Team BN Bank. From left to right: Simen Østensen, Øystein “Pølsa” Pettersen, Sigurd Granmark (team director), Nils-Ingar Adne and Morten Eide Pedersen.
Det är har nu gått tio år sedan jag bodde i USA och jag har verkligen tappat mycket av flytet när jag skriver på engelska. Och jag får inte fram orden. Jag måste börja läsa mer böcker på engelska. Och för att skriva bättre sport tror jag att jag ska gå in på Pressbyrån och köpa ett par sporttidningar (typ löpning, cykling, triathlon) för att bli mer familjär vid rätt konditionsidrottstermer.
Team BN Bank started off with Blink Classics
Right before the 60 K long roller ski race Blink Classics, Team BN Bank launched their new Visma Ski Classics Pro Team. The squad includes great skiers as well as a famous Norwegian comedian, who has transferred to a professional athlete.
Text: Erik Wickström. Photo: Stig Tore Laugen, BN Bank
For the first time we have a TV broadcasted rollerski tour. It is the first year of World Classic Tour and the events include Blink Classics 60 K, Alliansloppet 48 K and Olaf Skoglunds Minneløp 80 K.
The first race, Blink Classics, was held on July 27th. Britta Johansson Norgen (Lager 157 Ski Team) and Petter Northug (Strindheim IL) were the two winners of the first edition.
Britta Johansson Norgren fick spurtstryk i Nordenskiöldsloppet, men utklassningsvann Blink Classics
The women’s field wasn’t nearly as deep as the men’s field, but it was still very strong skiers on the podium. Johansson showed that she is still in great shape and won by almost four minutes ahead of Astrid Øyre Slind (Team United Bakeries), with the Japanese Masako Ishida in third place.
The weather conditions were tricky with lots of rain, which made the turns in the downhills challenging. The resistance on the rollerskis were “number 2”.
Johansson, winner of the yellow bib in Visma Ski Classics in 2016, also won all the sprints and she now possesses both the yellow and green jersey in World Classic Tour. The results are to be found here.
Northug ahead of Nygaard
As expected, it was difficult to split the men’s field. Several skiers tried, and some had a gap for a while, such as Torgeir Skare Thygesen (Team LeasePlan), Bill Impola (Team Serneke), Øystein Pettersen (Team BN Bank) and Petter Eliassen (Team LeasePlan). But in the end it was a big group with twenty skiers within a minute.
Eliassen, Northug and Team Santander’s Andreas Nygaard (winner of sprint bib in Visma Ski Classics in 2016) managed to stay a few seconds in front of the peleton the last kilometers, as a consequence of an attack initiated by Eliassen. In the finish Northug could easily outsprint Nygaard, who was ahead of Eliassen, winner of the yellow bib in Visma Ski Classics in 2016. The results are to be found here.
The four sprints were won by Vegard Vinje (Lyn Ski) Northug, Thygesen and Thygesen, respectively.
The next race in World Classic Tour is Alliansloppet 48 K on August 27th.
Øystein ”Pølsa” Pettersen, Ida Ingemarsdotter, Erik Wickström och Anna-Karin Strömstedt vid en frågestund på Alewalds i Stockholm för ett par år sedan
Only a few days prior to Blink Classics a new Pro Team was presented. Team BN Bank consists of team captain Øystein ”Pølsa” Pettersen, Simen Østensen, Morten Eide Pedersen and Nils-Ingar ”Nilsi” Aadne, with Sigurd Granmark as team director. All Norwegians.
”Pølsa” has previously skied for Team United Bakeries, but he wanted to build an own team, and put together Team BN Bank. After struggling with sickness last season, he is back in good shape and finished 7th in Blink Classics.
Østensen has switched between Visma Ski Classics Pro Teams and the Norwegian National Team the last decade. He also had to fight with an unhealthy body last season, but he is back in training. However, he did not race this week.
Pedersen was a member of Team Exspirit/Team Coop from 2012 until 2016. He often has the role as a breakaway skier and he is one of the few athletes that still sometimes do long distance races with kickwax. Pedersen was 26th in Blink Classics.
“Nilsi” will from now until April live as a professional skier. He is a famous comedian in Norway and he will probably not be in the peleton in Visma Ski Classics. He was 60th in Blink Classics, more than 33 minutes behind the winner. But he will most likely get closer with a few months more with professional training.
Simen Østensen är kungen av löpning, cykel och rullskidor bland skidåkarna. Men jag tror ännu inte han har tagit sina största segrar med skidor under fötterna. Den här bilden tog jag i Tønsberg 2013. Han är en trevlig kille med bra humor. Vi hörs sporadiskt på mejl ibland.
Øystein ”Pølsa” Pettersen
Born in 1983, lives at Lillehammer, Norway.
Results: Olympic gold medal in 2010 in team sprint together with Petter Northug. Several podium results in the world cup in sprint. Victory in La Diagonela in 2015.
Simen Østensen
Born in 1984, lives at Hosle, Bærum, Norway.
Results: 3rd in Tour de Ski in 2007. World cup victory in team sprint in 2008. Two gold medals at the national championships, at 50 K in 2010 and at 15 K in 2014. Victory in Marcialonga in 2014.
Morten Eide Pedersen
Born in 1987, lives at Lillehammer, Norway.
Results: Won the pink bib in Ski Classics in 2012. Victory in Jizerska in 2015. 6th place in the total in Visma Ski Classics in 2016.
Nils-Ingar ”Nilsi” Aadne
Born in 1982, lives in Oslo, Norway.
Results: Several awards as a comedian. Two-time finisher of Birkebeinerrennet.
Sources: The broadcasting of NRK, http://www.blinkfestivalen.no and http://www.teambnbank.com
Alliansloppet är den 27 aug, så du inte åker upp en vecka för tidigt.
Då hade jag ju kunnat vinna! Tack, nu ändrat.
Sant. Du får ta hem det den 27:e istället.
Jag ska göra mitt bästa. Steven Bradbury har ju också vunnit.