“Now that I have the Pink bib after the first weekend, I will, of course, try to keep it,” says Amund Riege after a strong prologue weekend in Bad Gastein, Austria.

With a ninth place in the Bad Gastein Criterium on Sunday, he was the best male youth athlete, meaning the 22-year-old gets to wear the Pink bib next weekend in La Venosta.

“I am very satisfied with the races in Bad Gastein. I felt very well the days before. But of course, you never know when it’s the first race of the year,” says Team Ramudden’s skier.

“I have never done so well in Ski Classics before, so I have to be happy with that.” 

His best result so far was 13th place in last season’s Jizerská50. However, the Norwegian Pro Tour skier won the Ski Classics Challengers event in Furusjøen Rundt-Rennet’s previous season. With consistent results throughout the season, he eventually finished fourth overall at the Youth competition.

Riege has become part of Team Ramudden this season, and he believes the change can be an essential part of taking the next step as a long-distance skier:

“It’s a lot of fun with a new team, and I’m very happy. It is a bigger team, and they have a more professional plan,” Riege told Langrenn.com before the opening weekend in Bad Gastein.

Have you made any changes in your training that have brought you to a higher level? 

“There are not that many changes. But I have double poled more, and the total training has increased.”

Even with a new team and more significant amounts of training, Riege studies full-time at NTNU in Trondheim. He is in his third year of the master’s course. And for that reason, December is somewhat more hectic:

“It’s exam period now, so it’s a bit challenging. I had an exam last week when we were in Livigno, and I also have one when I get home from La Venosta next week. I try to work with the school between sessions, but of course, it’s a bit extra challenging now with more traveling and competitions. But I like to have something to do besides skiing.”

A Race For The Strongest Athletes

Before this weekend’s La Venosta in Italy, Riege and the rest of Team Ramudden have traveled to Livigno for the final preparations.

What have you done this week to prepare for La Venosta? 

“First of all, I have to recover from the tough races in Bad Gastein. So, on Monday, I did a light session. On Tuesday, I had a long session, four hours of double poling. And today (Wednesday), I had an interval session to get some speed in my body. Now there will be a few easy days before some race prep on Friday (today). Hopefully, I will be ready again on Saturday.” 

What are your expectations for La Venosta? 

“It is a very tough course in La Venosta. It is a race for the strongest athletes. Hopefully, I’ll have a good day and manage to stay in the lead for as long as possible. I’m in good shape now. So hopefully, I can be up there, fighting for those top positions.” 

And it is not the first time Riege is in Italy and races at La Venosta. Last year he started at the Ski Classics Challengers event, La Venosta Open. There he finished in second place.

Do you think the race will suit you? And can you use the experience from last year? 

“I think the track will suit those who are in good shape. Last year there weren’t that many good starters so it will be much tougher this year. But at least I know the course, and I hope to use some of that experience.” 

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, 30km
• 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

You can watch the Ski Classics Season XIV on SC Play

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

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