This weekend, the Ski Classics Season XVI heads to Norway for another action-packed Pro Tour stage and Grand Classics event, Birkebeinerrennet.

Birkebeinerrennet is not the longest race on the Pro Tour but has one of the most demanding courses. The 54-kilometer stage starts with a long uphill section with only one relatively short downhill segment. Then, the Pro Team athletes get to appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery before reaching the second climb. 

On the last part of the course, the skiers can finally enjoy the wonder of speed as they start their descent to the finish line at the Olympic stadium, located a few kilometers from Lillehammer city center. 

Birkebeinerrennet is one of the world’s most legendary long-distance ski races. With a long history, its legacy is based on a heroic tale of courage and adventure.

The saga dates to the harsh times of the 13th century when two fearless soldiers, birkebeiners, rescued a young prince and skied over the mountain, fighting against the wild nature around them. This young prince, Haakon, later became the King. To honor him and his rescuers, all participants at Birkebeinerrennet must carry a 3.5kg backpack symbolizing the prince’s weight. 

Also Read: Birkebeinerrennet – Why carry a backpack?

Birkebeinerrennet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 11

• Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
• Location: From Rena to Lillehammer, Norway
• Distance: 54km Classic Technique
• Start Time: 7:45 CET for Men and 8:00 CET for Women
• SC Climbs: 2
  • Raudfjellet (Iconic Climb): km 20
  • Midtfjellet: km 34
• Total Ascent: 1059m
• Last Edition Winners: Magni Smedås (2:47:09.9) and Andreas Nygaard (2:23:55.9) 
• Website: Birkebeinerrennet
• SC Play: Birkebeinerrennet

More information about Birkebeinerrennet can be found HERE and HERE

Birkebeinerrennet – Course Map and Profile

Norwegian Atmosphere and History

The starting point of “Birken” is a small town called Rena. It has a friendly and cozy atmosphere, while Lillehammer is more city-like, with almost 28.000 inhabitants. Both places can easily be accessed by train from Oslo airport. The Rena Military Camp, Norway’s largest military camp, is northeast of Rena. 

Lillehammer’s center is a late nineteenth-century concentration of wooden houses. It enjoys a picturesque location overlooking the northern part of Lake Mjøsa and the river Lågen, surrounded by mountains. Lillehammer is also an Olympic town, having hosted the 1994 Winter Olympic Games and the 2016 Youth Winter Olympics. 

In addition to Birkebeinerrennet and other sports activities, Lillehammer and its surrounding areas have several other tourist attractions such as the Garmo Stave Church, built around 1150, the PS Skibladner, the world’s oldest paddle steamer in scheduled service, rock carvings at Drotten, Fåberg, and the sculpture Mothership with Standing Matter designed by Antony Gormley. 

There are also many museums to visit, like the Norwegian Olympic Museum, Lillehammer Art Museum, and Maihaugen, the largest open-air museum in Norway.  

Also Read – Warning: This mistake could cost you dearly in Vasaloppet and Birken

GRAND CLASSICS

The Grand Classics are the four largest and most prestigious events in Ski Classics: Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet. The skier that wins all four events in the same season completes a Grand Slam. 

During Season XI, the Grand Classics events and the Grand Slam were introduced in Ski Classics. The concept was an immediate success and a great motivation among the best Pro Team athletes of Ski Classics. Nobody has completed a Grand Slam in the history of long-distance skiing.

If you win all four Grand Classics, Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet, in the same season, you complete a Grand Slam.

ICONIC CLIMBS

The Iconic Climbs give an extra spark to the most challenging climbs in Ski Classics. For Season XVI, there will be four Iconic Climbs. The first was Cascata, the last hill to Cavalese in Marcialonga. This weekend, it’s time for the second Iconic Climb of Season XVI, Raudfjellet in Birkebeinerrennet. 

The Iconic Climb, launched during Season XIV, is a category in the Ski Classics points table. The category is used for the most iconic climbs of Ski Classics. 

The idea for the Iconic Climb category is that all climbs differ; some are tougher, and some have more history behind them. Ski Classics wants to enhance the interest around the climbs and reward the strongest athletes slightly more. 

The Iconic Climb points are 50% higher than a 100% points Climb. Winners get 45 instead of 30 points in the Climb competition. 

For Season XVI, there will be four Iconic Climbs. First, it is up to Cascata, the last hill to Cavalese in Marcialonga. The second Iconic Climb is Raudfjellet, the first long hill in Birkebeinerrennet.

The third is the Orta climb in Reistadløpet and finally is the Magdaskaret Iconic Climb in Summit 2 Senja. 

ICONIC CLIMBS SEASON XVI

Event: Marcialonga – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 6

• Date: January 26, 2025
• Climb: Cascata, from 830 to 990m above sea level, is 2 kilometers long, and the most challenging thing is that it starts after 68 kilometers.

Event: Birkebeinerrennet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 11

• Date: March 15, 2025
• Climb: Raudfjellet, from 300 to 880m above sea level, 19 kilometers long. It’s not the steepest climb, but it is often very high-paced already from the start.

Event: Reistadløpet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 13

• Date: March 29, 2025
• Climb: Orta, from 136 to 575m above sea level, 6 kilometers long, with many very steep sections and short flats in between, the main reason Reistadløpet has never been won without kick wax.

Event: Grand FinaleSummit 2 Senja – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 14

• Date: March 30, 2025
• Climb: Magdaskaret was the new Iconic Climb for Season XV. The climb is decisive at the Grand Finale, and this year promises the same excitement. 

Read More:  Birkebeinerrennet – The final Grand Classics event Season XVI

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI (2024/2025)

Next up is Birkebeinerrennet on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The 54-kilometer classic race marks the eleventh Ski Classics Pro Tour stage and Season XVI’s fourth and final Grand Classics event.

Season XVI of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events across 10 event weekends in 6 countries. It started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 13, 2024, with the Pro Team Presentation and ends in Finnsnes, Norway, with the Ski Classics Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on March 30, 2025.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI (2024/2025)

• Event 0: Friday, December 13, 2024 –Ski Classics Pro Team Presentation XVI – Bad Gastein, Austria
• Event 1: Saturday, December 14, 2024 – Bad Gastein ITT – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: Sunday, December 15, 2024 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: Saturday, January 11, 2025 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Sexten, Italy, 60km
• Event 4: Sunday, January 12, 2025 – La Venosta ITT Kapron-Melago – Val Venosta, Italy, 11km
• Event 5: Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 43km
• Event 6: Sunday, January 26, 2025 – Marcialonga – Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 7: Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 8: Saturday, February 15, 2025 – Grönklitt Criterium 61 – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 61km
• Event 9: Sunday, February 16, 2025 – Grönklitt ITT – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 13km
• Event 10: Sunday, March 2, 2025 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 11: Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 12: Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
• Event 13: Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 46km
• Event 14: Sunday, March 30, 2025 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com

REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER