Worldloppet triple weekend is awaiting us with perfect conditions
This weekend we definitely meet the peak of the Worldloppet season 2018! 3 races are awaiting us, two in Europe, one in America. Also the 4th stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup is standing on the program. And the best news: All venues are in perfect winter conditions & read for the race days.
Tartu Maraton hosting the FIS Worldloppet Cup stage 4
After 3 exciting FISWLC stages in Austria, Germany and France, the world’s elite of marathon skiing is travelling to Estonia for this weekend. The traditional Tartu Maraton is going to host stage number 4, the second one in classic style. Almost 50 elite skiers are registered for the race, among them of course the two leaders of the cup & red bib holders, Aurelie Dabudyk (FRA) & Gerard Agnellet (FRA) both from Team Haute Savoie Nordic. Dabudyk is definitely the biggest favourite for the triumph after winning all 3 stages so far. But Maria Gräfnings, SAS pro Team, from Sweden is just waiting for her first victory. Maybe she will get some help from her team mate Rahel Imoberdorf from Switzerland.
Also in the men’s competition a French victory is most likely. After Agnellet the other athletes of Team Haute Savoie Nordic are the next favourites for the victory. Ivan Perrillat-Boiteux just won La Transjurasienne & definitely is in a good mood for the race this weekend, followed by Loic Guigonnet. The second French pro team, Team Jobstation Rossignol, also sends its best athletes: Adrien Mougel, who won the Dolomitenlauf, Benoit Chauvet & Bastien Poirrier. Last year’s overall cup winner, Candide Pralong (SUI) & 2016’s overall winner, Toni Livers (SUI), both are competing at the Olympic Games in Pyongyung 2018.
The best news about Tartu Maraton is, that the thousands of skiers can return to the original course between Otepää & Elva. Heavy snowfalls over the last weeks and icy temperatures connected with huge efforts of the grooming team ensured perfect conditions for the race weekend.
The race is going to be broadcasted live on our website.
Perfect conditions als at the Gatineau Loppet
Good news are reciving us also from Canada, Gatienau, the venue of the second Worldloppet race this weekend. The Gatineau Loppet Organizing Committee is just putting the finishing touches on the preparations for the 40th anniversary of the biggest international cross-country ski event in Canada. Skiers from 17 different countries and more than 30 different nationalities will gather in the festive ambience on the trails of Gatineau Park.
The recent snowfalls on Gatineau has facilitated the grooming of the trail system: 100% of the groomed ski trails are recommended in Gatineau Park and things are ready to welcome skiers from around the World for the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Worldloppet race. For the 51km free technique we have Jennifer Jackson and Sheila Kealey, 1st and 2nd positions of the 2017 classic technique and also Elizebeth Izzo from Lake Placid, winner of the 51km free technique in 2017 on the starting line. For the men’s 51km free technique Andy Shields, winner of both 51km in 2017 is the favourite, together with Petter-Soleng Skinstad from Norway, 7th position at König Lugwig Lauf (Germany) in 2018.
Jizerska Padesatka with around 4500 participants
Almost 4500 skiers have registered for Jizerska50’s events in 2018. They will ski the competitions over various distances including a sprint, a children’s race, an oldtimer race and a company relay. Also in Czech Republic the snow situation is perfect, the trails are prepared & the weather is sunny, around zero degrees.
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