Prato Piazza Is The First Ski Classics Iconic Climb Season XIV

by Leandro Lutz • 14.01.2023
The Iconic Climbs are the new addition to Season XIV and give some extra spark to the most challenging climbs in Ski Classics. For this season, there will be four Iconic Climbs, first is Prato Piazza, the finishing hill of the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge. 

There are always exciting launches from Ski Classics and one of the news for this season is the Iconic Climbs. 

The Iconic Climb is a new category in the Ski Classics points table. The category will be used for the most iconic climbs of Ski Classics

The idea for the new Iconic Climb category is that all climbs differ; some are tougher, and some have more history behind them. Ski Classics wants to enhance the interest around the climbs and reward the strongest athletes slightly more. 

The Iconic Climb points are 50% higher than a Category 1 Climb. Winners get 45 instead of 30 points in the Climb competition. 

For Season XIV, there will be four Iconic Climbs. First is up to Prato Piazza, the finishing hill of the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge. Second is Cascata, which is the last hill up to Cavalese in Marcialonga. 

The third Iconic Climb is Raudfjellet which is the first long hill in Birkebeinerrennet, and last but not least is the Orta climb in Reistadløpet. 

CLIMB PROFILE & LENGTH

Event: Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge – Ski Classics Event 5

  • Date: January 15, 2023 
  • Climb: Prato Piazza, from 1460 to 2000m above sea level, including 6 kilometers on a continuous uphill following an old military road. 

Event: Marcialonga – Ski Classics Event 7

  • Date: January 29, 2023
  • Climb: Cascata, from 830 to 990m above sea level, is 2 kilometers long, and the most challenging thing is that it starts after 68 kilometers.

Event: Birkebeinerrennet – Ski Classics Event 12

  • Date: March 18, 2023
  • Climb: Raudfjellet, from 300 to 880m above sea level, 19 kilometers long. Not the steepest climb, but it is often very high-paced already from the start.

Event: Reistadløpet – Ski Classics Event 13

  • Date: April 1, 2023
  • Climb: Orta, from 136 to 575m above sea level, 6 kilometers long, with many very steep sections and short flats in between, the main reason Reistadløpet has never been won without kick wax.

The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 32km race in Italy tomorrow, January 15, 2023.

PRATO PIAZZA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 5

  • Date: January 15, 2023
  • Distance: 32km Classic Technique 
  • Location: Villabassa/Niederdorf, Italy (Start) – Prato Piazza (Finish)
  • Start Time: Women 9:05 CET / Men 9:00 CET
  • Number of SC Sprints: 1
  • Sprint: Lago di Dobbiaco 8km 
  • Number of SC Climbs: 1
  • Climb/Finish: Prato Piazza 32km 
  • Total Ascent: 1022m

COURSE MAP & PROFILE

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

SKI CLASSICS PRO TOUR SEASON XIV (2022/2023)

  • Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
  • Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
  • Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
  • Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
  • Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
  • Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km 
  • Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
  • Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
  • Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
  • Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
  • Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
  • Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
  • Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
  • Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.

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