Last week, Petter Northug, Team Janteloppet, announced he was forced to skip the Ski Classics season premiere, missing all races until the new year. Now, he will be on the start line today at La Venosta Criterium. 

Petter Northug withdrew from the Ski Classics premiere last weekend due to a persistent upper arm/shoulder overload. After Friday’s Team Captains Meeting for La Venosta Criterium, it was clear that the traditional cross-country skiing legend will be on the start line this Saturday. 

Read More – Petter Northug: “Disappointing”

The start list for La Venosta Criterium can be found HERE.

La Venosta Weekend

This weekend, December 16 and 17, is time for La Venosta Criterium and La Venosta ITT, the third and fourth events in Ski Classics Season XV, in Val Venosta, Italy.

La Venosta Criterium

La Venosta Criterium is a mass-start race with several laps and classic technique. This spectacular race challenges the Pro Tour skiers to the maximum on a demanding course at high altitude in the charming Vallelunga Valley. 

The course starts in Melago, where the skiers circle in loops around the highest point at 1.900 meters above sea level – Melago Alm, where the race also finishes. 

Melago holds a Sprint checkpoint at 4.5km and two Climb checkpoints at 21km and 29km, where points can be collected for the Sprint and Climb Competitions, respectively. 

La Venosta ITT – Individual Time Trial

Continuing the excitement on Sunday, December 17, is the fourth event of Season XV, La Venosta ITT – Individual Time Trial.

The Individual Time Trial features a thrilling 10-kilometer race against the clock, with participants embarking on an individual start format, striving to achieve the fastest time while navigating the challenging hilly course at high altitude.

Read More: All you need to know ahead of La Venosta weekend

The Season XV of the 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, 56km
• 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

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