After several solid performances and podium finishes this summer, Petter Northug, Team Janteloppet, has earned the respect of his competitors. Ahead of Klarälvsloppet on Sunday, the traditional cross-country skiing legend is one of the favorites to win the 90km long-distance roller ski race in Sweden.  

You can follow Klarälvsloppet live on SC Play from 8:00 CET with Pro Team athlete Katerina Paul and Teemu Virtanen leading the viewers through this weekend’s broadcast on SC Play. 

Klarälvsloppet – Live Here on SC Play!

“I’d be surprised if Northug isn’t in contention for victory on Sunday,” says Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, who believes the Ski Classics Challengers event Klarälvsloppet is the most important roller ski race of the season.

“It’s the most important roller ski race we do. It’s the last big race before the season starts, there’s a good attendance, and it’s live-streamed. People are in good shape, and many are looking for answers to this race. So, on Sunday, we’ll see who will do well this winter,” says Nygaard to Langrenn.com. 

The 32-year-old from Team Ragde Charge has won Vasaloppet twice, most recently in 2022, and has ambitions to reclaim victory there next March and at Klarälvsloppet on Sunday.

“If I feel good, I’ll be disappointed if I’m not one of those fighting for the podium here on Sunday,” says Nygaard.

BECOME A MEMBER HERE 

Good benchmark 

The Ski Classics Legend points out that the results from Klarälvsloppet are a good indicator of what the winter will be like. 

“When we are so close to the start of the season, people have trained a lot, done some races, and also had some harder sessions with higher intensity, and no one wants to be worse in October than they were in May. So, the results here certainly indicate who will be good at the start of the season,” says Nygaard, and continues: 

“Klarälvsloppet is the roller ski race that is most similar to Vasaloppet, and we see that those who do well at Klarälvsloppet are also good at similar races on snow. Petter Stakston won here last year and was in the running for victory at Vasaloppet this winter. Max Novak won two years ago and is also always a force to be reckoned with.” 

Watch Here the Best Moments of Klarälvsloppet 2022

Northug is one of the favorites

Regarding this year’s starting field, Nygaard points to Petter Northug as one of the early favorites. 

“I’d be surprised if Northug isn’t in contention for victory on Sunday,” Nygaard told Langrenn.com.

The 37-year-old, who made his comeback at the elite level last year, has delivered several solid results in this summer’s roller ski races: Northug finished third at the Blink Classics and third at Trysilsprinten the day before Alliansloppet in August, made it to the sprint final at Toppidrettsveka, and has several top-10 finishes. 

Read More: The training that brought Northug back to the top

Northug will be challenged by the entire Pro Team athletes’ field and many World Cup skiers from biathlon and cross-country skiing, including arch-rival Calle Halfvarsson, William Poromaa, and Marcus Grate. 

Here you can find the preliminary start list

Klarälvsloppet – Facts

• Date: Sunday, October 1, 2023
• Location: Karlstad
• Country: Sweden
• Race Distance: 90km 
• Technique: Roller ski classic
• Website: Klarälvsloppet   
• Registration: Klarälvsloppet     
• Instagram: Klarälvsloppet      
• Facebook: Klarälvsloppet     

Klarälvsloppet – Map and Profile

Klarälvsloppet is a Ski Classics Challengers event. Pro Team registered athletes can collect points for the Ski Classics Champion and Youth competitions in their respective genders. 

A list of Ski Classics Challengers events with confirmed dates for season 2023/2024 can be found at Ski Classics. The list is updated continuously with new events.

Everyone participating in Ski Classics, Pro Tour or Challengers events, professional and recreational skiers, can connect their profile to the results database of Ski Classics, called MyPages.

MyPages can be connected when subscribing to Ski Classics online community proxcskiing.com. In the profile, you can view your Ski Classics event results, collect pins, print diplomas, and analyze your results with friends in the SC ranking system. In your profile, you collect points according to your performance and are rewarded with pins and diplomas.

One of the central features of MyPages is that you get your global SC ranking. The SC Ranking is a live updated international ranking, unique in combining women and men, professional and recreational skiers in one single list.

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site, including logging in to SC MyPages, where you can check your SC Ranking. Also, live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentaries.

When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round.

Register HERE as a Member.