Marit Bjørgen, Team Ragde Charge, who was preparing to start at Marcialonga on Sunday, January 30, has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not start the Visma Ski Classics event.

Bjørgen was in good form and hoped to take up the fight with the best Pro Tour athletes on Sunday.

“I was looking forward to this, so it’s unfortunate, but I’ll cheer from the couch and hope to be back in Jizerzka in 14 days,” says Bjørgen to Langrenn.com.

Team Ragde Charge, led by Magnar Dalen and the Aukland brothers, will have two absences for Marcialonga, Marit Bjørgen, and Oskar Kardin, who was hit by a car while skiing training earlier this week.

Jørgen Aukland is still optimistic about Marcialonga.

“Of course, we would have had Marit and Oskar at the start, but we still have a strong and very motivated team. Kasper Stadaas’ victory last weekend gave us a huge boost,” says Aukland.

The Covid-19 has hit quite a few long-distance skiers. Mikael Gunnulfsen, Team Koteng Eidissen, and Klas Nilsson, Team Curira, are the most recent casualties.

Next up in the Visma Ski Classics is Marcialonga. The 70-kilometer classic race takes place in Italy on January 30, 2022.

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