50. Tartu Maraton was won by Henri Roos with the new course record
In today’s 50. Tartu Maraton, Estonian Henri Roos took the victory in a close competition at the finish line, setting also a new course record with a time of 2:27:41.7. He was followed by Marko Kilp (EST), who finished less than a second later (+0:00:00.8), and third place went to Finnish skier Lauri Lepistö (+0:00:01.1).
“It was exceptional to break away with the two others already at the third kilometer. I believe Marko, Lauri, and I were the three strongest men today, and the final places were decided by the speed. The three of us worked together until 400 meters before the end. Marko tried to pull ahead but couldn’t. Two hundred meters before the finish, I realized it was my chance,” said Roos, who won the race for the second time. “The track and conditions were perfect in many places. Usually, marathons are not skied at speeds exceeding 25 km/h,” he added.
Marko Kilp, who secured the second position, valued the tradition of the Tartu Maraton: “Both my grandfather and father have participated in the race many times, and this event is very significant for my family as well as for cross-country skiing in general.”
Estonian podium in the women’s race
The women’s winner was also determined in an extremely tight final sprint, won by Teesi Tuul (EST) with a time of 2:53:04.3. Merilin Jürisaar (EST) came in second (2:53:04,6). Tatjana Mannima (EST) took the third place (2:53:23,5). Justyna Kowalczyk-Tekieli from Poland had to settle for fourth place.
“I came to the start with victory in my mind, and I dare say that I had the best skis today,” commented Tuul, the only one among the leading women who used grip wax. “Winning the jubilee marathon is a very powerful feeling,” added the Estonian skier, who will be next starting in the Lahti World Cup stage.
5200 skiers from 26 different countries participated in the main distances of the 50. Tartu Maraton and as every year, we had he honor to award new Worldloppet Masters at the traditional Master’s Gathering.
On the same day, but in another time zone the Canadian Worldloppet race is taking place: The skiers of Gatineau Loppet are out there under snowfall and – 15 degrees. The next Worldloppet stages are the American Birkebeiner and the Finlandia Hiihto coming weekend and the 100th edition of Vasaloppet on the first March weekend.
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