Gräfnings & Tarantola are FIS Worldloppet Cup Champions 2019

Apr 08, 2019·Cross-Country

After one year break, the Ugra Ski Marathon in the Russian Khanty-Mansiysk returend into the FIS Worldloppet Cup as final stage today. The 50 km skating race brought the decision in the FIS worldcup of long-distance skiing: Maria Gräfnings from Sweden & Damien Tarantola (FRA) are the Champions 2019.

6th place good enough for Tarantola to defend his lead

The Russian skiers have been able today, to defend their home turf. Evgeniy Dementyev Raul Shakirzyanov and Alexander Legkov sprinted to place one, two and three. But they had to fight very hard on the final stretch against the leaders of the FIS Worldloppet Cup from France. Damien Tarantola went into the final stage with a lead of 37 points before Gerard Agnellet and 46 points before Loic Guigonnet (all three, e-liberty ski team). So in the end, the 6th place was enough for Tarantola to defend his overall lead and celebrate his first FIS Worldloppet Cup Champion title.

Agnellet finished 4th today and with that secured his second place in the overeall ranking, while Loic Guigonnet claims the 3rd position in the FIS Worldloppet Cup overall with becoming 7th today.

Click here for the Overall ranking of the men's FIS Worldloppet Cup 2019.

"This is the biggest success in my carreer. It was fun to fight against my team mates throughout the season and today. Of course I started to win today, but I am satisfied with the 6th place and of course with becoming FIS Worldloppet Cup Champion for the first time."– Damien Tarantola, 6th in the Ugra Ski Marathon & FIS Worldloppet Cup Champion.

Maria Gräfnings also wins the Ugra Ski Marathon

Also in the final stage the Swedish long-distance pro-skier, Maria Gräfnings, is unbeatable. Eventhough Gräfnings could have been enjoying chill skiing in the Ugra Ski Marathon - she already had enough points for the overall victory before the race - she again went all in and could celebrate her 5th victory in her 6th Worldloppet Cup race of the season. These 5 victories (China, Austria, Estonia, Finland & Russia) and her second place in Germany have made here the ultimative number one in 2019. So after two seasons of becoming second overall, she finally can call herself FIS Worldloppet Cup Champion 2019.

Click here for the Overall ranking of the ladies FIS Worldloppet Cup 2019.

"Amazing! Finally I am FIS Worldloppet Cup Champion. It is feeling great. Eventhough it was a tough race, a hard fight out there because of the wind and also it was not easy for me to find a good position among the men's I skied with. So I am very glad to not only win the FIS Worldloppet Cup, but also this final stage!"– Maria Gräfnings, FIS Worldloppet Cup Champion 2019

This was the FIS Worldloppet Cup 2019

Now, after 7 stages, in 7 countries and 380 race kilometres the FIS Worldloppet Cup season 2019 is finally over. It was a very successful year, since all 7 stages could have been held as planned, no cancellations or changes in the program. The Worldloppet Ski Federation is already planning on the season 2020.