With Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII starting this weekend in Bad Gastein, Austria, the Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team arrives at the home event after a focused training camp in the Gastein Valley, taking advantage of early-winter conditions and perfect tracks in Sportgastein.

Only days before the Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo on Saturday and the Bad Gastein Criterium on Sunday, the Austrian Pro Team spent several intensive days at altitude preparing for the season premiere. Recent snowfall has created deep-winter conditions in Sportgastein, allowing the squad to complete course inspections, light snow sessions, and a full test run on the racecourse.

Newcomer Jonathan Göppert delivered the strongest performance in the internal test, clocking the fastest men’s time ahead of Stefan Falk and Matthias Waldauf. Among the women, Luisa Griessbaum and Nicole Tröger showed evident progress compared with last year, reflecting improved fitness and adaptation to the high-altitude environment.

Pro Team Director Peter Kiene expressed his satisfaction with both the team’s atmosphere and performance development.

“The entire team clearly demonstrated its potential. Our regular skiers have improved significantly, and the new additions delivered impressive performances. Our goal now is to deliver the performances shown in training into competition,” Kiene said to ProXCskiing.com.

Bad Gastein Weekend

The weekend marks the official launch of the Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026). Saturday’s Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo features a 7-kilometer team time trial with tactical start intervals. At the same time, Sunday’s 36-kilometer Bad Gastein Criterium promises tight pack racing, sprint and climb battles, and key early-season points in the Champion competition.

Also Read: All you need to know ahead of the Bad Gastein weekend Season XVII

For the Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team, the opening weekend is both a home race and an important benchmark before moving into the central winter block of the Pro Tour. The Pro Team aims to convert its promising training camp form into strong results on home snow.

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Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)

• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Austria – 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Sweden – 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Sweden – 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Norway – 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km

Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII 2025/2026

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com.

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