Gerard Agnellet travels to US to win the American Birkebeiner 2022
After an early week snowstorm brought over 14” of snow on Tuesday, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation crew worked diligently to create a world-class course that would withstand more than 11,500 racers over four days. On Saturday morning, single digit temperatures set the stage for a fast and firm course for the 48th Slumberland American Birkebeiner. Alayna Sonnesyn won her third Slumberland American Birkebeiner Championship in the women’s skate/freestyle race. Frenchman, Gerard Agnellet won a closely contested men’s freestyle sprint.
A trio of skiers including Sonnesyn, Caitlin Patterson and Rosie Frankowski broke away from the field late in the race. With just 4km left in the race, Sonnesyn went down, but was able to recover. In Sonnesyn’s words, “Going over the bridge and hearing the roaring crowd was just incredible, it gives me the chills thinking about it. I just channeled my energy and gave it everything I had.”
Top 5 Women Birkie 2022 Skate
- Alayna Sonnesyn, USA 2:22:52
- Caitlin Patterson, USA + 0:00:02
- Rosie Frankowski, USA + 0:00:07
- Jessica Yeaton, USA + 0:01:27
- Sadie Bjornsen, USA + 0:02:05
The men’s freestyle race started with 217 elite skiers. Around 29 skiers stayed together after the start, but halfway through the race, at the Madshus Sprint bonus (at OO) they split up. The field dropped to 19 skiers, who skied together until Fish Hatchery, when David Norris pushed the pace and split the group further to a lead pack of three skiers. A second group of skiers, led by Ian Torchia, was only 25 seconds behind. The top three men finished in a tight sprint only separated by two seconds.
Agnellet, who won with a time of 2:07:24 said, “the lake was hard and windy. I thought I was racing for second
place. I tried to pass and find a position on the bridge, but I still thought I’d be second. I would have been
happy with second, but it feels awfully good to win.” David Norris lost in a photo-finish sprint. Adam Martin came in third with a time of 2:07:26. According to Gerard, “It is the best finish line of the entire distance skiing world.”
Top 5 Men Birkie 2022 Skate
- Gerard Agnellet, FRA 2:07:24
- David Norris, USA + 0:00:00
- Adam Martin, USA + 0:00:02
- Ian Torchia, USA + 0:00:15
- Akeo Maifeld Carucci, USA + 0:00:18
New Master awarded
But not only the elite skiers had something to celebrate. Also another Worldloppet Master could have been awarded. Birkie Executive Director Ben Popp was awaiting Ferdinand Rust at the finish line in Hayward to hand him over his well deserved Worldloppet Master Diploma.
If you want to get your Master’s Diploma at your 10th Worldloppet race, please send an email to the Worldloppet office, as soon as you know, where your 10th race will be.
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