The third day of the Blink Festival in Norway saw Erik Valnes, Norway, winning the 15km mass start roller ski race in freestyle technique.

Blink Festival day three was marked by a 10km mass start race for women and a 15km mass start race for men. The freestyle competition attracted a solid field to the start line in the city center of Sandnes. 

In the men’s race, Erik Valnes, Norway, won the race in a total time of 28:47.3. Federico Pellegrino, Italy, finished in second place, 2.0 seconds behind the winner, and Even Northug, also from Norway, completed the podium in third place, 2.1 seconds back.

Top 3 15km Mass Start, Men

1. Erik Valnes, Norway, 28:47.3
2. Federico Pellegrino, Italy, +2.0
3. Even Northug, Norway, +2.1

Complete results can be found HERE. 

Also Read:

• Sömskar winner of the Blink Festival 10km mass start race
• Double win for Team Aker Dæhlie at Blink Classics 2023
• Ebba Andersson winner at the Lysebotn Opp freestyle race 2023
• Hegstad Krüger winner of the Lysebotn Opp freestyle race 2023

On Saturday, a sprint race awaits the cross-country skiers.

Also Read: Blink 2023, unveiling the complete calendar

FACTS: BLINK 2023

• Who:  Cross-country skiers and biathletes at national and international levels, as well as junior classes and age-specific classes for younger athletes
• What:  Summer ski festival cross-country skiing, biathlon, and long-distance skiing, held for the first time in 2006
• Where:  Sandnes, Lysefjorden and Gjesdal, Norway
• When:  August 2 to 5, 2023 
• Organizers:  Norwegian Ski Association, Norwegian Biathlon Association, Sandnes municipality, and Axelar
• Website: www.blinkfestivalen.no

Program Blink 2023 

August 2, Wednesday:  BLINK Lysebotn Up, 7.5km uphill race, start in Lysefjorden

• 11:30: 1km and 2km girls and boys
• 12:15: 7.5km skating women senior, women junior
• 14:00: 7.5km double poling women and men senior
• 15:30: 7.5km skating men senior, men junior

August 3, Thursday:  BLINK Classics at Ålgård

• 18:45: Start BLINK Classics
• 20:45: Estimated finish BLINK Classics

August 4, Friday: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:30 – 14:20: Cross-country skiing and biathlon: competitions for age groups and juniors 
• 12:00-21:00: OBOS Kid Camp
• 14:30-15:15: Biathlon: Shooting elite
• 15:30-15:50: Cross-country skiing: Prologue women and men
• 15:55-16:50: Biathlon: Shooting duel women and men
• 17:10-18:25: Biathlon: Super sprint qualification elite women and men
• 18:25-18:55: Cross-country skiing: 10km mass start women
• 18:55-19:45: Biathlon: Super sprint final women and men
• 19:45-20: 25: Cross-country skiing: 15km mass start men
• 20:45: Prize-giving ceremony

August 5, Saturday: BLINK in Sandnes Sentrum 

• 7:40-14:20: Cross-country skiing and biathlon: competitions for age groups and juniors
• 12:00-21:00: OBOS Kid Camp
• 14:30-15:15: Biathlon: Shooting elite
• 15:20-15:40: Cross-country skiing: Prologue women and men
• 15:45-17:37: Biathlon: Quarter-finals start women and men
• 17:44-19:20: Cross-country skiing: Sprint quarter-finals and semifinals women and men
• 19:22-20:08: Biathlon: Semifinals mass start women and men
• 20:10-20:23: Cross-country skiing: Finals sprint women and men
• 20:25-21:05: Biathlon: finals mass start women and men
• 21:25: Prize-giving ceremony 

All competitions are broadcast on NRK.