After nearly four weeks without Pro Tour events, it’s finally time for the Ski Classics again this Saturday. Langrenn.com will broadcast the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon live, featuring two well-known expert commentators. Now, Anders Aukland reveals his favorites for this weekend’s race.

This Saturday marks the return of the Ski Classics. It will be the first race of 2024 and the fifth for the Season XV, following a four-week break. The athletes will face their longest race of the season so far, the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon. The 62-kilometer race winds its way up through historic skiing terrain from Toblach to Cortina.

Ski Classics Legend Anders Aukland is one of the two expert commentators on Langrenn.com‘s live broadcast of the race.

“I’m really looking forward to this, it’s going to be a lot of fun. The most fun thing is to compete in ski races, but watching them is also enjoyable,” says the expert commentator to Langrenn.com, and continues:

“January is a super important month (for long-distance skiers), ending with Marcialonga. Now comes three consecutive weekends that are very important for the athletes, and it will be exciting to see who has done a good job over Christmas.”

Read more about Langrenn.com’s live broadcast HERE

The 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon takes place at a so-called medium altitude, in the Italian Dolomites. The course is demanding, and Aukland believes it favors athletes who are categorized as all-rounders.

“This is one of the finest ski areas I know of, and the course is fun. There’s high speed and quite narrow for the first 15-20 kilometers. Most will keep up here. From here, it’s important to have a good position because there’s a tough section leading up to Cortina where the pace will be very hard. Here, several will fall behind, before it’s a gentle descent towards the finish. Then there will probably be a sprint among some skiers,” explains Aukland.

Already on January 28, it’s time for the first of the “big four”: Marcialonga.

“Many are probably looking forward to this ski race. 3 Zinnen is an important race, but Marcialonga is probably a notch above on the list. 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon is the first race where they really go long on skis, and it’s entirely possible that the winner of this race will also win Marcialonga,” says the long-distance skiing legend.

Who do you think will win the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon this year?

“On the men’s side, I think we’ll see an Emil Persson who is stronger than he was before Christmas. I think Persson is hungry for revenge after his start. Amund Riege is back and could be solid. I know that Kasper Stadaas will want to defend the Yellow bib, and that Andreas Nygaard is in good form. These are the four I’m thinking of the most.”

“In the women’s field, Emilie Fleten was very strong before Christmas, and Ida Dahl was also strong. It will be interesting to see if they are just as dominant, or if the group that is a step behind has caught up. I’m also curious about our skiers (Team Ragde Charge), Anikken Gjerde Alnæs and Jenny Larsson, and whether they can get closer to the podium.”

Langrenn.com will be broadcasting the ski race live. This is the first time that Langrenn.com broadcasts a ski event of this size with Norwegian commentary.

In the live studio broadcast, Anders Aukland and Kjell-Erik Kristiansen, the man who for good reasons is called “the world’s best speaker.” So far, Kristiansen has commented on eight Olympics including Lillehammer 1994, over 40 World Championships, and around 1000 World Cup competitions in cross-country skiing, biathlon, and other sports, both live and on TV.

3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 5

• Date: January 13, 2024
• Distance: 62km Classic Technique
• Place: Sexten, Italy
• Start Time: Men 9:00 CET/ Women 9:05 CET
• Number of SC Sprints: 1
  • Sprint Nordic Arena: 22km 
• Number of SC Climbs: 1
  • Climb Cimabanche: 36km
• Website: 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon
• SC Play: 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon

More information about the event can be found HERE and HERE

3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Video Highlights

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV

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

Next up is the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon in Italy on January 13, 2024. The event marks the fifth Ski Classics Pro Tour stage of Season XV.

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