The Grönklitt weekend started with the Grönklitt Criterium 61 on Saturday, February 15. The action continues Sunday, February 16, 2025, with the Grönklitt ITT. The 13-kilometer individual event marks Season XVI’s 9th Ski Classics Pro Tour stage.

The Individual Time Trial – ITT is organized as an individual start competition. The Pro Team athletes will face a 13-kilometer race in typical Swedish forests close to small lakes and beautiful landscapes, all only half an hour’s drive from the legendary finish line of Vasaloppet.

This race promises to test the mettle of the world’s best long‐distance skiers in the stunning Swedish landscape of Orsa Grönklitt. Scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2025, the race is set to be a pivotal moment in the Ski Classics Pro Tour, offering crucial points and valuable momentum ahead of marquee events like Vasaloppet.

A Crucible for Time Trial Specialists

Unlike the mass‐start formats seen on Saturday’s Grönklitt Criterium 61, the ITT format demands a perfect blend of pace, technique, and mental toughness. Each competitor will start at set intervals, racing against the clock on a course that combines technical flat sections with challenging climbs. The ability to maintain a steady effort and fine‐tune one’s rhythm over 13km can be the difference between a podium finish and a missed opportunity in the overall standings.

Top Contenders – Women

• Emilie Fleten (Team Ramudden): Won La Venosta ITT 2025 with a time of 38:54.1, showing superb pacing and technical precision
• Stina Nilsson (Team Ragde Charge): Finished just 11.4 seconds behind Fleten at La Venosta ITT, proving that even with limited Ski Classics experience, she can hold her own in a time trial.
• Jenny Larsson (Lager 157 Ski Team): Posted a strong performance by coming in only 12.0 seconds behind the winner at La Venosta ITT, underlining her consistency in interval start racing.
• Anikken Gjerde Alnæs (Team Engcon): Though he finished 4th (just 12.1 seconds behind the winner) at La Venosta ITT, her razor‐thin gap shows her competitive edge in closely contested races.

Top Contenders – Men

• Oskar Kardin (Lager 157 Ski Team): Clinched victory at La Venosta ITT 2025 with an impressive time of 32:42.3, setting a strong precedent for the Grönklitt ITT.
• Max Novak (Team Aker Dæhlie): Finished a mere 4.1 seconds behind Kardin at La Venosta ITT, proving his capability in tight time-trial battles.
• Johan Tjelle (Team Engcon): His third-place finish (+6.5 seconds) at La Venosta ITT highlights his tactical acumen and consistency in the interval start format.
• Emil Persson (Lager 157 Ski Team): After previous struggles, he ended up in 5th place (+12.8 seconds) at La Venosta ITT, but his competitive performance indicates he could reclaim his top form.

The Unpredictable Nature of Interval Time Trials

As always, long-distance ski marathons carry an element of unpredictability. While recent performances in races like La Venosta ITT, Marcialonga, Jizerská50, and Grönklitt Criterium 61 give us clear insights into current form and tactical acumen, the Grönklitt ITT promises its own set of surprises. With a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talents, this 13‑km interval time trial is poised to be a fierce battle of speed, precision, and mental strength. Every second counts on the challenging Swedish course, and the margins will be razor-thin.

Read More: All you need to know ahead of Grönklitt Criterium 61 and ITT Season XVI

Next up is the Grönklitt ITT tomorrow, Sunday, February 16. The event marks the 9^th event of Ski Classics Season XVI.

• Event 0: Friday, December 13, 2024 –Ski Classics Pro Team Presentation XVI – Bad Gastein, Austria
• Event 1: Saturday, December 14, 2024 – Bad Gastein ITT – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: Sunday, December 15, 2024 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: Saturday, January 11, 2025 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Sexten, Italy, 60km
• Event 4: Sunday, January 12, 2025 – La Venosta ITT Kapron-Melago – Val Venosta, Italy, 11km
• Event 5: Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 43km
• Event 6: Sunday, January 26, 2025 – Marcialonga – Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 7: Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 8: Saturday, February 15, 2025 – Grönklitt Criterium 61 – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 61km
• Event 9: Sunday, February 16, 2025 – Grönklitt ITT – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 13km
• Event 10: Sunday, March 2, 2025 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 11: Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 12: Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
• Event 13: Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 46km
• Event 14: Sunday, March 30, 2025 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

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