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Krista Pärmäkoski and Matti Heikkinen won Aateli Race in Vuokatti
The Aateli Race (Nobility Race) traditionally held at the Vuokatti Sports Institute in Sotkamo, Finland has become one of the summer highlights for elite cross-country skiers. This year the three-part race was combined with a coaching and training seminar with top-level experts presenting. More than 120 athletes started in the open category in addition to the junior race.
In the men’s race, Matti Heikkinen already took the lead in the prologue, the 1.6km roller skiing uphill atop the Vuokattivaara. He then finished 2nd in the second part, a 4 km running race, only 3 seconds behind the fastest runner Victor Lövdahl. Heikkinen started first in the concluding 15km roller skiing portion which was held as a pursuit start (Gundersen) race. In the end, Heikkinen won ahead of Ristomatti Hakola who finished 2nd before Joni Mäki in 3rd place. The chasing group initially caught up with Heikkinen who then was able to kick in another gear in the final climb onto the finish line.
“It was difficult to ski up front for a small guy like me when the chasing group with stronger and bigger skiers were able to ski together. But my technique held up well and I was able to gain a gap of almost 100m from the middle of the climb,” said Heikkinen who saw the race as a good fitness test in the middle of summer. He’s had some knee trouble, which has meant little running training so far this summer.
Ristomatti Hakola was happy to finish as the runner-up.
“The roller skiing part was tough. Matias Strandvall and Martti Jylhä are very strong roller skiers and especially good in undulating terrain. I was waiting for the uphill and knew Matti would attack there. Unfortunately I could not respond. This is a crazy race with crazy guys at the start!” he joked.
In the ladies race, Krista Pärmäkoski also claimed the lead in the prologue where she narrowly beat. Anne Kyllönen. She was second in the 3km running race behind Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and started into the final roller skiing portion with a margin of 6 seconds. Pärmäkoski kept her position and in the end won in dominating fashion by over a minute (1,05.6) ahead of Kyllönen, who beat Saarinen for the 2nd spot. Kerttu Niskanen opted not to participate due to an elbow injury.
”I felt like smiling in the final climb. It was tough but I knew when I got to the final flats that I had it in the bag,” said Pärmäkoski happy. “This is a good race. It is nice to see where you stand in comparison to others in the national team. As a team, these races are good work-outs. When you have a bib on, you turn on another gear over and beyond any regular high intensity training session,” she added.
Many of the Finnish national team athletes will also participate in a 10k trail running race in Vuokatti on Saturday.
Source: fis-ski.com
In the men’s race, Matti Heikkinen already took the lead in the prologue, the 1.6km roller skiing uphill atop the Vuokattivaara. He then finished 2nd in the second part, a 4 km running race, only 3 seconds behind the fastest runner Victor Lövdahl. Heikkinen started first in the concluding 15km roller skiing portion which was held as a pursuit start (Gundersen) race. In the end, Heikkinen won ahead of Ristomatti Hakola who finished 2nd before Joni Mäki in 3rd place. The chasing group initially caught up with Heikkinen who then was able to kick in another gear in the final climb onto the finish line.
“It was difficult to ski up front for a small guy like me when the chasing group with stronger and bigger skiers were able to ski together. But my technique held up well and I was able to gain a gap of almost 100m from the middle of the climb,” said Heikkinen who saw the race as a good fitness test in the middle of summer. He’s had some knee trouble, which has meant little running training so far this summer.
Ristomatti Hakola was happy to finish as the runner-up.
“The roller skiing part was tough. Matias Strandvall and Martti Jylhä are very strong roller skiers and especially good in undulating terrain. I was waiting for the uphill and knew Matti would attack there. Unfortunately I could not respond. This is a crazy race with crazy guys at the start!” he joked.
In the ladies race, Krista Pärmäkoski also claimed the lead in the prologue where she narrowly beat. Anne Kyllönen. She was second in the 3km running race behind Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and started into the final roller skiing portion with a margin of 6 seconds. Pärmäkoski kept her position and in the end won in dominating fashion by over a minute (1,05.6) ahead of Kyllönen, who beat Saarinen for the 2nd spot. Kerttu Niskanen opted not to participate due to an elbow injury.
”I felt like smiling in the final climb. It was tough but I knew when I got to the final flats that I had it in the bag,” said Pärmäkoski happy. “This is a good race. It is nice to see where you stand in comparison to others in the national team. As a team, these races are good work-outs. When you have a bib on, you turn on another gear over and beyond any regular high intensity training session,” she added.
Many of the Finnish national team athletes will also participate in a 10k trail running race in Vuokatti on Saturday.
Source: fis-ski.com
