 points) and Stephanie Santer (ITA, 191 points). The next FIS Marathon Cup race will be La Transjurassienne (FRA), 76km skating technique, next weekend.

Stanislav Rezac (CZE)
I am really happy for this victory. It was a hard race and it was a tough finish, but I knew that I am strong enough to fight for the victory. Most of the time, the pace of the race was not too high – everybody was waiting for the last kilometres to push as hard as possible. I placed myself in front in time for the last hundreds of metres. In the end, luck was on my side as my foot was in front of Jerry's for only a couple of centimetres. To be the leader in the FIS Marathon Cup is for sure another good motivation to keep pushing hard in the next races!

Jerry Ahrlin (SWE)
I felt much better today than in the Marcialonga, even though I still have some problems with my back. I really need some treatment in the next days, but as I won't go to La Transjurassienne, it should be fine for the Tartu Maraton. I was two times fourth here and I really hoped to do better today, therefore I am really happy. Even though, only a couple of centimetres parted me from the victory, so I am also a little bit angry. The race was still quite hard – I had a double layer on the upper body, a windstopper on my legs and some special stuff in my shoes to keep warm during the race. We were a large group and the speed was mostly not too high. Only in the last four kilometres everyone started to push really hard.

Joergen Aukland (NOR)
We decided this morning to use no wax and it was very hard to ski during the first six kilometres, but then it got better. We were a big group and the pace was not too fast and it was not until the second loop that we started pushing a bit harder. In the last 3 – 4km, the race got faster and faster. I knew that Stanislav and Jerry would be very strong and I tried everything to stay with them. I am pretty happy that I could finish third as a podium place was definitely my goal today! It was however, pretty cold! I had lots of layers on, tow pairs of gloves and so on. But my glasses got so foggy that I had to put them off, but then I got problems with my eyes. I hope it's not too bad.

Susanne Nyström (SWE)
I came away quite well in the start and I pushed hard in the first uphill. We all three, Jenny, Seraina and me, we were together and helped each other. But I knew that I had to take the steep uphill to the castle very slowly as if you ski it too fast, it can destroy your whole race. I didn't want to risk that, so I let Seraina go and she quickly got a 30s lead. But Jenny and me, we worked together and caught her quite soon. We naturally connect very well as we ski together all the time. But we came into the finish together with several men and it was pretty hard to get a clear line into the finish. For me, the cold was not a problem – I am used to these temperatures.

Jenny Hansson (SWE)
I am pretty happy! Susanne and me, we worked again very well together – like in the Marcialonga. And that Seraina got onto the podium as well is just great. That really shows our team spirit at the moment. It's so much fun to race and ski...I guess that's the reason behind our success at the moment.

Seraina Boner (SUI)
I still have some problems with my back, but it's a lot better now. I am really happy to be back in racing, but I guess due to the long break, I didn't have enough energy left to push hard right to the end. I got a lead after chateâu Linderhof, but Susanne and Jenny caught me soon again. However, it's so nice to be on the podium with the team mates – I am really happy!

FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 5 February 2012