Entered the season with sky-high ambitions. Now she’s calling it a day – right at the finish line.

Stina Nilsson’s debut season as a long-distance skier was a continuous success. However, her follow-up season has turned into a nightmare. Now, the ski star has had enough. 

“I went into this season with big dreams and expectations. Unfortunately, it has been far from what I had hoped for,” the Swedish ski star stated on social media on Sunday morning. 

Nilsson is now withdrawing from the remainder of the season. 

“There have been some bright moments, of course, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the best thing right now is to end the season and let both body and mind recover,” said the 32-year-old. 

This decision means Nilsson will miss the last two races in the Ski Classics Pro Tour, where she currently sits in fifth place overall. This stands in stark contrast to last season, which was her first in long-distance skiing.

Dream start to long-distance career

Many were surprised and skeptical when Stina Nilsson chose to switch to long-distance skiing ahead of last season, after four years as a biathlete. 

However, her debut season with Team Ragde Charge, the long-distance team of the Aukland brothers, was a continuous success. The former Olympic star seemed to transition from biathlon to long-distance skiing with ease. 

Nilsson went straight to the podium in her very first Ski Classics race. She won Vasaloppet by over five minutes, followed by victories in Birkebeinerrennet and Marcialonga Bodø. She stood on the podium in a total of six races, finishing in the top five in all but two, and ended up third overall.  

Continuous nightmare 

After last year’s dream season, this follow-up season has become a nightmare. With the exception of the first two races, Nilsson has not reached the podium this season.

Saturday’s Marcialonga Bodø marked a low point. Nilsson finished in 12th place, nearly ten minutes behind the winner. Now she is officially done for the season. 

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Next up is Reistadløpet on Saturday, March 28, and the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on Sunday, March 29. The events mark the 12th and 13th and final Ski Classics Pro Tour events of Season XVII. 

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

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