Defending overall champion Emil Persson of Lager 157 Ski Team kicks off the Visma Ski Classics season with a bold statement in the 33-kilometer opening event Orsa Grönklitt on Sunday.

The men’s 33-kilometer mass start race opened at a controlled pace, exploding in the last kilometer into a thriller 3-way-sprint for the podium. 

After the start gun went off, the field stayed in a pack and made no decisive moves all the way to the first sprint/preem 10 kilometer into the race. 

At that point, Ermil Vokuev, Russian Winter Team, set the pace. The Russian grabbed the first preem, with Stian Berg of Team Kaffebryggeriet in seconds place, and Marcus Johansson of Lager 157 Ski Team in third. 

At the second sprint, Vokuev surged again, but this time Mikael Gunnulfsen of Team Koteng Eidissen, snagged the sprint points in front of Vokuev and Maxim Vylegzanin. 

With 15km to go and just prior to the first Climb, Vokuev was still in the front. Maintaining a fast pace, more and more racers fell off the pack.  

Team Ragde Charge took the lead and tried to go for the first climbing points, but Vokuev took the reins again and sprinted to earn those points, with Kasper Stadaas in second and Magnus Vesterheim in third place.

Approaching the second climb of the day, Team Ragde Charge and Team Ramudden’s Max Novak took the lead again and increased the pace trying to get a gap on the pack. At the line, Kasper Stadaas bagged the points, in front of Vokuev and Novak.

Four kilometers from the finish, Novak teamed up with Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Oskar Kardin to set the small breakaway up for the sprint finish.

However, with one kilometer to go, Vokuev was back at the front adding to the thrill and the action. But Emil Persson of Lager 157 Ski Team was always there. 

At the finish Persson was the fastest and won yet another Visma Ski Classics event. Ermil Vokuev of the Russian Winter Team was second and Kasper Stadaas of Team Ragde Charge was third.

Top 3 men, Orsa Grönklitt 33km
1. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team,1:15:51.5
2. Ermil Vokuev, Russian Winter Team, +0.4
3. Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, +0.6

Complete results at the Live Center  

Earlier today, Astrid Øyre Slind won the women’s race in Orsa Grönklitt.

Next up in the Visma Ski Classics is Tre Cime Criterium. The 42-kilometer classic race takes place in Italy on January 8, 2022.