2008-12-29
Anders Högberg, from IFK Umeå won the first stage of the ski tour which started off with a sprint competition in Inner Mongolia. There was no one who could threaten Högbergs victory in yesterday’s race.
– “I am of course very satisfied. This is a series of competitions that I really want to win, because it’s so special to compete in China”,
says Anders Högberg.
Tour de Ski China consists of a sprint and a distance race in Inner Mongolia,a sprint in Changchun where also the Chinese Vasaloppet
takes place on Jan 2. The final stage goes in Shangri-la, bordering to Tibet. During Monday, Tour de Ski China continues with a 5 km
race at the same venue as the first race.
Taking the lead right away
Defying snow and wind and a temperature of minus 10 degrees centigrade, most of the people in Inner Mongolias Xiwuqi town had gone out to see the competition. They saw a superior Anders Högberg both in the quarter final, semi finals and the final itself, where only number two – Johan
Edin- had the power to go after Högberg.
– “I am also really pleased with today’s competition. This is the first time I am competing in China, what an experience!”, Johan said after the
race.
Now Anders has the possibility of making quite a big amount of money in China. Yesterday, the price money for the stage victory was 10.000 Chinese Yuan. There still remains 4 stages to see who becomes the total winner in the men’s and women’s competitions. The prize check for a total victory is set to 50.000 Yuan.
Results
Cross Country Skiing
Xiwuqi, Tour de Ski China, Stage 1, Sprint:
Men:1) Anders Högberg, Sweden, 2) Johan Edin,Sweden 3) Asgeir Årdal Mandelid, Norway 4) Sun Qinghai, China
Women: 1) Man Dandan, China 2) Sandra Gredig, Switzerland, 3) Lotta Puttonen, Finland, 4) Song Bo, China
Xiwuqi, Tour de Ski China, Stage 2, Long Distance:
Men: 1) Anders Högberg, Sweden 2) Fredrik Persson, Sweden, 3) Remi Damevin, France 4) Asgeir Årdal Mandelid, Norway
Women: 1) Li Hongxue, China 2) Li Xin, China 3) Song Bo, China 4) Sandra Gredig, Switzerland
Click here for the full result lists of stage 1 and 2 of Tour de Ski China
