Jizerská Padesatka

Before the race local hero Kateřina Smutná mentioned she’d like to grab a medal at this year’s Jizerská 50. And she’s succeeded. With a third place, she stood on the podium again after two years. The best Czech male skier was Jiří Pliska who came 19th.

The fight for the gold among the long-distance women skiers was very close and one hundredth of a second brought Lina Korsgren the first place before her colleague Ida Dahl from the Ramudden team.

The men’s race also had a fantastic finish, in the end it was the leader of the whole series Emil Persson from Sweden who came first, beating Norway’s Tord Asle Gjerdalen by a margin of three hundredths of a second. Russia’s Ermil Vokuev came third.

The conditions on the course were ideal, soon after the start of Jizerská 50 the sun flooded the Jizerské Mountains. Jizerská 50, the Czech Worldloppet race and one of the four biggest Ski Classics events, had to take place without audiences, but the joy resonated at the stadium at least among the few members of the Czech organisation and realisation team. There were also a few people along the course, who helped motivate the skiers’ performances.

Although amateur skiers couldn’t set out on the course today, there will be ideal snow conditions for cross-country skiing in the coming days. Not just in the Jizerské Hory, but anywhere in the Czech Republic, or in any part of the world, hobby skiers can take part in the so-called Virtual Jizerská 50 until the end of February. The race is part of the Worldloppet Virtual Racing League and apart from receiving a race package with a crystal and memorial medal, a race number and other gifts from our partners, the participants are entered in a draw after the end of the race.

? Jakub Nedbal