Reistadløpet is a 50 kilometers long-distance race and includes the most arduous climb of the whole Ski Classics series, with the first half of the race having 500 climb meters in 6 kilometers.

Before Birkebeinerrennet, Therese Johaug wondered whether to classic stride or double pole. Finally, Johaug accepted the challenge and started the race with double poling, but Astrid Øyre Slind proved to be stronger. For Reistadløpet, Johaug has decided to start with kick wax.

“I have never skied this race before. The course has tough climbs, and I will not double pole this time. I can better use my strengths and capacity with kick wax. It is going to be a tough race. Astrid (Øyre Slind) will be a hard one to beat. It will be fun to see what happens,” says Johaug in the Visma Ski Classics press conference.

Johaug won the Norwegian Championships in the 30km on Monday. She will spend the days between recovering.

“Today was all about ski touring with friends on the mountains,” Johaug reveals.

Johaug will also be seen with a bib after Saturday’s race. Her next race is likely to be Skarverennet at the end of April.

Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Koteng Eidissen, has not decided whether she will start the race with double poling or kick wax.

“It depends on the conditions. If the weather varies a lot on different parts of the course and it is difficult to get a good kick that works all the way, then it will tip the scale in favor of double poling. In any case, double polers will go hard on the downhills, and Therese will attack as soon as the uphill starts. I also think that Ebba Andersson will be strong,” Øyre Slind predicts.

The wildcard of the race, Ebba Andersson, won the Visma Ski Classics event in double poling at Valadålen last year.

“Last year, I decided to go for it because of the conditions. Now it will be a tough course, but we still have to check the weather forecast and the wind before deciding,” Andersson says.

Andersson’s season has perhaps not quite been like expected.

“Shape has been better in the spring, and I hope to keep up with others on Saturday,” says Andersson, who traveled from the Swedish Championships to the North of Norway yesterday.

Neither Ida Dahl, Team Ramudden, has decided to classic or double pole yet. Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team, on the other hand, is leaning towards double poling.

“We have improved on double poling and can keep up a higher pace than before,” Johansson Norgren concludes.

Next up in the Visma Ski Classics is Reistadløpet. The 50-kilometer classic race takes place in Norway on April 2, 2022.