Today ‘Sgambeda’ celebrated its 30th anniversary in Livigno – 30 km in free technique
Renaud Jay won ahead of his teammate Jean Marc Gaillard and Toni Livers
Celine Lallier Choppard won the ladies’ race ahead of Klara Moravcova and Alicia Choron
Tomorrow Livigno Prologue Visma Ski Classics 35 km
This was the best way to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of ‘Sgambeda’ in Livigno together with amateurs, former World Cup athletes and many Russians. Thanks to his sprinter skills, the French Renaud Jay triumphed today in the final sprint ahead of the other French Jean Marc Gaillard and Toni Livers. France won also the ladies’ race with Celine Choppard Lallier ahead of the Czech Klara Moravcova and the other French Alicia Choron.
It was a wonderful day for cross-country skiing, with a splendid sunshine and perfect trails in Livigno. Today’s 30 km FT race was organised between the Visma Ski Classics Pro Team Tempo and Livigno Prologue. The latter will take place tomorrow (35 km CT). The snow was very fast. The competitors, who came to the ‘Little Tibet’, faced the hard climbs of Passo Forcola, where five athletes took the lead: the Swiss Martin Jäger and Toni Livers, four Olympic appearances, the French Renaud Jay and Jean Marc Gaillard and Kari Varis from Finland. At the start there was also the Olympic gold and three times world gold medallist Nikita Kriukov, who knows how to fight until the end, without forgetting the reigning rollerski world champion, the Italian Matteo Tanel, who arrived just behind the Russian in a thrilling final sprint. The French Choppard – 38th overall on Passo Forcola – was really impressive, with the Moravcova second but already far behind, while Alicia Choron was 68thoverall and third among the women.
The two French athletes in the leading group helped each other and Livers couldn’t keep their pace in the last 4 kilometres of the race. In the ladies’ race, Choppard was clearly ahead. Matteo Tanel was ninth, but the Italian was able to cross the finish line in eighth place, without being able to beat Kriukov at the photo finish. Kari Varis raced to 4th place finish and Martin Jäger to 5th place finish. Jay won ahead of Gaillard, and the Swiss Livers – a little slower – finished in third place.
In the ladies’ race, Choppard won ahead of Moravcova and Choron, fourth place for the home idol and silver world medallist Marianna Longa.
But that's not all, because – after the Pro Team Tempo – tomorrow there will be the Visma Ski Classics Livigno Prologue, 35 km with the best long-distance skiers in the world.
For further information: www.lasgambeda.it
Download TV pictures:
www.broadcaster.it
MALE RANKING
1 Jay Renaud French Cross Country Ski Team FRA 01:06:18; 2 Gaillard Jean Marc French Cross Country Ski Team FRA 01:06:20; 3 Livers Toni Team Bsv SUI 01:06:22; 4 Varis Kari Northern Fish Hätälä FIN 01:06:51; 5 Jäger Martin SUI 01:08:32; 6 Engdahl Petter SWE 01:08:35; 7 Kriukov Nikita Resultfit RUS 01:09:35; 8 Tanel Matteo Robinson Ski Team ITA 01:09:35; 9 Chanoine Didier Dario S.C. Valdigne Mont Blanc Asd ITA 01:09:38; 10 Solodov Ivan RUS 01:09:50
FEMALE RANKING
1 Choppard Lallier Celine Team Nordique Credit Agricole FRA 01:16:28; 2 Moravcova Klara Ski Klub Jablonec CZE 01:17:35; 3 Choron Alicia Team Nordique Credit Agricole FRA 01:22:00; 4 Longa Marianna ITA 01:23:11; 5 Nöhmeier Hanna Team Zipps GER 01:23:19; 6 Moyse Claire Team Nordique Credit Agricole FRA 01:24:24; 7 Nemtsova Nina RUS 01:25:17; 8 Gentile Marta Team Futura - Asd White Fox ITA 01:26:20; 9 Byfuglien Marianne NOR 01:26:38; 10 Zernova Natalia Zernov Team RUS 01:26:59
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