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Susanne Nyström, Laisvalls SK, after a spurt battle, won TjejVasan 2013 – her sixth victory in seven years. (And in 2011 she was second…!) Second was Laila Kveli, Norway, and in third place the junior Julia Svan from Vansbro AIK SK.

TjejVasan, which is the world’s biggest ski race just for women, this year had 10,000 registered participants.

In spite of the World Championships there was very strong starting field. Among the favourites was last year’s winner Susanne Nyström but also the Swiss Seraina Boner, the Norwegian Laila Kveli and the Swedish junior Julia Svan.

Conditions for the 2013 TjejVasan did not point towards record times with both rain and snow the evening before and plus temperature at the start. Even so, the elite group set off at real speed from the start.  

At the beginning of the race, there were nine ladies in the leading group, which by the Hökberg control had shrunk to six. Britta Johansson Norgren took, unchallenged, the Hökberg spurt prize.  

In the slopes after the Hökberg control Laila Kveli, Susanne Nyström and Britta Johansson Norgren got away somewhat from the leading group; but Julia Svan fought well and, together with Seraina Boner, always had a sense of contact with the leaders.  

But from the last control in Eldris it was really a question of only two names, Laila Kveli (who won the Eldris spurt prize) and Susanne Nyström, who had created an unchallenged gap from the remaining skiers – everything pointed towards a spurt battle in Mora. 

Tight together they came towards the run in where Laila Kveli had a little advantage after pushing hard over the Auklandbacken. But Nyström, who knows only too well how long the run in really is, had an ace up her sleeve. At the little hillock before the finishing straight, Nyström could get forward and grasp the centimetres she needed to spurt home her sixth victory in TjejVasan.

With jubilation she passed under the famous finish portal and there no doubt at all about her feelings:  “It feels really incredible, I’d not counted on it at all this year”, said Susanne Nyström after the race. “I’ve not had really good form but there is something very special about TjejVasan”.

With her routine the 30-year old Nyström showed that she is something of a TjejVasan queen!
“I value this victory very high considering how the season has been for me. It’s a great confirmation of form before Vasaloppet which is what matters now and a good indication that I’m on my way up”, says Susanne Nyström who has won Vasaloppet once, in 2010. 

Results TjejVasan 2013
1  Susanne Nyström, Laisvalls SK, 1.25.01
2  Laila Kveli, Norway, 1.25.02
3  Julia Svan, Vansbro AIK, 1.26.02
4  Britta Johansson Norgren, Sollefteå SK, 1.26.03
5  Seraina Boner, Switzerland, 1.26.04
6  Jenny Hansson, Åre Längdskidklubb, 1.27.33
7  Kristina Roberto, Karlsunds IF, 1.29.10
8  Sara Lindborg, Falun/Borlänge SK, 1.30.07
9  Britt Thorshaug Granrud, Norway, 1.30.09
10  Ulrica Persson, Sunne SLF, 1.31.10

NOTE
First prize in TjejVasan 2013 is 50,000 SEK. The record time from 2008 when Susanne Nyström won in 1.18.30 is unbroken. Registration to TjejVasan 2014 and Vasaloppet Winter week  2014 opens 17 March at 08.00 CET.