Today’s La Venosta Criterium in Val Venosta, Italy, was a spectacular 37km long-distance race on a challenging course, high altitude, and excellent weather conditions. 

After a day full of action, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, showed a strong performance and won La Venosta Criterium, the third event of Ski Classics Season XV.

LA VENOSTA CRITERIUM – WOMEN’S RACE

The women’s race started first at 8:15 CET and with a controlled pace at the beginning. With 35km to go, the group began to stretch with Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, Jenny Larsson, Team Ragde Charge, and Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, at the front. 

With 4.3km into the race, the only Sprint checkpoint of the day was won by Ida Dahl, closely followed by Emilie Fleten and Jenny Larsson 3.9 seconds back.  

After the Sprint, a strong leading group was formed: Ida Dahl, Emilie Fleten, and Jenny Larsson. With 21 minutes into the race, Dahl and Fleten took the lead, with Larsson starting to lose some time to the two leaders. 

With 9.5km into the race, the leading duo had a gap of 12.3 seconds over Larsson and 48 seconds over the chasing group behind. With about 25km to go, Dahl and Fleten could increase the gap over the chasing group (Sofie Elebro, Kati Roivas, Frida Erkers, and Jenny Larsson) already 1 minute and 6 seconds back. 

At Grub, 17.3km into the race, Ida and Fleten were keeping a solid pace, already 1 minute and 22 seconds over the chasing four skiers and preparing the way for the first Climb checkpoint of the day 21km into the race. 

At the Melago Alm Climb checkpoint, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, crossed first, followed by Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 2.4 seconds back, and Sofie Elebro, Team Eksjöhus, 2:14.3 behind the leader.   

Not easing the pace after the Climb, the front duo kept compact and crossed the Grub checkpoint, 25.3km into the race, with over 2 minutes and 20 seconds of advantage over the group of four chasers: Jenny Larsson, Frida Erkers, Katia Roivas, and Sofie Elebro. 

Just before the second Climb of the day, with 29km into the race and 8km to go, Ida Dahl took the lead and crossed the checkpoint first, closely followed by Emilie Fleten in second and Sofie Elebro in third and almost 3 minutes back.

On the final lap and at the 3km to go mark, the leading duo was still strong and preparing for the final steep Climb before the finish line.

At the last kilometer, the battle between the two leaders was still fierce, but at the end, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, was faster and sprinted to the win with a time of 1:50.25.2, followed by Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, 7.6 second back.

From the chasing group behind, Sofie Elebro, Team Eksjöhus, was the strongest and completed the podium in the third position, 2:40.2 behind the winner, and her first Ski Classics Pro Tour podium ever.

La Venosta Criterium – Top 5 Women

1. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 1:50:25.2
2. Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, +7.6
3. Sofie Elebro, Team Eksjöhus, +2:40.2
4. Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, +2:54.3
5. Jenny Larsson, Team Ragde Charge, +3:09.6

LA VENOSTA CRITERIUM – MEN’S RACE

The men’s race started at 10:30 CET, and there was no decisive action until they got to the first Sprint checkpoint, with the field setting a controlled pace from the beginning.

At the only Sprint of the day, with 4.3km into the race, Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, crossed the checkpoint first, followed by Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet, in second, and Vebjørn Moen, Team Eksjöhus, in third.

The pace was controlled after the Sprint and heading to the climb parts of the course, and a big group was in the front until a famous face, Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, got a breakaway. 

With 9.5km into the race, Nygaard had a gap of 17.9 seconds over the big chasing group behind. With about 25km to go, the leading group was together again, with 36 skiers within 30.6 seconds.

With 20km to go, the group was still solid, with the top contenders for the day positioning themselves at the front of the pack. Soon after, with 19km to go, Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, and Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, hit the front, with all the favorites attentive to any move attempt.

Before the first Climb of the day, 21km into the race, Thomas Bing moved to the front, preparing the way for the steep Climb checkpoint. At the line, Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, crossed first and won the points, followed by Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus.

With 12km to go, 12 strong skiers were still in front, all within 5.2 seconds of the front. Approaching the second Climb checkpoint, 29km into the race, and just 8km to the finish, Thomas Bing was in the lead and taking control. At the line, Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, crossed first, followed by Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus.

After the Climb and with 3.5km to go, the group was still solid with 12 skiers, within 9.1 seconds, with Team Ragde Charge in the front and taking control. At this point of the race, positioning was crucial for the final Climb to the finish line. 

Under the 1km to go mark, it was a fight between a solid group of seven Pro Tour skiers (three from Team Ragde Charge and four from Team Eksjöhus).

In the end, Team Ragde Charge dominated all the podium places. Andreas Nygaard won with a superior performance, followed by Kasper Stadaas in second place and Johan Joel in third place, completing the podium.

La Venosta Criterium – Top 5 Men

1. Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, 1:34:07.9
2. Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, +2.5
3. Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, +8.3
4. Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus, +11.1
5. Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus, +12.6

CURRENT STANDINGS SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS

After La Venosta Criterium, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, lead the Champion Bib Competition. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, are carrying the Green bib of the Sprint Competition.  

Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, carry the bib for the Climb Competition. The Pink Bib for the best Youth rests on Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Amund Riege, Team Ramudden.

Team Eksjöhus is the best Pro Team after La Venosta Criterium.

Winner’s Interviews

Next up is La Venosta ITT tomorrow, Sunday, December 17, 2023. The event marks the fourth Ski Classics Pro Tour stage of Season XV.

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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