Thor Hushovd xc ski consultant

[Sylv]

[quote]The brothers Aukland, Anders and J�rgen, have Thor Hushovd as a tactical consultant before Vasaloppet.

The tactical game is in motion before the 84th Vasaloppet on Sunday. At Friday?s press conference in Mora the Norwegian brothers revealed that they have consulted the professional cyclist Thor Hushovd in their preparations for the 90 km classic.

Three outriders and pro help from Thor Hushovd - the Aukland brothers are leaving nothing to chance.

"Vasaloppet is in a class by itself as the season's most important competition. We've laid our preparations in every area we can influence. Thor Hushovd knows how one wins a long spurt ("sprint") after five hours in the saddle, and we've got many good hints from him," says the 2004 Vasaloppet winner Anders Aukland, 35.
Anders leads the FIS Marathon Cup after seven of the ten competitions and is counted among the main favourites on Sunday together with his brother J�rgen.

"We've both had colds, but we're now really bucked up and ready to take on this fantastic challenge," says Anders Aukland.
But the competition is great. Mathias Fredriksson, Axa Sports Club, is putting in a very tough bid.
"If I hadn't thrown myself into the cross country circus after Christmas I'd not have stood a chance on Sunday. I've learnt a great deal in the four cross country races I've been in - it's another type of skiing from traditional competitions. A lot of stick work and tactics".

Rising form

Mathias' form is on the up. In La Transjurassienne he was second and last weekend 13th in Svenska Skidspelen's pursuit, only 11 seconds behind the Czech Lukas Bauer.
"I'm in pretty good shape and hope to be among those fighting for victory on Sunday," says Mathias.
Jerry Ahrlin, V�l�dalens SK and the Swedish Armed Forces national team, has been second in Vasaloppet two years in a row, and he too will not be selling himself cheaply.
"Compared with previous years I'm on the way up just right for Vasaloppet. The skiing feels good and I'm feeling strong. It's going to be a highly interesting Sunday with many possible winners!"

Unsure Sv�rd

His club mate, Oskar Sv�rd, the reigning Vasaloppet king, is uncertain about his own start after getting some pain in his tonsils. He has to wait and see before making a decision whether to start or not.
Daniel Tynell, Grycksbo, Frode Estil and Thomas Alsgaard, Norway, Stanislav Rezac, Czechoslovakia, and Marco Cattaneo, Italy, are another gang of hot tips in Vasaloppet, among the 15,300 registered participants.

Ladies favourites
Among the ladies, it looks beforehand like a duel between IFK Mora SK's Elin Ek and V�l�dalen SK's Jenny Hansson.
"It feels good and I'm ready to set out for a new good Vasaloppet," says Elin Ek, who last year had only 91 men before her on the prize list, and won by two minutes before Jenny Hansson.
"Jenny has really made a lot of progress and will be a very hard nut to crack," says Elin Ek, who looks forward to the start in Berga by, 8 o'clock Sunday morning.

[Andrew G]

Blimey Sylv, 7 hours of cross country skiing! I can't make my mind up whether that's heroic or just plain stupid.

[Sylv]

Nah it's good training for the legs, what is stupid is to have done it with zero specific training this year .. it hurt for almost a week after.

Seems like Thor will be getting himself a nice bonus ...

[quote]Top 10 at Vasaloppet - Men - Mora - 2008
1 04:13:45 Jörgen Aukland Norway
2 04:17:14 Anders Aukland Norway
3 04:18:03 Jerry Ahrlin Vålådalens SK
4 04:20:52 Oskar Svärd Vålådalens SK
5 04:22:14 Thomas Alsgaard Norway
6 04:22:46 Rikard Andreasson IFK Mora SK
7 04:23:18 Mathias Fredriksson AXA Sports Club
8 04:24:34 Anders Myrland Norway
9 04:25:45 Markus Leijon IFK Mora SK
10 04:25:55 Thomas Steurer Austria