Johan Kjølstad (NOR) takes overall lead in the long-distance series Ski Classics after winning the sprint finish for second place in the Jizerska 50 on Sunday.
Kjølstad beat Anders Aukland (NOR) on the finish line, and by securing second place in 50-kilometer marathon, he now leads the overall Ski Classics, with three of the nine events completed.
Kjølstad, who races for Team United Bakeries along with his Madshus marathon teammates Øystein Pettersen (NOR) and John Kristian Dahl (NOR) won the first race of the 2016 Ski Classics season, the 15-kilometer Team Prologue in Livigno (ITA) on December 5. Then the following day, Kjølstad was third in the 24-kilometer La Sgambeda Classic, also in Livigno. With the Jizerska 50 victory, Kjølstad takes over the overall Ski Classics lead, with Dahl in third place overall.
Among the women, Sara Lindsborg (SWE) of Team Skistart was third in the Jizerska 50, and sits in fourth place in the overall Ski Classics competition.
Stian Hoelgaard (NOR) was fifth in the men’s race and increased his overall lead in the youth competition, while Madshus skier Emilia Lindstedt (SWE) of Team Ski ProAm is leading the women’s youth competition. Lindstedt was sixth overall among the women. Madshus marathon racer Stanislav Rezac (CZE) is third in the sprint competition, and finished 12th overall in the Jizerska 50.
The Czech marathon race is generally run as a point-to-point race, but due to severe lack of snow this year, the race was altered to 15 laps on a 3.3km course. Jizerska was the third marathon event that has been compromised due to lack of snow, but its looking good for the next event: the 65-kilometer La Diagonela in St.Moritz, Switzerland, will take place on January 23.