The mass start format led to a dramatic finish in the women’s race, with Anna Ulvensøen NOR crossing the line just ahead of Swedish athletes Frida Sandberg and Ella Turesson. Niklas Ekstrӧm FIN won the men’s race by 11 seconds.
Two eventful races took place on another cold and sunny morning in Luleå. Again the courses were very testing, with a complex path and track network giving many route choice options – including, for the men, two alternatives round a huge hill. Both races had three sections with two arena passages, and a common section to the finish from half-way round the last loop.
Long head-to-head race for the finish!
In the women’s race it was at this point, control 19, where the race to the finish began. Turesson was just ahead of Sandberg, with Ulvensøen a short way behind. Ulvensøen quickly caught up, and the three then kept more-or-less together right through to the end of the 24-control course, with Sandberg 4 seconds ahead 4 minutes before the finish. But Ulvensøen was the strongest skier, and gained 5 seconds to win by a tiny margin. Fourth was Amanda Yli Futka FIN, 20 seconds down. Magdalena Olsson SWE retired at the second arena passage, feeling unwell.
Ella Turesson and Anna Ulvensøen at arena passage Photos: Timo Mikkola
Viippola was heading for victory – then made a big error
At the equivalent point in the men’s race, control 23, Sprint winner Aapo Viippola FIN was way ahead of the rest of the field – but approaching control 27 on the 29-control course he made a big error, going up completely the wrong path and having to back-track, so allowing his compatriot Niklas Ekstrӧm and Andrei Lamov SWE to get ahead of him. So he finished in bronze medal position, 40 seconds down on the winner. Jonatan Ståhl SWE was for a long time close behind this group, having kept a high position throughout, but was disqualified.
Niklas Ekstrom heads to the finish
Evergreen Andrei Lamov
Lamov, 40 this year, showed yet again his immense ability, 20 years after his first World Cup competition. He may well be aiming to peak at the World Championships next month in Japan; it was in the 2009 WSOC in Japan that he made his big breakthrough, winning gold in both Long Distance and Sprint.
In the Junior World and European Youth Championships, Anett Liisa Parts EST and Kasper Ekonoja FIN won their second golds of the week in W17 and M17 respectively. In M20, brothers Joona and Niklas Hirvilahti (Joona 2 years the elder) took the silver and bronze medals. In W17, no medals went to Scandinavian countries!
Anett Liisa Parts EST – double gold in W17
The Sunday event is the Relay, with mass start for men at 11.45 CET and for women 12.00. Follow all the action on IOF LIVE Tracking!
Leading results, Middle Distance
Women
- Anna Ulvensøen NOR 58:58
- Frida Sandberg SWE 58:59
- Ella Turesson SWE 59:02
- Amanda Yli Futka FIN 59:18
- Anna Aasa SWE 59:38
- Birgit Dorthea Kleppa Madslien NOR 60:36
Men
- Niklas Ekstrӧm FIN 60:34
- Andrei Lamov SWE 60:45
- Aapo Viippola FIN 61:14
- Jonatan Ståhl SWE 62:04
- Jørgen Baklid NOR 62:23
- Pyry Riissanen FIN 62:42
Junior World Championships Middle Distance
Women
Gold, Johanna Naskali FIN; Silver, Maja Lundholm SWE; Bronze, Minna Turesson SWE
Men
Gold, Lavio Müller SUI; Silver, Joona Hirvilahti FIN; Bronze, Niklas Hirvilahti FIN
European Youth Championships Middle Distance
Women
Gold, Anett Liisa Parts EST; Silver, Liene Riekstina LAT; Bronze, Pavlina Salabova CZE
Men
Gold, Kasper Ekonoja FIN; Silver, Veeti Viippola FIN; Bronze, Joakim Savinainen FIN