The third stage of this year's China Tour de Ski in Inner Mongolia's Xiwuqi Ski Arena went surprisingly to Lukas Johansson, the younger brother of two-time champion Adam Johansson. Lukas managed to stay just ahead of Anders Hoegberg in the 5km medium distance race, while the latter grabs the lead in the overall classification. Astrid Bruland on the other hand grabbed her second stage win and is firmly in charge of the women's competition.
Sweden's Anders Hoegberg has claimed the second stage of the 2014 China Tour de Ski and his fourth Vasaloppet China title in Changchun's Jingyuetan today. The 38-year-old veteran was clearly fastest during the 45km long classic style race and arrived at the finish solo. The women's race was again won by a domestic skier: Ma Qinghua outpaced yesterday's winner Astrid Bruland.
The first stage of the 2014 China Tour de Ski, a brand new sprint stage in Changchun's Jingyuetan Park, confirmed the rise of Victor Gustafsson as a protagonist for this year's tournament. Both Adam Johansson and Anders Hoegberg still seemed a bit rusty and 'only' achieved 7th and 12th place respectively. In the women's Norway's Astrid Bruland is taking the fight to Lisa Svensson with a strong win.
With only a few days to go until the start of the 2014 China Tour de Ski, preparations are on track and we all look forward to great competitions. In accordance with last year the tour will cover a very large part of northern China and in addition to the international travel, the international and domestic athletes will travel more than 9000km domestically just between the event venues.
Both Adam Johansson and Lisa Svensson have confirmed their participation in the upcoming 2014 China Tour de Ski and will defend their overall titles secured in great style last season. The Swedish ski stars will face stern opposition, though, and Johansson will be up against the "Ski King of China" Anders Hoegberg.
After the great success of last year, the 2014 China Tour de Ski has set the bar at the same height with six stages in three different areas of China. The Tour will commence in the North East and continue via Inner Mongolia to the far west of Xinjiang. It all starts on New Year's Day!
Although he focusses on marathon skiing now, Sweden's Anders Hoegberg once again topped the result sheet in China as he beat Henri Jelonen in today's Summer Ski sprint in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia. Norway's Astrid Bruland was the fastest woman, beating China's Man Dandan into second place.
For the second year in succession elite skiers from Europe will face a national China selection at the Yakeshi Summer Ski Sprint in Inner Mongolia. The list of European athletes coming to race on the 19th of June has been released and it features some hot names.
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The 2013 Summer Ski competition in Inner Mongolia's Yakeshi wil greet a number of top stars from the wintertime China Tour de Ski circuit. Sweden's Anders Hoegberg, triple Vasaloppet China winner, and Lisa Svensson, last winter's female champion have both confirmed their participation on 19 June.
The Summer Ski Sprint is back with a competition in Yakeshi in Inner Mongolia on June 19th. In total there will be 20 foreigners and 20 Chinese skiers fighting for the fame and glory. The concept and scale will be almost identical to the event in Yakeshi last year with the change that after the skiing on June 19th the international skiers will continue to Changchun in Jilin Province and participate in the Vasa Cross Country Running Festival (www.vasarun.com). After the skiing and running events the international skiers will go to Beijing for a few days before going back home.
More details coming soon.
Adam Johansson only had to qualify for the quarterfinals to wrap up the overall classification in the men's, but he pushed it to the limit one more time and claimed his fourth stage victory in the Nalati Ski Sprint. Matthias Jonasson was closely behind in second, while Kusti Kittilae secured his runner-up spot in the overall with a place in the semis. It is Johansson's second China Tour de Ski title after 2010.
After her majestic triumph in yesterday's distance race, Lisa Svensson did not lose control in the Nalati ski sprint today and crowned herself as the 2013 China Tour de Ski champion. Julia Jansson courageously took the fight to Svensson until the closing metres of the sprint final, but had to settle for second. Long-time Tour leader Frida Hallqvist was already eliminated in the quarterfinal.