In this article, Persson talks about the wins, the tough Pro Team Tempo, and the preparation for the double events weekend in mid-January.

Two seasons ago, Emil Persson won the Yellow Champion bib overall in Ski Classics. Last winter, he finished second behind Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge.

One of the season’s main goals for the Lager 157 Ski Team skier is to reclaim the Yellow bib overall. Persson already gained early but precise control of it thanks to his strong start with wins in both individual races in Ski Classics, Bad Gastein Criterium, and La Venosta Criterium.

But there was an unanswered question ahead of Bad Gastein Criterium, all because he had a tough day during the Pro Team Tempo:

“I didn’t have a good day. It felt like I ‘lost my head a little’ when I got dropped. But at the same time, we had three strong teammates up front with Runar (Skaug Mathiesen), Nils (Dahlsten), and Alvar (Myhlback),” says Persson.

But were you worried that the form wasn’t there?

“It is clear that I started to think a little, but at the same time, I knew that the form had been good during the week before. So, it was just a matter of putting an end to it and going to get revenge.”

And it was a success. In a snowy Sportgastein, Persson got an early answer that there was a completely different feeling in his body just after 24 hours:

“I immediately felt that it responded in a completely different way. I had no problem getting good positions in the bunch, and I felt calm and composed even though it was chaotic. On the first “climb,” Johan (Hoel, Team Ragde Charge) and I got a small gap that created a sense of calm ahead of the rest. Then when we became a small group that got the gap after the second and last climb, I had a very good feeling. Then into the race, I had a clear plan for how I wanted to tackle the finish, and I set it perfectly,” says Persson to Langd.se.

After a week at high altitude in Livigno, the second individual Ski Classics race of the season awaited, this time, La Venosta Criterium.

The outcome was the same as in Bad Gastein:

“I had felt during the week that the form was still really good. During the last kilometers of the race, it was clear that many were mostly skiing and waiting for that brutal finish with the steep climb. I had a perfect position behind Morten (Eide Pedersen, Team Eksjöhus), who pulled it up perfectly. Once I decided to go, the body responded really well. The feeling was certainly good, but I had not expected that there would be such a big gap,” says Persson.

What do these victories mean for the rest of the season?

“So the season could not have started in a better way, and considering the Yellow bib, I have now earned a good starting position for the coming events. But the idea is that I will sharpen the form even further toward what is to come. And above all, I hope to be in the best shape of the season in March. Especially on the first Sunday of March,” says Persson, who has a clear goal to break the Norwegian dominance at Vasaloppet.

The Lager 157 Ski Team now goes to altitude in Italy to prepare for the upcoming Ski Classics competitions near Toblach. 

Read More: This Is How Lager 157 Ski Team Prepares For Ski Classics In January

On Saturday, January 14, it’s time for the 62km long Pustertaler Ski Marathon, and on Sunday, January 15, takes place the 30km race Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge:

“That competition weekend was held for the first time last year; it was a really fun weekend with great competitions. Saturday’s event is raced on a very nice track, and Sunday’s race is spectacular with a tough finish.”

What is it like to race two such tough races on consecutive days?

“Well, it’s tough, but it’s the same for everyone. Then the feeling can vary; sometimes, the feeling is better on ‘day 2.’ But what becomes extra important is to be very careful with the energy refueling already during the Saturday race, given the race the following day,” concludes Emil Persson.

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 30km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.