The Pro Team athlete impressed during this summer’s long-distance roller ski race and won Alliansloppet. Now Frenchman Thomas Joly, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, is ready to start the winter with higher goals.

Thomas Joly has gradually approached the top in Ski Classics. Last winter, he achieved his best result so far when he finished fourth at the Grönklitt Criterium. 

During the past summer, he has taken further career steps. He finished second in the long-distance race at the Blink Festival and Toppidrettsveka. At the end of August, he won Alliansloppet after a powerful finish:

“It has been a crazy summer. I have done several good races and also met my new teammates in Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso. The preparations have been good, but now it’s a new season with new goals,” says Joly, who for this season has switched from French Team Nordic Expérience to Norwegian Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso.

Read More: Thomas Joly winner of Challengers Alliansloppet 2023

What is your goal for this weekend’s races?

“I hope to keep up with the first group all the way in, and if I have the opportunity, I will aim for the podium,” says Joly, who decided early on to focus on long-distance races:

“It was a pretty early and easy choice. Even when I was younger and competing in traditional cross-country skiing, I almost always double-poled. I’ve always preferred double poling to skating and classic skiing,” says Thomas Joly to Langd.se.

What is the most important race of the season for you?

“Of course, the ‘big’ races like Marcialonga and Vasaloppet have extra prestige, but I would say that all races are important.”

Finally, how is your form?

“The preparations have been good, and I don’t have pain anywhere, so it feels okay,” says Thomas Joly with a smile.

Also Read – French talent Thomas Joly: The next big star at Ski Classics?

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries, starting in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 9, 2023, and ending in Norway with the 100km Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet on April 13, 2024.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 35km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 56km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com