“CZAR” DEMENTIEV WINS IN THE MOONLIGHT
THE MOONLIGHT CLASSIC GOES TO SARA PELLEGRINI
13th Moonlight Classic today on Alpe di Siusi in South Tyrol
The Olympic champion Evgenj Dementiev won ahead of Daniel Strand and Stanislav Rezac
Sara Pellegrini won among the women; Virginia De Martin Topranin 2nd, Korsgren 3rd
The 15 km race was won by Ole Hulbak (NOR) and Tereza Hujerova (CZE)
Tonight the Olympic champion Evgenj Dementiev was the most “brilliant” skier on the wonderful track of the Moonlight Classic on Alpe di Siusi; the track was lighted up by 1,000 flares. He won in less than 1 hour and a half ahead of the Norwegian Daniel Strand and the Czech Stanislav Rezac: "This is a new experience for me - said Dementiev after the race, - it is a nice track, but you have to know it well in order to face it as best as possible”. Fifth place for Manuel Amhof, first of the Italian athletes, seventh the Italian Mauro Brigadoi, who broke a pole when he was in the first positions: "It's a pity because I was with Rezac and I had really good skis, I could have finished on the podium". On Sunday there is the Marcialonga and Brigadoi will have the chance to make up for it. The Italian group can be really satisfied thanks to Sara Pellegrini who crossed the finish line about ten minutes after the Russian and ahead of the other Italian Virginia De Martin Topranin and the Swedish Visma Ski Classics athlete Lina Korsgren: "It’s incredible to race at night, it is a unique atmosphere". The main event was the 30 km race, but there was also the 15 km race: the Norwegian Ole Sollien Hulbak got the better of another Norwegian Didrik Fjeld Elset. Third place for Leonardo De Biasi from Belluno, sixth Riccardo Mich. Among the women of the short track, the Czech Tereza Hujerova won ahead of the Italian Judith Moroder and Verena Dejori. The very cold temperature did not stop the courageous athletes; at the start there were over 300 participants who have been warmed up by a rather evocative atmosphere with flares that made everything more magical on the charming Alpe di Siusi. Sara Pellegrini covered the first part of the race with the Swedish and took the lead on the climb thanks to the wax; she then crossed the finish line alone without too much difficulty. Virginia De Martin was not in top shape; she even thought whether to finish only the 15 km: "I was immediately hyperventilating, I struggled but the race is really beautiful". Dementiev gained his margin to the opponents in the last five kilometres, leaving the fight for the second and third place to two experienced athletes, Strand and Rezac, who arrived in a nice sprint in front of the brave fans. The 15 km race was also exciting, but Hulbak and Hujerova left no way out for the pursuers. The Norwegian was satisfied: "It was a really exciting race that is different from all the others", while the Czech woman "avenged" the third place of the last edition of the Moonlight Classic: "It's very difficult to compete at this altitude but it's really worth it". At the start there were also some important people including the coach director of the Italian national cross-country skiing team Marco Selle in his new role of athlete and advertising spokesman of the event: "I would recommend the Moonlight Classic to anyone, it is really a beautiful event. At the World Championships in Seefeld we will try to give our best and I hope there will be a lot of fans to support us since it is not very far; maybe the next time I could opt for the 30 km here on Alpe di Siusi...". The Tourism Association Alpe di Siusi will soon begin to plan the summer with the Seiser Alm Half Marathon scheduled for 7th July, thus completing the combined "Ski & Run".
For further information: www.moonlightclassic.info
Download TV images:
www.broadcaster.it
30 km Men
1. Dementiev Eugeniy Team Futura 1:27.40,8; 2. Strand Daniel Tverrelvdalen Il. 1:28.05,1; 3. Rezac Stanislav Team Jablonec 1:28.10,3; 4. Skogsholm Vinjar Team Parkettpartner 1:28.10,8; 5. Amhof Manuel Team Futura 1:28.22,7; 6. Strübel Josua SC Seebach 1:29.20,6; 7. Brigadoi Mauro Team Robinson Trainer 1:29.40,2; 8. Cappello Florian Fiamme Oro 1:30.32,1; 9. Armellini Mattia Fiamme Oro 1:31.42,2; 10. Lövgren Johann Team Igne 1:31.51,2
30 km Women
1. Pellegrini Sara Fiamme Oro 1:38.11,1; 2. De Martin Topranin Virginia C.S. Carabinieri 1:43.26,6; 3. Korsgren Lina 1:43.41,8; 4. Moravcova Klara Ski klub Jablonec 1:45.49,9; 5. Pollari Terhi Skimarathon Team Aus 1:50.02,6; 6. Rosa Deborah A.S.D. GS Asiago 1:59.26,2; 7. Forstner Renate SC AU 2:04.11,8; 8. Scheufele Lisa SC Traunstein 2:05.07,2; 9. Gentile Marta ASD CUS Trento 2:24.31,5; 10. Perenzoni Elisa Team Sottozero 2:34.27,0
15 km Men
1. Sollien Hulbak Ole NTNUI Sweco 40.08,0; 2. Fjeld Elset Didrik NTNUI Sweco 40.22,8; 3. De Biasi Leonardo Fiamme Oro 41.13,7; 4. Vestol Olav NOS 41.22,9; 5. Herzog Daniel SpVgg Oberkreuzberg 42.14,3; 6. Mich Riccardo Team Futura 42.52,9; 7. Nydal Erlend NTNUI Sweco 43.39,9; 8. Klettenhammer Patrick Team Futura 43.43,3; 9. Meloy Jakob NTNUI Sweco 43.44,1; 10. Barannikov Alexey Pro Trener 43.44,3
15 km Women
1. Hujerova Tereza Ski klub Jablonec 50.49,3; 2. Moroder Judith Skiclub Gröden Raiff. 52.21,7; 3. Dejori Verena Skiclub Gröden Raiff. 55.28,1; 4. Leonardelli Erica Made 2 Win Trenteam . 58.02,2; 5. Wolf Eva Team SV Agenbach 59.02,7; 6. Schroffenegger Julia Lebenshilfe Südtirol 1:01.51,9; 7. Griesser Veronika Hotel Panorama 1:06.03,0; 8. Leonardelli Elena Made 2 Win Trenteam 1:07.02,0; 9. Tasin Anna Made to win Trenteam 1:07.02,1; 10. Leonardi Paola APD Lizzanella 1:08.42,1