Over one thousand competitors started the Chinese Vasaloppet with a distance of 50 km. The weather was cold and the course tough but the two skiers from Assarna, Sweden took the command right away.
– We told each other to go hard in the beginning and try to split the field, says Fredrik Persson who already was in the lead after the first lap at 16.5 km.

The leading group with 30 skiers raced together to the end of the second lap when Gustaf Berglund and Fredrik Persson did a break out.
– We decided to help each other out and try to keep the lead, says Fredrik Persson who felt strong during the last lap.

– I managed to win with good sprint in the end. This is one of my best moments as a skier, continues Fredrik Persson.

Fredrik crossed the finish line with the time of 2:26:00. Gustav Berglund was also happy, even if he was only 0.8 second behind.
– It was a good race and I gave everything I had in the sprint but Fredrik was faster today. But it is great to place second as well.

Jinle Tang, China placed third after a fast end of the race. Only 16 seconds behind the top. Fredrik Bystroem, Sollefteaa Ski Club ended up at fourth place ahead of Bjoern Lind, Hudiksvalls IF, almost two minutes behind Fredrik Persson.

– For me it was a great adventure to race the 50 km. Good training and a great experience, says Bjoern Lind who will stay on a training camp in Italy the coming two weeks.

Yonghong Peng, China won the women’s race, almost three minutes ahead of Solfrid Braathen and five minutes ahead of Elin Ek, Sweden who was in the lead during the first half of the race.

– I have been really sick during the last days. My body felt well for a while today but then I totally lost the energy, says Elin Ek after the finish.

Second best from Sweden was Ida Olsson, Aasarna IK who ended up at 5th place.

Results the Chinese Vasaloppet

Men 50 km: 1) Fredrik Persson, Sweden, 2,26,00 tim, 2) Gustaf Berglund, Sweden, 2,26,01,2, 3) Jinle Tang, China, 2,26,19, 4) Fredrik Byström, Sweden, 2,27,57,1, 5) Björn Lind, Sweden, 2,27,57,7, 6) Han Dawei, China, 2,29,03, 7) Shuhang Liu, China, 2,29,05,5, 8) Yuanjiang Liu, China, 2,30,53, 9) Lin Lu, 2,31,36, 10) Fabio Pasini, Italy, 2,32,03.

Women 50 km: 1) Yonghong Peng, China, 2,47,47, 2) Solfrid Braathen, Norway, 2,50,52, 3) Elin Ek, Sweden, 2,53,06, 4) Elise Tyldum, Norway, 2,55,49, 5) Ida Olsson, Sweden, 2,56,11, 6) Libo Wang, China, 2,58,12, 7) Xinxue Song, China, 3,00,08, 8) Barbara Moriggel, Italy, 3,00,35, 9) Xiaotingg Liu, China, 3,01,09, 10) Léna Pichard, Switzerland, 3.01,56.