Susanne Nyström came back and won Vasaloppet

What a Vasaloppet Week for IFK Mora’s Susanne Nyström!
Last Saturday she won TjejVasan for the fourth time.
On Sunday, just a week later, she could take home victory in Vasaloppet’s Ladies Class: 
“This is the greatest thing that’s happened to me as a skier. I’m both moved and happy at the same time,” says Susanne after the race, which was a real drama. 

Directly after the start, the three favourites, Jenny Hansson, Sandra Hansson and Susanne Nyström, were together, an unusual situation for victory aspirants in Vasaloppet’s Ladies Class. But then Sandra Hansson broke away to get a clear lead ahead of Susanne Nyström. Jenny let go and was thus out of the victory stakes.

Never gave up
The distance between Sandra Hansson and Susanne Nyström grew and was, just before Oxberg, at most two minutes.  
“The gap was big, sure, but I never felt that it was impossible to catch up with her, as the time between us kept going back and forth,” says Susanne. 
After Hökberg Sandra went into the wall and Susanne steadily took in metre for metre. And just before Eldris, about ten kilometres from the finish, Susanne could see Sandra.
“Then I felt that maybe this is going to work. I began to wonder whether I should try to get away directly or wait to put on the pressure,” says Susanne.
The result was that they were together until just before Hemus, about four kilometres from the finish, and there Susanne increased the tempo.
“The problem was that I immediately got some cramp sensations in my legs, but at the same time Sandra had to let me go. And then it was just to fight on,” says Susanne, who could then ski alone into the finishing straight to receive cheers from the jubilant public.  
“It was a very powerful experience, to be a solitary winner in the finishing straight, since one is completely drained, exhausted but incredibly happy. And I’m not really used to this situation, as I’ve won my four TjejVasans in sprint duels!”     
 
A tired second
Sandra Hansson finished as runner-up. After finishing, she was utterly exhausted and had to be helped to recover somewhat. In her case, there was certainly no lack of the will to win. Third was Sofia Bleckur, IFK Mora.
As for Susanne Nyström, we see the beginning of an interesting continued involvement with long distance races. Susanne has earlier said that she has seen the seasons’ starts in long distance races as a time to watch and learn. Winning Vasaloppet gives her a perfect answer. The question is what will happen next winter, when she is seriously into long distance competitions. That will be exciting to see!

The ten first ladies to the finish in 2010:
1 Susanne Nyström, IFK Mora SK, 4:33:07 
2 Sandra Hansson, Norway, 4:33:39
3 Sofia Bleckur, IFK Mora SK, 4:35:59
4 Jenny Hansson, Vålådalens SK, 4:44:21
5 Nina Lintzén, Årsunda IF, 4:46:31
6 Kristina Strandberg, IFK Hedemora SK, 4:50:40
7 Manuela Henkel, Germany, 4:53:45
8 Solveig Steinsland, Norway, 4:55:16
9 Ellen Sandbakken, Norway, 5:00:57
10 Karin Nilsson, IFK Umeå, 5:09:39

Footnote:Ladies were officially allowed to take part in Vasaloppet first in 1981, after an amendment to FIS competition rules. Vasaloppet has had an official Ladies Class since 1997. Susanne Nyström has now become the very first lady to win an official “double” - both TjejVasan and Vasaloppet in the same year.

Photo above: Susanne Nyström from IFK Mora SK won the Vasaloppet Ladies Class and has here received the victory wreath from this year’s  kransmas Johan Öhagen.