Austria’s longest-standing Pro Team enters its eleventh season in Ski Classics, headlined by the signing of a Spanish World Cup veteran.

Established in 2015 in Salzburg as Skimarathon Team Austria, the team grew from six founding members to over 30 athletes today, becoming the first Austrian cross-country skiing team to achieve Ski Classics Pro Team status. The squad’s long-term goals remain ambitious: achieving victories and podium finishes in national and international long-distance races, fostering young talent outside standard squad structures, and acting as role models and mentors for the sport.

Nine athletes continue from last season: Jonathan Göppert, fresh off a runner-up finish at a Roller Ski World Cup round in Val di Fiemme, Markus Köcheler, Matthias Waldauf, Nicole Tröger, Florian Göbel, now with 63 Pro Tour events to his name since Season V, Cecil Kümpel, and Aaron Gunnarsson, alongside Amanda Nyfors and Florian Döringer, who both joined partway through last season. Nyfors arrived after Team Mäenpää dissolved, following a stretch where three of the team’s female athletes were sidelined by long-term health problems.

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Max Göther and the headline addition, Spanish World Cup skier Imanol Rojo García, join as the team’s two new signings for Season XVIII. Rojo made his World Cup debut in 2012 and was crowned Roller Ski World Champion in 2024. His main targets for the season are Marcialonga and Vasaloppet, alongside both Bad Gastein event weekends.

Read More: Spanish star joins Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team

Luisa Griessbaum, also part of last season’s roster, steps into a new role as Head Coach.

Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team

• Country: Austria
• Pro Team Director: Peter Kiene
• Pro Team Ranking (Season XVII): 17^th
• Website: Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team
• Instagram: Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team
• Facebook: Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team
• Tiktok: Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team

Pro Team Athletes

*Youth  **Cubs  ***Vet

Read More: Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII

Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII (2026/2027) 

• Event 1: December 11, 2026 – Bad Gastein Prologue – Austria – 1km 
• Event 2: December 13, 2026 – Sportgastein Criterium – Austria – 30km 
• Event 3: December 19, 2026 – Bad Gastein ITT – Austria – 7km 
• Event 4: December 20, 2026 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km 
Bad Gastein Tour (Events 1–4 of Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII) 
• Event 5: January 16, 2027 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km 
• Event 6: January 17, 2027 – Zuoz–St. Moritz Sprint – Switzerland – 30km 
• Event 7: January 31, 2027 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km 
• Event 8: February 12, 2027 – Bedřichov Heat Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km 
• Event 9: February 14, 2027 – Jizerská 50 – Czech Republic – 50km 
• Event 10: February 27, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Women – Sweden – 30km 
• Event 11: February 28, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Men – Sweden – 30km 
• Event 12: March 7, 2027 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km 
• Event 13: March 20, 2027 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 53km 
• Event 14: April 3, 2027 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km 
• Event 15: April 4, 2027 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km 

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics World Championship, visit skiclassics.com. 

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