DABUDYK & BERDAL WIN THE KÖNIG LUDWIG LAUF

Thousands of marathon skiing enthusiasts travelled to Oberammergau in the German Bavaria to be part of the 45th edition of the traditional König Ludwig Lauf, the second stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup. Among them elite skiers from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Norway, Sweden and others. Under perfect weather conditions (small snowfalls during the night) and on a perfectly groomed course we saw a tight fight between Maria Gäfnings from Sweden & Aurelie Dabudyk & a sprint final with around 12 skiers in the men's competition.

MEN - Recap

It was a slow race today. Since it was snowing slightly in the early morning hours the track was slow & also the athletes didn't rush during the first 20 km. So it came, that around 20 skiers formed the leading pack, including the first women. Much work was done by Petter Soleg Skinstad from Norway & also from others. The local skier & last year's winner, Max Olex, obviously havn't have a good day, he had to leave the leading group quite early in the race. After shrinking down to around 12 men, the leader's group startet an exciting final sprint, with the Norwegian Tore Bjoerseth Berdal winning just a few centimeters before the French Ivan Perrillat-Boiteux (Team Haute Savoie Nordic). The 3rd place goes to Italy, to Riccardo Mich.

"Yesterday I skied the marathon in Cortina & I was not satisfied with the race, so I decided to come here. We arrived tonight at 01:00. And I definitely don't regret the decision. But now I am really tired," smiles the Norwegian winner.

Results of the König Ludwig Lauf 2018 - men (click for full results)

1st - Tore Bjoenseth Berdal (NOR) Team Koteneg
2nd - Ivan Perrillat-Boiteux (FRA) - Haute Savoie Nordic
3rd - Riccardo Mich (ITA) - Team Futura
4th - Loic Guigonnet (FRA) - Haute Savoie Nordic
5th - Gerard Agnellet (FRA) - Hauate Savoie Nordic
6th - Antoine Auger (FRA) - Haute Savoie Nordic

FIS Worldloppet Cup overall ranking men after 2 of 7 stages (click for full standings)

1st - Gerard Agnellet (FRA, Nordic Team Haute-Savoie) - 125 points
2nd - Tore Bjoenseth Berdal (NOR, Team Koteneg) - 100 points
3rd - Adrien Mougel (FRA, Jobstation Rossignol Team) - 100 points

WOMEN - Recap

And once again she did it! The winning lady of the König Ludwig Lauf 2018, is the same like last year, the same like in the first stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup 2018, the same like the overall winner in 2017: It is Aurelie Dabudyk form France. The member ob the Nordic Team Haute Savoie is continuing dominating the FIS WLC. But today it was not that clear like the last times. Her Swedish concurrence Maria Gräfnings, SAS pro team, arrived the finish in Oberammergau only 15 seconds behind Dabudyk. The 3rd place goes to the Swiss athlete, Seraina Boner, who already won the König Ludwig Lauf in 2013 & 2014.

"It was much harder today. Maria and me we worked together for almost the whole race only on the last kilometer I was able to escape. Now I feel excited for skiing my home race, La Transjurasienne, in the red bib", says Dabudyk.

Actually both red bibs will ski in France, at the 3rd FIS Worldloppet Cup stage, the La Transjurasienne, in the Team Haute Savoie Nordic!

Results of the König Ludwig Lauf 2018 - women (click for full results)

1st - Aurelie Dabudyk (FRA) - Haute Savoie Nordic Team
2nd - Maria Graefnings (SWE) - SAS pro Team
3rd - Seraina Boner (SUI)
4th - Klara Moravcova (CZE) - Ski klub Jablonec nad Nisou
5th - Nicole Donzallaz (SUI) - Team Rossignol Suisse
6th - Celine Chopard Lallier (FRA) - Team nordique credit agricole Franche Comte

FIS Worldloppet Cup overall ranking women after 2 of 7 stages (click for full standings)

1st - Aurelie Dabudyk (FRA, Nordic Team Haute-Savoie) - 200 points
2nd - Maria Gräfnings (SWE, SAS Pro Team) - 140 points
3rd - Klara Moravcova (CZE) - 95 points

Coming FIS Worldloppet Cup stages:

La Transjurasienne - Frankreich, 11.2.2018

Tartu Maraton - Estonia, 18.2.2018

American Birkebeiner - USA, 24.2.2018

Demino Skimarathon - Russia, 3.3.2018

Engadin Skimarathon - Switzerland, 11.3.2018

More information: www.worldloppet.com