The Ski Classics World Championship calendar for 2026/2027 features several new formats. Last season’s overall winner believes the new competition formats could open up opportunities for more athletes.

As the upcoming season approaches, Ski Classics is introducing several new competition formats. Last season’s overall winner in the men’s category, Amund Riege, believes that one of the new formats could suit Petter Northug particularly well.

Among the innovations are two shorter races where sprint points will be awarded at the finish line. Riege suggests that this could provide fast finishers with new opportunities to collect valuable points throughout the season, making Northug a significantly larger factor than many might expect.

Additionally, a one-kilometer individual prologue will be introduced in the center of Bad Gastein during the season opener in December. Snow will be brought onto the streets, allowing the audience to see the athletes up close.

“It’s cool that they are creating such an event in the middle of the city, giving both teams and athletes a great opportunity to showcase themselves at the start of the season. It will also serve as a nice warm-up for the first long race the following day,” says Riege.

Also Read: Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII

More athletes can compete for the Yellow bib

The second new format with sprint points at the finish is scheduled for after Christmas. First in St. Moritz in January and then during the Vasaloppet weekend in February. Both are 30 kilometers long and take place on relatively flat tracks.

Riege is particularly curious about how these will play out.

“I believe this could allow more athletes to gather a lot of points, and some who have primarily focused on added sprints could be in contention for the yellow bib,” he says.

“Northug will be dangerous”

The 26-year-old from Team Aker Dæhlie expects that the biggest stars will still perform well in these races. However, he believes there may be some surprises.

“Everyone knows that Alvar (Myhlback) is faster than anyone else in pure sprints, and he’s also good at pretty much everything. Håvard Solås Taugbøl has shown how fast he is this winter, and I think he will only get better next year,” says Riege.

“But in the sprint in the Czech Republic this winter, Petter Northug made it to the final, so I believe he could be the wildcard in this new format. Petter has speed and is good in sprints. If he stays with the pack into a final stretch, he becomes a tough competitor to have behind you; he will be dangerous.”

At the same time, Riege points out that several factors could come into play.

“I think it could open up for even more cycling tactics, and the teams that are good at that will be able to take advantage of it.”

Read More – Season XVIII calendar: Bruno Debertolis shares his perspective

Creating engagement

Amund Riege is not worried that the new formats will “steal the soul” from Ski Classics or dilute the long-distance concept.

“No. I feel that these are an addition to the major classics, not a replacement for them. And 30 kilometers is still a long race,” says this winter’s overall winner, adding:

“It’s certainly a balancing act, and it’s important that the short, show-oriented events like regular sprints and prologues do not dominate the competition calendar too much. But as it’s set up this year, I think they only contribute to creating more engagement and building around the monuments.”

Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII (2026/2027)

• Event 1: December 11, 2026 – Bad Gastein Prologue – Austria – 1km
• Event 2: December 13, 2026 – Sportgastein Criterium – Austria – 30km
• Event 3: December 19, 2026 – Bad Gastein ITT – Austria – 7km
• Event 4: December 20, 2026 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
• Event 5: January 16, 2027 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 6: January 17, 2027 – Zuoz–St. Moritz Sprint – Switzerland – 30km
• Event 7: January 31, 2027 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2027 – Bedřichov Heat Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 9: February 14, 2027 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 10: February 27, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Women – Sweden – 30km
• Event 11: February 28, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Men – Sweden – 30km
• Event 12: March 7, 2027 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km
• Event 13: March 20, 2027 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 53km
• Event 14: April 3, 2027 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 15: April 4, 2027 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics World Championship, visit skiclassics.com.

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