Only one point separates the fight for the Green Sprint bib. Now, Gabriel Strid and Vebjørn Moen are preparing for an intense battle over the final two race weekends.

Gabriel Strid and Vebjørn Moen are locked in a tight contest for the Green Sprint bib at the Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII. After the 50km ITT in Orsa Grönklitt, Strid took the lead for the first time this season.

Now, just one point separates the two.

“Vebjørn is very strong. It’s his home turf, so I’ll need to push very hard this weekend as well,” says Gabriel Strid.

“After analyzing the race in Orsa, it looked like I used 98%. So, this time I need to use 100% to beat him again.”

Also Read: All you need to know ahead of Marcialonga Bodø Season XVII

Plans changed

For Vebjørn Moen, targeting the Green Sprint bib was not the plan before the season. But after an illness, his plans changed.

“Before the season started, I didn’t think much about the Green bib. I got sick before the races in January, and instead of just doing poorly in races, I tried to get something out of them. That’s why I went for the sprints,” says Moen.

Full focus on the Green bib

After January, Moen was in the lead.

“Since I was leading the Green sprint bib after January, I felt it would be a mistake not to put some effort into the sprints for the rest of the season.”

Is the focus on the Sprint bib for the final two weekends?

“Yes, 100%. Now there are three races left. Having put myself in this position, I feel I have to go all the way.”

Gabriel Strid leads by one point ahead of Vebjørn Moen heading into the remaining races. In total, three sprint checkpoints remain, including one premium sprint offering more points.

The standings can be found HERE

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)

Season XVII of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 13 events across 9 event weekends in 6 countries. 

• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 47km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Moena-Cavalese, Italy, 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 53km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Sulitjelma, Norway, 46km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com