Two big names triumph at the Moonlight Classic

In the men's race, Tord Asle Gjerdalen from Norway celebrated after 30 km in the classic technique, while in the women's race Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland outdid her competitors. There was a home win in the women's race over 15 km by Michaela Patscheider from Mals. Almost 300 cross-country skiers from 13 different nations didn't want to miss the Moonlight Classic Seiser Alm's comeback after a three-year break.

At exactly 20 p.m., the starting signal for the 15th Moonlight Classic Seiser Alm was given in Compatsch in light winds with temperatures just below freezing point. The top-class field of participants included numerous former world-class cross-country skiers such as the two-time Olympic champion and 13-time world champion Petter Northug from Norway or his compatriot Tord Asle Gjerdalen, who has won four World Championship medals over the course of his career and took second place at the Marcialonga last weekend. In the women's category, all eyes were on defending champion Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland, a two-time Olympic champion, two-time world champion and four-time winner of the overall World Cup.

And it was these athletes who left their mark on the South Tyrolean cross-country skiing classic on Europe's largest high mountain pasture. For a long time, Mattia Armellini (Italy) dictated the pace for the men, who also won the sprint classification after 12 km at the Hotel Ritsch. But after about two thirds of the way, the Norwegian armada broke away from the rest of the field.

Gjerdalen beats everyone In the end, Tord Asle Gjerdalen triumphed in 1:20.37 hours, trailing his XPND Fuel teammate Thomas Odegarden by 52 seconds. “Due to the light snowfall, it was a little slower than expected. But it was a wonderful experience to run in the light of the torches, which is why I will definitely come back,” analyzed winner Gjerdalen at the finish. Third place went to Magnus Vesterheim (Team Kaffebryggeriet), who won the Moonlight Classic Seiser Alm in 2018 and this time lost around one and a half minutes to Gjerdalen. The German Thomas Bing finished his race in fourth place behind the three Norwegians. The best Azzurro was Belluno's Lorenzo Busin (Team Internorm Alpenplus Trentino) in sixth place, while Petter Northug was ranked seventh. Norman Kostner from Val Gardena came 25th.

Tord Asle Gjerdalen was unbeatable. © Fabian Dalpiaz

In the women's race there was a start-to-finish victory for Justyna Kowalczyk. The 40-year-old, who also secured the intermediate sprint, crossed the finish line - now in light snowfall - after 1:42.39 hours, repeating her success from 2020. “The Moonlight Classic Seiser Alm is one of the most beautiful races in the world. That's why I'm coming here from Poland for the second time. It was very tough, the opponents were strong, but I thank my team that I had such good material,” said Kowalczyk during the winner’s interview. Second place went to the Norwegian Oda Nerdrum, who lost one minute to Kowalczyk, and third place went to the Swede Malin Boerjesjoe. The best Italian starter was Elisa Brocard. The Aostan woman, who has taken part in three Winter Olympics, crossed the finish line after 1:52.07 hours. Thea Schwingshackl (Welsberg-Taisten) made it into the top ten in eighth place.

Patscheider is in a class of its own On the half-as-long distance of 15 kilometers, Tommaso Dellagiacoma from Trentino prevailed among the men. For the 26-year-old from Predazzo, who competes for the Internorm Alpenplus Trentino team, the stopwatch stopped after 39.45,5:XNUMX minutes. He relegated his Trentino compatriots Stefano Mich and Simone Mastrobattista to the places of honor. As the best South Tyrolean, Felix Pider from Taufers came in sixth place.

Michaela Patscheider ran to victory. © Sportissimus

Michaela Patscheider, however, secured the only home win. The Malser, who competes for the Robinson Ski Team Trentino, completed the 15 km distance in 49.19,0 minutes. The 23-year-old thus repeated her victory from 2020. At the award ceremony, the Vinschgerin woman was flanked on the podium by Louise Marken Tronrud from Norway and Maria Steinwandter from the Sci Club Toblach.

The results Men (30 km) 1. Tord Asle Gjerdalen NOR 1:20.37 hours 2. Thomas Odegarden NOR 1:21.29 3. Magnus Vesterheim NOR 1:22.06 4. Thomas Bing GER 1:23.35 5. Klas Nilsson NOR 1:24.20

Women (30 km) 1. Justyna Kowalczyk POL 1:42.39 2. Oda Nerdrum NOR 1:43.41 3. Malin Boerjesjoe SWE 1:44.43 4. Maija Hakala FIN 1:49.00 5. Elisa Brocard ITA 1:52.07

Men (15) km 1. Tommaso Dellagiacoma ITA 39.45,5 2. Stefano Mich ITA 40.15,2 3. Simone Mastrobattista ITA 40.39,0 4. Mauro Balmetti ITA 40.48,1 5. Emanuele Busin ITA 41.34,3

Women (15 km) 1. Michaela Patscheider ITA 49.19,0 2. Louise Marken Tronrud NOR 52.51,6 3. Maria Steinwandter ITA 55.04,4 4. Fiona Günther GER 56.23,4 5. Anja Kretschmer GER 58.11,7

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Two big names triumph at the Moonlight Classic

The 15th edition of the Moonlight Classic Seiser Alm came to an end on Friday evening with two favorites winning. A South Tyrolean also had reason to be happy.

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