Today, Petter Eliassen, a Ski Classics Legend, will be an expert commentator on SC Play for Marcialonga, a race he won in 2019. These are his favorite skiers for this edition.

Sunday morning marks the start of Marcialonga, the first of the four Grand Classics, one of the most prestigious races in Ski Classics. But who will win the 51st Marcialonga in 2024?

Langrenn.com talked with former Pro Team athlete and Ski Classics Legend Petter Eliassen. These are the skiers he believes are worth mentioning on in this year’s Marcialonga. Spoiler: He doesn’t give Petter Northug great chances.

Petter Eliassen was part of the Norwegian cross-country ski team, competing in the World Championships for Norway in both 2011 and 2013. However, it was after transitioning to long-distance skiing and Ski Classics that he achieved his greatest victories and results: Eliassen won four prestigious races in his first season as a long-distance skier. He continued to accumulate podium finishes thereafter.

After retiring from elite-level skiing, Eliassen moved to Alta, where he works as a physiotherapist. He is now an expert commentator on SC Play for Marcialonga, a race he won in 2019.

“It’s very exciting this year. It’s more open than it has been for a long time in both the women’s and men’s classes,” says Eliassen, who will commentate Sunday’s race on SC Play alongside Teemu Virtanen.

Read More: Marcialonga live streamed on SC PLAY with English commentary – Petter Eliassen as expert commentator

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“Astrid is a ‘wild card’ this year,” Eliassen starts with the women’s class.

“There are several strong female skiers, and their numbers are growing. But I’m particularly curious about Astrid Øyre Slind. She also competes in traditional cross-country skiing and hasn’t participated in any long-distance races earlier this season,” says Eliassen, and adds:

“There’s a big difference between long-distance and traditional cross-country skiing. Has she maintained her long-distance form through the traditional focus? Has more emphasis on skating affected her double poling? She’s good and has won almost everything, but she hasn’t won Marcialonga, even in the years she focused solely on long-distance skiing.”

Øyre Slind is definitely one of Eliassen’s favorites, along with Ski Classic overall leader Emilie Fleten, last week’s dominant Engadin La Diagonela winner Magni Smedås, and last year’s Ski Classics overall winner Ida Dahl.

Eliassen also highlights Finland’s rising star, Kati Roivas, who achieved her first Ski Classics podium before Christmas and has been on the podium in the last two long-distance races.

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Eliassen Favors Nygaard

In the men’s race, Eliassen believes several men could win this year, but one stands out.

“Andreas Nygaard is incredibly strong and has proven it several times recently. He was injured in La Diagonela, and it’s still uncertain if he will race on Sunday. But if he starts, it’s because he believes he can win.”

He also mentions Nygaard’s teammates Johan Hoel and Kasper Stadaas, who lead Ski Classics overall and impressively won Engadin La Diagonela last weekend, and last year’s Ski Classics winner Emil Persson, who performed well in the latter part of Engadin La Diagonela.

“But there are always outsiders who can emerge. Herman Paus has a strong finish, and if he’s well-positioned, he could be dangerous.”

What about Petter Northug? He has shown strong form improvement after Christmas, even making the podium in Prato Piazza two weeks ago.

“It’s great that Petter is back and competing again. In his prime, he would have won, no doubt. But now, it will be tough for him. He might keep up until the last hill, but there, he’s outmatched. Even though Petter has trained hard and well, he probably lacks the capacity to compete with the best now. You get slower with age.”

What do you think about the development of long-distance skiing during and after your active career?

“When I started long-distance skiing, double poling had already become popular. There were only a few races where I used grip wax. Many good sprint specialists started focusing on long-distance skiing, so there was extra emphasis on double poling. And it seems the competition is closer to the top now. It’s harder to break away,” says Eliassen.

Never Forgets His Victory in Cavalese

Eliassen has several strong results in Marcialonga, but the victory in 2019 is naturally his fondest memory. He’ll never forget that race experience, from tactical considerations before the start to realizing he could win and the victory in Cavalese.

“I got the idea just before the start to go hard from the beginning. My goal was to maintain a high pace. We were a leading group as we entered the hill (before the finish). I knew I had Andreas Nygaard on my tail, but then I got a gap almost immediately into the hill, and it just increased. It was an amazing feeling, as I had several tough experiences in that final climb,” says Eliassen about the race where he won by a half-minute margin over Nygaard almost five years ago.

After retiring from elite-level skiing in 2021, Eliassen also participated in Marcialonga in 2022 – then as a “recreational skier” (according to himself), finishing in 130th place. He doesn’t rule out participating in the Italian classic again in the future.

“Marcialonga is a very special race, with the atmosphere everywhere and the whole valley contributing. There are not many places in the world where it would be possible to organize such a race.”