Ski de fond à Lausanne

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Superb Swiss Championship at Col des Mosses

The weekend of 5/6 February we went to Col des Mosses for Swiss Championship in cross country skiing.

First of all, all swiss national team (four guys that won World Cup relay in La Clusaz this year: Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Remo Fischer and Toni Livers ) was present on Saturday, that was extremely cool, since we had a possibility to check our forces against them. Moreover, Dario Cologna is the olympic champion of last year and the best cross country skier in the world at the moment, so it was even cooler :)

And it was cool!

Saturday, 5 February, 15 km, time-trial
The hard 2x7.5km. As expected, Dario won the race with big advantage (almost 1 minute faster than second). I lost around 4.5 minutes to Dario. It is still 4.5 minutes, but I am quite satisfied. It's probably my best result at 15km on FIS track. "FIS track" means that there are heavy uphills and it is not at all flat :)

Winner Dario Cologna

In addition, I should say few words about competition itself. First, it was greatly organized. There is no snow anywhere, but at Les Mosses they managed to provide a super good track! I am amazed by their job. Secondly, the weather was superb, cold in the morning but later during the race a lot of sun. That was successfully repeated on Sunday! And last but not the least, I've never been supported by such a big amount of people during the race. It was indeed like a worldcup! It was almost like in La Clusaz World Cup, where we went as spectators and supporters: all the longest uphill had a live shouting fence from people. I heard my name several times on each lap. That was indeed amazing and helpful!

A big big thanks to all organizers and to all people that came to support us!

Saturday's results
My heart rate and elevation during this race

Sunday, 6 February, 10km (classic) + 10km (skating)

Classic part went quite good. I had good kick and my skis were very fast: I often had to pass guys on downhill. Skating skis were not that fast, but it was ok. I even managed to pass one person on skating part. Strangely ... uphill, I am normally not that good on uphill (quite heavy for it :))

Of course, Dario won again (who else?)! I lost 5 minutes to him. Actually, I am very satisfied. Because, first, it was a hard track (not a marathon's one) and second, he is the best skier :))

Winners of Sunday's race

I should say that both days I felt very good. On the uphills I went to fifth zone up to 185.
I was managed to recover properly on downhills, and I did not hit the wall.

Sunday's results
My heart rate and elevation for duathlon

It was a great race, great place and great weekend. I am looking forward to second part of Swiss Championship at Les Mosses (25-27 March).

Vive le ski de fond!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

SAS double at La Classic, 30km

30km, La Classic, time-trial, Les Mosses

I (Evgeny Bogdanov) won the race as last year. Though this year there were more strong guys and the track was not at all flat as last year. Thus, the more valuable the victory is!

Antti Peltonen (from SAS Bern) is second. Fabian Birbaum (from SAS Zürich) is 6th.
Lada Sychova (from SAS Lausanne) is 13th at women's 15km.

Results are here

Some photoes are below

Happy winner

Riding Fabian!

Lada and Fabian


Evgeny, Fabian Antti

My heart rate and race profile
3x10km

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Campra Swiss Loppet 21km

Went to do Swiss Loppet in Campra.
Campra is a nice cross country ski area in Italien part of Switzerland.

My friend from SAS Zurich Reto shared an appartement with me before the race and gave me a ride to Campra and back to the train station. Thanks a lot, Reto!!! Without you I'd hardly make it to do this race, it is indeed difficult to get there without car.

The snow melted almost everywhere in Switzerland. Some people say it is not because of Global warming, it is natural. Whatever... In any case it is sad when in January you can ski only above 1500 meters.

Campra is about that height.
There was snow of course, but it was quite wet. Rain (and later rain/snow) was falling down.
I tried both my new atomic skis on the track, did not really feel the difference. Tried Reto's fischer.
Seemed as his skis were slightly better. Then Reto offered to put liquid wax on my skis. I agreed,
since was not very happy with the glide.

Race was 21km, 3 laps of 7km. The beginning of race is quite hilly for a Swiss Loppet, and the next 4 km are quite flat. First lap went quite well, my Atomic skis were (!) best on downhill among first 6-7 people. I was much better than guys on Fischer/Rossi/Madshus. I can't say if it was liquid wax that Reto gave me. The conditions were very wet and track was very soft, poles were sinking into snow from time to time. I had toko LF (-4 0) on my skis with no specific structure. In any case I was very satisfied with my skis.

Second lap we started four of us and two-three more guys reached us on the first uphill. On the second and longest uphill Simone Paredi (italien rollerskier) started to accelerate and created a gap. We tried to catch him and I went to red heart rate zone. I should've let them go, but I did not. I was a big mistake. My heart rate went on to 186 (while my anaerobic threshold is 177).

Afterwards there was a small downhill, a bit of flat course and long not steep but still uphill. There it was hard, I hit the wall. It became better on the flat area and by the end of the second lap I was passed by another skier. The third lap went kind of ok. But by the end of this lap two more guys almost caught me. I hardly noticed them, I thought these two guys were fighting with each other. Well it turned out, they were catching me!!! I had to work hard not to allow them to get my 6th place. My leg still was first, but they almost made it.

First mass-start in the season. I definitely overestimated my strengths. Next race will be more carefull :)
6th, 2min31 to the first (Andrea Florinett from SAS Zurich, he is strong!!)
1 Florinett Andrea 1979       53:06.22
2 Paredi Simone 1982          53:07.35 1.13
3 Joller Bruno 1980              53:24.38 18.16
4 Dieter Felix 1972              53:40.95 34.73
5 Grab Pascal 1984               54:40.26 1:34.04
6 Bogdanov Evgeny 1983    55:38.14 2:31.92
7 Bianchi Eugenio 1985       55:38.16 2:31.94
8 Graf Urs 1975                    55:38.91 2:32.69
9 Suter Thomas 1982           57:14.71 4:08.49
...

Results are here.