Marcialonga, the third event in Visma Ski Classics and the first Grand Classics event Season XI took place today. Also being the last one in Visma Alp Trophy cup combining the alp events. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team and Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden won the 70 km race and also Visma Alp Trophy.

In the men’s race, it was a big group a long way into the race in the snowy conditions. 

With about 4 km left of the race, Tord Asle Gjerdalen pushed hard in the front, followed by Magnus Vesterheim, Team Kaffebryggeriet, Morten Eide Pedersen, Team Nordic Athlete, and about 20 more skiers towards the Cascata climb.

When the skiers reached the tunnel before the climb, Petter Eliassen, Team Ragde Eiendom, Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team XPND Fuel of Norway, Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team and Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Eiendom were first.

With 500 meters left of the race Ermil Vokuev, Russian Winter Team, caught the leading group, but in the final 200 meters, it was a fight between Gjerdalen and Persson about the victory and the young Swede Persson was the strongest, beating the three-time Marcialonga winner Gjerdalen with 0,3 seconds. Vokuev was third, 2,7 seconds behind.

“An amazing day, amazing skis and amazing body. I’m so happy,” says Emil Persson,” and continues;
“My tactic was to save as much energy as I could until the last uphill, but I also wanted to take some sprint points and I did. The last kilometers I just went for it.”