After years of planning and preparations Idrefjällens OK today invited all World Cup runners to the first race and it was a very demanding and challenging long distance this first day.
The big favourite, Tove Alexandersson was the last starter among the women and she was also in lead early on, but the power wasn’t there today. After the arena passage and map change, where she still was in lead, she couldn’t keep up the speed in last and very demanding last loop. Both Simona Aebersold SUI and Andrine Benjaminsen NOR was stronger in the last kilometres. Simona Aebersold took her first World Cup win in the Swedish forest ahead of Andrine Benjaminsen. Tove Alexandersson ended up in third.
The big surprise was the Swedish junior Hanna Lundberg who took the fourth place on this very tough course with a running time of almost 90 minutes for the winner. The host nation Sweden with three women among the five best also Emma Bjessmo in fifth.
Kasper Fosser is nowadays the favourite almost in all disciplines, maybe especially the long distance. He was early on in lead and he kept it all the way and won with the time 99.53, 1.39 ahead of Magne Daehli, also NOR. The biggest challenge came from Gustav Bergman SWE but he did some mistake the last kilometres and ended up in fourth. Daniel Hubmann SUI in third.
Maybe not a surprise but nevertheless a very good performance by Timo Sild EST with a very strong fifth place.
Next race on Saturday 14 August in Gränjesåsvallen. A middle distance is waiting then.
RESULTS
Women
- Simona Aebersold, SUI
- Andrine Benjaminsen, NOR
- Tove Alexandersson, SWE
Men
- Kasper Fosser, NOR
- Magne Daehli, NOR
- Daniel Hubmann, SUI