Today, the world’s best Pro Tour athletes and some traditional cross-country skiers will fight for victory in the Grönklitt Individual Time Trial at Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden. ProXCskiing evaluates the top contenders for taking the win of the 10th event of Season XIV.

The Grönklitt weekend started yesterday with the Grönklitt Criterium and wins from Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Ida Dahl, Team Engcon. Today, the 10th event of Season XIV is an individual time trial organized as an individual start competition. The skiers will face a 12km race in typical Swedish forests close to small lakes, beautiful landscapes, and a challenging climb to the finish line.

The Men’s Favorites For The Grönklitt ITT

Emil Persson – Lager 157 Ski Team

Emil Persson won the Individual Prologue in Orsa last year and the Criterium yesterday. But for the Individual Time Trial, he believes that due to the different characteristics of the race, there will be various competitors to watch for. There will be World Cup athletes at the starting line who are more used to this type of race. 

And Emil believes that they are stronger at this race, but he also states that “it will be embarrassing for them, if they lose this race to a long-distance skier” and continues:

“It’s very different from what we are used to,” says Emil during the pre-event interview earlier this week. 

“I don’t look forward to Sunday, but I will do my best. I haven’t focused on it, so we will see how it goes.”

Watch Here: Grönklitt Weekend Pre-Event Interviews

Tord Asle Gjerdalen – Team XPND Fuel

Emil Persson believes that, among all long-distance skiers, Tord Asle Gjerdalen will be the man to watch for this race.

Gjerdalen has already climbed to the podium twice this season, with a 3rd place at Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge and a 2nd place at Marcialonga, showing that experience pays off. The profile of the race may suit him.

Alvar Myhlback – Lager 157 Ski Team

The young Swedish Pro Tour athlete won last week’s sprint in Bedřichov, giving him unique motivation. Alvar Myhlback is having a solid first season as a long-distance skier, but the fact that he was used to training for more traditional distances makes him a strong contender for the individual time trial.

“Yes, I think I have a good chance of making a good result. It’s a bit more like what I have been training the last year,” says Alvar during the pre-event interview.

Olof Jonsson – Team Ramudden

Olof Jonsson will be at the starting line, racing with Team Ramudden. Jonsson is a Swedish World Cup skier and one of the best Swedish sprinters, winning the national championships in 2023. Olof is more used to traditional distances, just like the 15 kilometers he will be racing at the Grönklitt Individual Time Trial.

However, some questions arise when thinking about his chances to win. Will he double pole, or will he play safe and use kick-wax just like he is used to? Who has the bigger capacity, Pro Tour traditional skiers?

Olof Jonsson will be, for sure, one of the athletes to watch for.

The Women’s Favorites For The Grönklitt ITT

Magni Smedås – Team Eksjöhus

Magni Smedås is an experienced traditional cross-country skier, so her body is still used to compete at shorter distances. 

“It will be nice; I am really looking forward to it. It’s been a while since I did an individual race,” says Magni, admitting that she believes she has the pacing and technique on her side compared to her competitors.

The Norwegian Pro Tour athlete has peaked her confidence due to her victories at Marcialonga and Jizerská50. 

“Winning definitely gives me more confidence.”

Magni believes that traditional skiers have an advantage due to being more used to shorter distances. However, some long-distance skiers have shown a bigger capacity than traditional skiers, so she believes it will be an interesting fight.

Ida Dahl – Team Engcon

Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, winner of the Grönklitt Criterium yesterday, was 4th at the individual prologue last year in a race she remembers as challenging and fun. About this year’s Individual Time Trial, Ida believes that doing individual and shorter competitions is fun.

The Swedish skier does not believe in having an advantage in the short distance, but the course profile may suit her very well.

Moreover, Ida Dahl has already had some strong performances this season competing at traditional distances, like in Bruksvallarna and Davos. “I know I have the speed in my body,” she says.

Jenny Larsson – Team Ragde Charge

Jenny Larsson was 3rd at Marcialonga, 6th in Jizerská50, and 7th at Grönklitt Criterium, showing some solid phase. 

“I am super happy with my 3rd place at Marcialonga,” Jenny said during the pre-event interview last week.

For today, Jenny is looking forward to the race and hoping to have fun with the individual race. Just like Ida Dahl, Jenny performed well at Bruksvallarna and Davos, which may give her an advantage over her competitors. However, Jenny is humble about the fact that she performs well at shorter distances. 

“I have that on the back of my mind, but it was long ago. The shape back then and now is very different,” she says. However, if we analyze Jenny’s career, she has a lot of experience with individual start races.

Jenny might use her experience as a traditional skier and her double-poling capabilities to surprise her competitors.

Who Will Win?

Grönklitt Individual Time Trial will be an exciting race to watch. Due to its unique profile, there will be many fights inside this race. Who is the fastest, the double-polers or traditional skiers? Between the long-distance skiers, will those with more traditional backgrounds be stronger? Follow the race today to find out.

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, 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, 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, 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