When Anikken Gjerde Alnæs signed with Team Ragde Charge three years ago, the goal was to win the Green bib. Now the 28-year-old has an answer to why she is finally the best women’s sprinter in the Ski Classics Season XIV.

“Ever since I signed with Team Ragde Charge three years ago, the goal has been to win the Green Sprint bib. It became my way of collecting points from the start. It didn’t work on the first two attempts, but it’s incredibly nice to have managed it now,” says Anikken Gjerde Alnæs after the last race of Season XIV.

Before Reistadløpet and Summit 2 Senja, it was a battle between Gjerde Alnæs, Yellow bib winner Ida Dahl and Magni Smedås for the last two sprints of the season.

What strategy did you implement before the weekend to secure the last sprint points you needed for the Green bib overall?

“We had previously calculated all scenarios regarding the sprint points. I can stand going harder from the start, so that became the tactic. I know who I want in front of and behind me when the time comes,” says Gjerde Alnæs and continues:

“I have learned from how Britta has collected points in previous seasons. It’s about being there and seizing the opportunity.”

The strategy also worked excellently for the 28-year-old, who got the total points from both races in Northern Norway, and the bib was secured with a margin of 30 points.

Ups and Downs

Season XIV has offered ups and downs for the Team Ragde Charge athlete.

Before Christmas, Anikken had to sit out all races due to illness. On the other hand, Christmas was well spent. On the first attempt, Gjerde Alnæs was fast and finished in second place at the Pustertaler Ski Marathon.

“The biggest thing this season was returning after the illness before Christmas. I felt very strong that day, and that was enough for a place on the podium,” she says and continues:

“I trained well for four weeks before it. I could do one training run at Christmas before traveling with the team to the altitude. There I found peace and felt at approximately the same level as before Christmas.”

Another second place for Gjerde Alnæs came just a few weeks later at Marcialonga.

What do you want to improve for next season?

“Capacity and endurance. I’ve been working on that all along, but it takes time. Now I have reached a level where I can fight for the sprints and continue at a good pace where I don’t collapse completely afterward. It will be building on that in the future.”

Gjerde Alnæs has been on Team Ragde Charge for three years. The contract expires at the end of the season.

She only has positive words to say about the Norwegian Pro Team:

“Before this year’s season, I was unsure whether I wanted to continue. I gave myself one more year, and I don’t regret it now after the season. Those around me have believed,” she says, highlighting teammate Jenny Larsson in particular:

“You should not underestimate a good teammate. She has made me confident that what we do works and is at a high level. We have supported each other through the ups and downs throughout the season.”

The season is now over – which Gjerde Alnæs admits she is pleased about. The 28-year-old struggled with a hip flexor inflammation at the end of the season. Long-distance skiing didn’t help much with the pain. The best medicine is now rest until the inflammation subsides.

What are your plans?

“I should have been in the mountains on randonee skis by now. I like to spend my off-season doing that, but now a bit of illness has ended that. Now there will be a lot of work until the summer holiday on June 16. Then the real training begins.”

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consisted 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, 32km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 12km
• 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.