“I’m going for the win!” The Ski Classics star is finally back. She ‘kicked off’ with a podium finish at Alliansloppet, now she heads to the Czech Republic to compete at the Energamo Lipnolopet on Saturday – live streamed on SC Play.

“I’ve never raced roller skis in the Czech Republic before, and I think the course profile suits me well,” says the Ski Classics star Magni Smedaas to Langrenn.com.

Magni Smedaas made a tentative return last season after several long breaks.

“My body just went into rest mode. I couldn’t do anything. I still don’t quite know why that happened, but this summer and fall, I’ve been able to train well,” she says.

And the training is completely different from before. Her body has responded well to it. Magni is receiving guidance from reigning Ski Classics Champion Anikken Gjerde Alnes, who is helping with advice and training.

Support from her partner

“Previously, I did more periodized training with really hard weeks in between. Now it’s more consistent with a steady pace. It’s only this fall that I’ve managed to do proper threshold workouts. Today, I feel almost better than before,” says the former Birkebeiner winner.

She also praises her partner. Frenchman Theo Schely has come into her life as a breath of fresh air. Magni was there when he won an Olympic medal this winter, and she says she has learned a lot from him and how the French train.

Podium finish at Alliansloppet

Her motivation received a significant boost during her comeback at Alliansloppet in Trollhättan. Magni kept pace with the leaders, including Astrid Øyre Slind, who pushed hard.

“Yes, it was really fast,” she admits and adds: “But I’m very pleased that I beat Gina Del Rio from Andorra in the sprint. She is a former junior world champion.”

Now she hopes to compete at the top again in the upcoming Ski Classics season.

“That is definitely the goal. This winter will be exciting to see who will dominate. Both Anikken and Silje (Øyre Slind) have retired now.”

Also Read: Øyre Slind wins Alliansloppet 2026

New team in the works

Currently, she does not have a team for the upcoming season, but she reassures us that “it will work out.”

“I am in contact with one team and am basically just waiting for it to be finalized.”

Magni Smedaas, along with Frenchman Jeremy Royer, is currently the only one without a team from last season’s Team Eksjöhus, which has now been disbanded. However, she hints that Royer is also likely to join the same team as her.

From expert to active competitor

A year ago, Magni Smedaas was exhausted and out of competition. She was an expert commentator on SC Play during Lipnoloppet.

“I probably need to watch the race again to remember how the course is. But the long climb to the finish should suit me well,” she believes.

This time, she will switch roles with Anikken Gjerde Alnes, who will now be the expert commentator instead.

Read More: Ski Classics Legend makes debut as expert commentator

Watch Lipnoloppet on SC Play Saturday from 09:55. (for ProXCskiing.com members)