The Ski Classics Pro Tour has arrived in Scandinavia. This Saturday, the World’s best Pro Team athletes will fight for victory in Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden. ProXCskiing.com evaluates the top contenders for taking the win of the Grönklitt Classic.

On Saturday, February 17, the weekend starts with the Grönklitt Classic. The ninth event in Season XV is a 60-kilometer long-distance race offering stunning scenery. 

The Grönklitt Classic is a mass-start race that will feature a challenging course. The skiers will face a race in typical Swedish forests close to small lakes and beautiful landscapes only half an hour’s drive from the legendary finish line of Vasaloppet.

Read More: All you need to know ahead of Grönklitt Classic & ITT

The Men’s Favorites for The Grönklitt Classic

Emil Persson – Lager 157 Ski Team

Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, did not have his best start of the season. However, the reigning Ski Classics Champion seems to have recovered his top shape after a 2^nd place at Marcialonga. The Swedish skier finished the race only behind his teammate Runar Skaug Mathisen. Despite not being currently in the fight for the Yellow bib, the Swedish skier is undoubtedly one of the strongest skiers on the circuit and a strong contender for the Grönklitt Classic.

After Marcialonga, Emil had a cold. However, he believes that he is recovered and will use next weekend’s races to assess his shape for Vasaloppet.

“Vasaloppet is the big goal that I’m tailoring my training towards. You could say that Orsa serves as training for that.”

Kasper Staadas – Team Ragde Charge

Kasper Staadas, Team Ragde Charge, is the current leader of the Yellow bib competition. The Norwegian skier seems to be having his best season so far, with consistent top performances.

Kasper has already won two races this season, and his main goal of the season – Vasaloppet – is around the corner, so, just like Emil, he will probably use this race to assess his current shape and tune his training.

Johan Hoel – Team Ragde Charge

Johan Hoel, from Team Ragde Charge, who is currently the 2nd best man in the fight for the Yellow bib, is also having his best season so far. The Norwegian skier finished Marcialonga in the 3^rd position and had his 3^rd podium this season.

“I have been doing normal training, no injuries, no sickness. I am feeling good. I am feeling happy for my 3^rd place at Marcialonga, but I hope next time I can have my first win”, he said during the press conference earlier this week.

Andreas Nygaard – Team Ragde Charge

Andreas Nygaard has already won two races so far this season. However, the Norwegian Legend has hurt his shoulder during training, something that has caused him a sudden drop in performance.

Nygaard is getting better after his shoulder injury, but he believes his shape is getting better:

“I think my aerobic base is really strong. I feel something is missing but it’s getting better and better. I can’t do things that make me win races, but it is getting better”, he said during the press conference.

Still, if the Norwegian athlete manages to recover until Vasaloppet, he can quickly become one of the top contenders, given his experience and his aerobic power.

The Women’s Favorites for the Grönklitt Criterium

Magni Smedås – Team Eksjöhus

Despite not having a good start of the season, Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, surprised everybody coming back strong with a victory at La Diagonela and 2^nd place at Marcialonga. At the pre-event interview, Magni stated, “everything is fine now. Right now it feels really good to double pole.”

Since Marcialonga, Magni has been training and resting really well and she feels her batteries are loaded. “I feel really fine to be back to racing.”

Ida Dahl – Team Engcon

Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, was having a strong season, however, due to not participating in Marcialonga, lost points in the Yellow bib competition. However, if she has recovered well, it is safe to say that Ida is amongst the top contenders for the win. 

Last year, Ida won both races in Grönklitt, so she is positioned to be among the top candidates for the win.

Emilie Fleten – Team Ramudden

With four victories and ranked the best in the Yellow bib competition, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, is probably the strongest women of the Ski Classics circuit. 

The Norwegian skier who Lina Korsgren’s expertise has strongly inspired seems to be the athlete to watch this season, and as the main races approach, she seems to be even in better shape.

After winning Marcialonga, Emilie Fleten is the strongest candidate to win this Saturday’s competition.

Kati Roivas – Team Eksjöhus

Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, is also having her best season so far. The Finnish skier had several podium finishes so far, and she even won Marcia Gran Paradiso, a Ski Classics Challengers event. 

Currently in the 2nd position for the Yellow Champion bib, Kati Roivas might surprise her competitors by reaching the top of the podium this weekend.

“I was pretty tired after Marcialonga, and it took me a while getting back to training. Now I am excited to be back to Scandinavia and have better winter conditions.”

Conclusion

Grönklitt Classic will be a tough race. Despite the goal of some skiers who want to save energy for the upcoming races, it will still be an important fight to get more points and to show who is getting in top shape for Vasaloppet.

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

SKI CLASSICS PRO TOUR SEASON XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com