Gällivare Swedish National opener results

Friday, 22nd November 10/15km F

First-year senior Frida Karlsson stated the National opener weekend in top-shape and won the 10km F +6.8 seconds before Charlotte Kalla and 21 year-old Moa Lundgren who took the 3rd rank.

The women's premier race consisted of 10 kilometers of freestyle with individual starts. The competition was a battle between Charlotte Kalla, Piteå elite, who took the lead at every time. 
"It was a good race that I take very positively with. I tried to open just hard, but got a bit eager for the season premiere and instead had to fight with rather blunt legs towards the end," said Frida Karlsson when analyzing her race.

Charlotte Kalla, who struggled with her form during the preseason, was also pleased with her run.
"I think it was a great workout. That's exactly what I needed to try to fight all the way," Charlotte Kalla told SVT after the race.

While Karlsson and Kalla were a class of their own, Moa Lundgren, Elina Rönnlund, Emma Ribom and Linn Sömskar fought for third place. It was a fight that ended with Lundgren beating Rönnlund with just under three seconds. "I have long felt like going out a little harder than I usually do and I think I did today. I still kept decent, even though I was terribly dumb the last few miles. It was really fun to compete today," said a happy Moa Lundgren after the race.

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After a spring filled with rehabilitation after a back surgery, Jens Burman showed that he is restored and in good shape when he won the national competition premiere in Gällivare over 15 kilometers of freestyle. Two became Johan Häggström and third Dario Cologna.

During the first five kilometers it was Johan Häggström, Piteå elite, who took the lead. Last season he became Swedish five-time champion on the same track.

He opened Häggström hard and had a lead seven seconds ahead of Jens Burman after three turns had been completed. "I opened offensively, but then I had to slow down a bit on the second lap. I got quite a lot of times on how Jens went and heard that he was approaching more and more, so I was just trying to hold on," says Johan Häggström.

During the rest of the race it was Åsarnas Jens Burman who took over the lead and he kept it all the way into the goal. "It was a good race. I ended up a little late in the beginning and maybe got a little stressed, but then I could go big and nice and then it was pretty good, so it was nice," said a satisfied Jens Burman after the race.

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Saturday, 23rd November 10/15km C

Also on Saturday's 10km Frida Karlsson scored in great fashion by winning +40 seconds ahead of Jonna Sundling and Charlotte Kalla. Karlsson from Sollefteå opened rock hard and immediately took a lead of six seconds before the two riders from Piteå Elit SK. Leadership only grew during the course of the race. "My body feels at a fantastic shape", said Karlsson after winning her second top podium spot during the national openers.

The men's top spot of the 15km C was taken by a big name in the international Cross-Country family. Dario Cologna from Switzerland performed a stable and strong shape during the 15km and won 16.7 seconds ahead Friday's 15km F winner Jens Burman. Third on the podium is Daniel Rickardsson, +38.4 seconds behind Cologna.

Sunday, 24th November Sprint C

It was a dramatic ending to the premiere weekend in Gällivare when it ended with a sprint on Sunday. In the finals, all Swedish women fell into a mass crash in the first downhill run and opened up for Swiss victory.

In the downhill run after the first turn, the five Swedish girls, Jonna Sundling, Linn Svahn, Moa Lundgren, Emma Ribom and Elina Rönnlund came in tight group. Moa Lundgren got on the inner curve and teamed up with Linn Svahn, which resulted in a wrap up fall for all Swedish skiers. The only one who stayed on her feet was Swiss Nadine Fähndrich, who was able to pull through until the finish line, ending up on top of the podium.

After the fall, it was a tough battle for the Swedish skiers.  Linn Svahn who showed a strong performance overall managed to reach the 2nd rank before Jonna Sundling who fought for the 3rd rank.

The men's final became somewhat less dramatic but very exciting. Olle Jonsson, who chose to stick through this day, seemed to be releasing after the first down when Teodor Peterson set off, but after an impressive run-out, he was able to advance in the thicket. It was an exciting spurt where Martin Bergström, Piteå Elit tried to get on Jonsson but had to give up the last 100 meters. Bergström finished 2a ahead of club mate Johan Häggström