Press release: Strong elite field in premiere of UltraVasan 2014

Spring is here and there are three months left until Vasaloppet’s newest event UltraVasan. Preparations are intense and the ambition is to create a race that will surpass all participants’ expectations. The fully booked 90 kilometre race has all of 30 percent international participants from some 22 nations, and the start list contains several of the world’s best elite runners over distances longer than the marathon.

In August we expect a great festival of running “in the footsteps of our forefathers” with three races on the same day, UltraVasan 45 and 90, as well as VasaStafetten. The premiere of UltraVasan 90 is at dawn at 05.00 on August 23 in Berga by, Sälen. UltraVasan 45 starts at 08.00 in Oxberg and follows then, for the most part, HalvVasan’s stretch down to Mora. UltraVasan is anticipated to have a strong international stamp with all of 22 nations represented – amongst others are Venezuela, USA, Australia and Canada – as well as a large number of top runners in the start field.

“Irrespective of distance (45 or 90 km), enormous versatility will be demanded from the participants. Here I’m thinking not only of endurance as the single decisive parameter. Above all, the 90 km race has a great variety of surfaces with a technically demanding first half, requiring much experience of running on uneven and soft ground. The final part of the course and the last 20 km are categorised as very fast and will demand that the athlete can run at high speed to be in the battle for top placings”, says one of UltraVasan’s race managers, Peter Fredricson.

Topflight service to the runners
As organiser of a race where the winning time is expected to be close to seven hours and the maximum time is fifteen hours, it is clearly a question of creating the best possible conditions for all participants to be able to complete the race. Vital ingredients here are the service stations along the course, where Vasaloppet’s classic control checkpoints, together with their well-known functionaries, will be making their special mark on the experience.

As well as the traditional offerings of blueberry soup, Vasaloppet buns and sports drinks which the winter week participants receive, the organizers will also be offering simple solid food at Mångsbodarna, Evertsberg and Hökberg. And, in addition to the ordinary controls, drinks will also be available every 5^th kilometre along the entire course. Apart from these services, we will also offer massage stations in the final race stage, as well as an opportunity for participants to access their own bags, when passing Evertsberg, to change shoes and clothing – this latter is common practise over such a formidable distance as 90 km.

For UltraVasan 45, participants are offered identical services in the form of food, drinks and massage all the way to the finish in Mora.

Participant ceiling
The longer race (UltraVasan 90) has, this first year, a participant ceiling of 1,000 runners and was fully booked in September 2013 when registration opened. For the 45-kilometre distance, the ceiling has now been set at 1,200 runners and here there are still places left.

“We have decided to put a cap of 1,200 runners for UltraVasan 45 in order to safeguard the quality and to ensure the best possible service to all participants. The race will be first-rate for those who perhaps have already tested the marathon and are looking for a new challenge. If you want to be in the August premiere, it’s now high time to get signed up”, says Johan Eriksson, Vasaloppet’s sports manager.

Highest merited registered elite runners

Gentlemen

Jonas Buud, SWE – has won the legendary race Swiss Alpine Marathon seven consecutive years (2007-2013) and has a second place in the world’s most prestigious ultra trail race, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix. He also holds the Swedish 100 km record with a time of 6.28.59 and is the most merited Swedish ultra runner of all time.

Steve Way, GBR – Winner of the Stockholm Ultra 2013 and holds the best time in the world in 2013 over 100 km (6.40.14). A personal best in the marathon of 2.19.04.

Thomas Lorblanchet, FRA – Multiple winner of Templiers and winner of the Leadville 100 miles. World Champion in Ultra Trail 2011.

Adam Campbell, CAN – Canadian record over 50 miles terrain with a time of 5.44. Designated ultra runner of the year in Canada 2011/12. Second place in Ultra Trail Mount Fuji (UTMF) Japan, 100 miles (2012), och second in CCC 100 Km, France (2011).

John Henry Strupstad, NOR – Norwegian champion in the marathon 2013. Has represented the national team in the World Cup distance 100 km 2010-2013 and also holds the course record in the ultra race Rallarvegsløpet 2013.

Ladies

Holly Rush, GBR – European Championship silver medallist in the marathon (team) and 7^th in the South African Comrades 2013. Personal best over the marathon distance of 2.37.35.

Francesca Canepa, ITA – winner of Wibram Hong-Kong 100 Km 2014, two-times winner of Tor des Geants 330 Km, second place in UTMB 2012 and winner of Lavaredo Ultra Trail 2012.

Helen Cospolich, USA – sixth place in UROC (Ultra Race of Champions) 100 Km (2013), winner of TNF Endurance Challenge, Costa Rica, 50 Miles, first place in TNF Endurance Challenge, Ecuador, 50 Miles (2012 and 2013), 6^th in UTMB 166 Km (2011), and winner of the Leadville 100 miles (2008).

Ultra is the name for races which are longer than the marathon distance (42,195 metres) and ”trail” or ”terrain” means the major part of the race is not on asphalt.  The host for UltraVasan is the Japanese sports company ASICS.

More information and films from the course are at vasaloppet.se and vasaloppet.se/ultra

Coming arrangements in Vasalopps Arena:

Vasaloppets summer week 2014 (MTB and running):
Fri 15 Aug: CykelVasan 30. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 15 Aug: UngdomsCykelVasan. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 15 Aug: CykelVasan 45. 45 km. Start Oxberg.
Sat 16 Aug: CykelVasan 90. 95 km. Start Sälen. (12,000 entries. FULL 22/09/2013)
Sat 23 Aug: UltraVasan 45. 45 km. Running race. Start Oxberg
Sat 23 Aug: UltraVasan 90. 90 km. Running race. Start Sälen. (1,000 entries. FULL 22/09/2013)
Sat 23 Aug: VasaStafetten. 4,5–15,1 km. Running relay race for 10 person teams. Start Sälen.

Vasaloppets winter week 2015 (cross country skiing):
Fri 27 Feb: KortVasan. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Sat 28 Feb: TjejVasan. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Sun 1 Mar: UngdomsVasan. 3, 5, 7 or 9 km. Start Mora Ski Stadium.
Sun 1 Mar: Öppet Spår Sunday. 90 km. Start Sälen. (10,000 entries. FULL 21/05/2014)
Mon 2 Mar: Öppet Spår Monday. 90 km. Start Sälen.
Tue 3 Mar: HalvVasan. 45 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 6 Mar: StafettVasan. 24, 24, 14, 9 and 19 km. Start Sälen. (8,000 entries. FULL 16/03/2014)
Sun 8 Mar: Vasaloppet. 90 km. Start Sälen. (15,800 entries. FULL 16/03/2014)

High resolution photos from Vasaloppet are here:
mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/vasaloppet/image/list

Or find 4 UltraVasan photos below in this e-mail: "Relaterat material. Bilder (Photos)."

Text and photos may be freely published.

For further information

Johan Eriksson, Sports Manager, Vasaloppet
Tel: +46 (0)250-392 30
Mobile: +46 (0)70-342 83 80
E-mail: johan.eriksson@vasaloppet.se

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

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Twitter: @vasaloppet

Vasaloppet is the world’s biggest organiser of recreational races, all year round. Vasaloppets winter week with its cross country skiing and the summer week with mountainbike cycling and running attracted during 2013 a total of over 88,000 registered participants. Since the beginning in 1922 over one million participants have passed under the classic finish portal in Mora. Vasaloppet is a non-profit making organisation owned by IFK Mora and Sälens IF. An engine for public health and organisational activities, in the footsteps our forefathers for the victories of tomorrow!