Petter Eliassen and Justyna Kowalczyk won Vasaloppet 2015

Two debutants won Vasaloppet 2015: Petter Eliassen, Norway, who won the men's class ahead of seasoned participants Anders Aukland, Norway, and Stanislav Rezác, Czech Republic. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, won the ladies class ahead of Britta Johansson Norgren, Sweden, and Seraina Boner, Switzerland.

Almost 14,000 of the 15,800 registered participants came to the start of the 91st Vasaloppet. Anders Södergren set a quick pace directly after the start in Berga by. In Smågan, Södergren had a lead of 1.19 ahead of the pack. Shortly before Mångsbodarna he was caught up by Norwegian Andreas Nygaard, who took the first spurt prize and also came first to Risberg.

In Evertsberg the lead was held by Stanislav Rezác, Czech Republic. A group of no more than twelve men led the race at that point, and trailing at the end of that group were last year's runner-up and winner, Johan Kjölstad and John Kristian Dahl.

In Hökberg only four skiers remained in the leading group. Stanislav Rezác, Anders Aukland, Petter Eliassen and Öystein "Pölsa" Pettersen. When Aukland picked up speed at the uphill slopes in Krångåsen, Pettersen had to give in too.

It came down to two real "veterans", 43-year-old Aukland and 42-year-old Rezác, against 29-year-old Eliassen.

But in the end Petter Eliassen was strongest and the others could not threaten him; closest came Aukland who crossed the finish five seconds after.
"I felt that I had plenty of strength left in my arms towards the end. So I wasn't too worried in case they should come up on my side, but they never came."

"It's hard to believe that I'm standing here as the winner now," said a noticeably moved Eliassen.

Regarding the final spurt against Aukland and Rezác, Eliassen said this:
"We had equally good skis. By the end mine might have been a bit better."

"It was wet and heavy in many places, and lots of water on the track," said Eliassen about the tough conditions on the Vasaloppet course.

Many of the elite skiers got stuck in the start gate when it did not open. This also affected the winner.
"I got the wire on my neck and was about to fall, but my poles did not break. I had time to think that things were about to go to the dogs," Eliassen explained.

Petter Eliassen's best World Cup placement is a fourth place in the Holmekollen 50 km in 2009. In the World Championships in Holmenkollen 2011 he was eleventh in the 50 km. This winter his top achievements in Swix Ski Classics are a second place in Jizerská Padetsatka and a first place in König Ludwig Lauf.

Anders Aukland went for his second Vasaloppet victory. He won eleven years ago, in 2004.
"I tried to get ahead of the pack. I felt strong and had good skis but in the end I couldn't break loose. It came down to a long spurt and then Petter was stronger than me. It's a bit disappointing to come in second but I had a good race," says Anders.

First Swede to cross the finish line was Jerry Ahrlin, in eighth place.
"The last fifteen kilometres were like skiing in a tunnel of pain," said Ahrlin who also emphasized that this was his most difficult Vasalopp.

Stanislav Rezác participated in his 17th Vasalopp, and has now been in the top six these past seven years. But in 17 races he has yet to reach victory. In 2014, six of the top ten gents were from Norway. This year the dominance was even greater: eight out of ten.

Previous Norwegian men to win Vasaloppet are Ole Ellefsaeter 1971, Anders Aukland 2004, Jörgen Aukland 2008 and 2013, John Kristian Dahl 2014.

The only other time the top three have all been non-Swedish was in 2004, when Anders Aukland won ahead of Raul Olle and Jörgen Aukland. Oskar Svärd was then the best Swede in fourth place.

The ladies class
Britta Johansson Norgren and Seraina Boner held the lead together when passing Smågan, Mångsbodarna and Risberg. Justyna Kowalczyk was far behind in the beginning. In Smågan she was a whole 3.24 after, since one of her poles broke at the start and she'd skied for a long while with only one pole. In Evertsberg, Polish Justyna Kowalzcyk was only five seconds behind Swiss Seraina Boner, and then Justyna took over the lead.

In Oxberg Justyna Kowalczyk had increased her lead to 2.25 ahead of Seraina Boner. In the end there was no contest, and Justyna Kowalczyk passed the finish line about four minutes ahead of Britta Johansson Norgren and more than eight minutes ahead of Seraina Boner.
"It was a tough race but I'm so happy with my win. I'm so happy," said a smiling and laughing Kowalczyk.

Britta Johansson Norgren finished the race well but did not have a chance against Kowalzcyk, who is a Vasaloppet newcomer with numerous World Cup wins under her belt.
"Justyna was really strong. I wasn't even close today," said Britta.

70 gents crossed the finish line before Justyna Kowalchyk, making her total placement the best ever for a Vasaloppet ladies class winner.

Vasaloppet on Swedish Television
The start, the drama, the finish, and all the TV clips:
http://www.svt.se/sport/vasaloppet

Other notes
Registration for the 92nd Vasaloppet on March 6, 2016, and the other races during the Vasaloppet Winter Week 2016, opens on Sunday March 22, 2015, at 09:00, at vasaloppet.se

Spurt prize winners 2015
Smågan: Anders Södergren, 30.49
Mångsbodarna: Anders Nygaard, 1.07.05
Risberg: Anders Nygaard, 1.33.59
Evertsberg: Stanislav Rezác 2.09.47 Seraina Boner 2.26.38
Oxberg: Anders Aukland, 2.47.31
Hökberg: Stanislav Rezác, 3.13.32
Eldris: Petter Eliassen, 3.39.29

RESULTS Vasaloppet 2015, gents:
1 Petter Eliassen, (NOR) 04:01:48
2 Anders Aukland, (NOR) 04:01:53
3 Stanislav Rezac, (CZE) 04:02:12
4 Öystein Pettersen, (NOR) 04:04:43
5 John Kristian Dahl, (NOR) 04:05:01
6 Tord Asle Gjerdalen, (NOR) 04:07:01
7 Simen Östensen, (NOR) 04:07:23
8 Jerry Ahrlin, (SWE) 04:07:30
9 Anders Mölmen Höst, (NOR) 04:09:44
10 Tore Björset Berdal, (NOR) 04:09:57

RESULTS Vasaloppet 2015, ladies:
1 Justyna Kowalczyk, (POL) 04:41:02
2 Britta Johansson Norgren, (SWE) 04:45:18
3 Seraina Boner, (SUI) 04:49:16
4 Laila Kveli, (NOR) 04:50:11
5 Lina Korsgren, (SWE) 04:54:30
6 Masako Ishida, (JPN) 04:56:21
7 Katerina Smutna, (AUT) 04:57:25
8 Annika Löfström, (SWE) 04:58:06
9 Solfrid Braathen, (NOR) 05:05:10
10 Nina Lintzén, (SWE) 05:13:15

Medal times
Medal time 2015 Gents 06.02.42. (14:02:42)
Medal time 2015 Ladies 07.01.33. (15:01:33)
Those who finish within the winning time plus 50% receive a medal.

Results
http://results.vasaloppet.se/2015/?lang=EN

NOTE! High resolution photos from Vasaloppet 2015:
http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/vasaloppet/image/list

Vasaloppet's results lists for media:
Home page: http://media.vasaloppet.se
Username: vasa
Password: media

Facts Guide 2015 in Swedish
In our popular Facts Guide you can find out everything about Vasaloppet, from both past and present. This year's edition is available in a digital version at vasaloppet.se/faktaguide. Printed copies are available in Vasaloppet's press centre.

Upcoming events in the Vasalopps Arena:

Vasaloppet Summer Week 2015
Fri 14 Aug: CykelVasan 30. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 14 Aug: UngdomsCykelVasan. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 14 Aug: CykelVasan 45. 45 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 14 Aug: CykelVasan Öppet Spår. 95 km. Start Sälen.
Sat 15 Aug: CykelVasan 90. 95 km. Start Sälen. (12,000 entries. FULL 1/10/2014)
Sat 22 Aug: UltraVasan 45. 45 km. Start Oxberg.
Sat 22 Aug: UltraVasan 90. 90 km. Start Sälen.
Sat 22 Aug: VasaStafetten. 4.5–15 km. Running relay race for ten person teams. Start Sälen.

Vasaloppet Winter Week 2016 (registration opens March 22, 2015)
Fri 26 Feb: KortVasan. 30 km.
Sat 27 Feb: TjejVasan. 30 km.
Sun 28 Feb: UngdomsVasan. 3, 5, 7 or 9 km.
Sun 28 Feb: Öppet Spår söndag. 90 km.
Mon 29 Feb: Öppet Spår måndag. 90 km.
Tue 1 Mar: HalvVasan. 45 km.
Fri 4 Mar: StafettVasan. 24, 24, 14, 9 and 19 km.
Sun 6 Mar: Vasaloppet. 90 km.

High resolution photos from Vasaloppet 2015:
http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/vasaloppet/image/list

Text and photos may be freely published.

For more information

Ola Granfeldt, PR Manager
Phone: +46 (0)250-392 77
Mobile: +46 (0)733-550 620
Email: ola.granfeldt@vasaloppet.se

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