The next Challengers event is Bessemerloppet and takes place in Sweden on Sunday, February 21st, with the original course of 52 km. Some Visma Ski Classics Pro Team athletes use the chance to test their form one more time before the next Grand Classics event. 

Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour is currently taking a break for two weekends before the next Grand Classics event of Season XI, Vasaloppet. Until then a few Challengers events are planned, starting with Bessemerloppet on Sunday, February 21st in Sandviken, Sweden, only two hours north of Stockholm. 

Since 1960, the race always takes place two weeks before Vasaloppet and is a perfect preparation for the world’s largest long distance ski event. The race in Classic technique is held on a course of 17,3 km, which has to be skied three times. 

In addition to the 52km race that is part of the Visma Ski Classics Challengers, the event also offers its participants a 17,3km race, also in the classic style.

In order to comply with Covid-19 restrictions, the event has limited the number of participants to 150 for the long distance. So far, six Visma Ski Classics Pro Team athletes can be found on the start list: Ida Dahl, Max Novak, and Johannes Eklöf from Team Ramudden, Team Synnfjells Jonathan Hedbys and Konrad Mattsson Myhr, and Gabriel Höjlind, Team Engcon.

“We are glad to be able to organize the event and have only very few start places left,” says Race Director, Jan Andersson. 

Last season, the snow conditions forced the event organizers to cut the course shorter and let athletes ski more loops; this year, the conditions are perfect. 

All skiers participating at Bessemerloppet collect points for their Ski Classics Ranking, which can be checked on MyPages. 

Bessemerloppet starts at 8:45 CET with the women’s race and 9:00 CET with the men’s competition on Sunday, February 21st. Start and result lists will be uploaded on vismaskiclassics.com.