After victories in Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet in recent weeks, Stina Nilsson was able to follow up her fine form with a major victory in Marcialonga Bodø.
The field was long gathered, but with over 16 kilometers left, the Swedish star broke away and built up a gap that would be decisive.
I don't think it was a burst, but if I get a gap, they have to agree on who will catch up. Then I felt spry and the gap grew, so I just kept going, she says in SVT.
"Fantastic fun"
With five kilometers left, the lead grew to over a minute to second-placed Emilie Fleten – and in the end, she could easily cross the finish line.
I've really found my flow now, and it's fantastic fun to be a long-distance skier. When you feel like you do today, it's very fun to ski, she says, reasoning about her third straight victory:
I wouldn't have believed it was possible, sure I've had a good summer training, but that it would respond so well, I wouldn't have believed.
Nilsson is now moving up to third place overall, still a good bit from second and first place.
"Super fun"
In the men's class, a photo finish was required to crown the winner. It was between Axel Jutterström and teammate Eirik Sverdrup Augdal from Norway, and in the end, it was the latter who won. Thus, the Swede will have to wait for his first career victory in Ski Classics.
Super fun, we've been working towards this for a long time. But a bit sour that it wasn't me who got the longest straw, says Jutterström in SVT.
The second place was Jutterström's third in his Ski Classics career.
For Swede Max Novak, who has been in the spotlight after last week's disqualification, where he received death threats in the aftermath, it was a sixth place.
The next race in Ski Classics is Reistadløpet on March 29.
