One is Norwegian, and the other is Swedish. On the ski tracks, the Pro Team athletes battle each other for points in the fight for the Green Sprint bib. But at home in Falun, they train together and hang out in their free time.

Vebjørn Moen, Team Eksjöhus, and Anton Persson, Team Ramudden, have been competing against each other this season for the Green Sprint bib sprint jersey. This weekend, the final showdown will take place as Reistadløpet and Summit2Senja conclude the Ski Classics Season XVI. They are each other’s biggest rivals on the course, but after crossing the finish line, they are friends.

Both live in Falun, Sweden, and when it’s not race season, they train together.

“We have trained together in Falun and also spent time together off the tracks. Anton is a great guy, and it’s cool that we have this fight. I hope we can battle like brothers, give our best on the tracks, and then laugh and shake hands afterward. Winning the Green bib wouldn’t be as meaningful without this competition,” says Vebjørn Moen about his biggest competitor during the Ski Classics Live Sessions this week.

Watch Here: Reistadløpet and Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Ski Classics Live Sessions

The Plan Wasn’t to Go for the Sprint Bib

Last weekend, Vebjørn Moen had the chance to secure the sprint bib but fell early and later dropped out of the race. Ahead of Reistadløpet and Summit 2 Senja, Moen holds a 46-point lead over Anton Persson.

The Norwegian hadn’t planned on targeting the sprint prizes this year.

“My plan this season was not to go for the sprint bib. But after a few days in Bad Gastein, where I didn’t feel great and with tough conditions, I didn’t think I would be in contention for the overall win, he says, continuing:

“So, I went for the sprints just for fun. When we had ski trouble in Toblach, I went for the sprint there too. After that, I was in a good position for the green bib, so I had to go for it. It wasn’t my plan at the start of the season, but I hope to secure the victory this weekend.”

“It’s Not Over Yet”

Anton Persson switched from traditional sprint racing to long-distance skiing this season when he joined Team Ramudden. He hopes to challenge Moen in this weekend’s races, but he still has a gap to close.

“Vebjørn has a big lead. It’s not over yet, but he has a good chance of taking it. I need to put pressure on him and go as hard as I can in both races. It will be a tough fight together,” says Anton Persson.

Who is faster, you or Vebjørn?

“I’ve been the fastest, but Vebjørn is the strongest. In these races, the strongest wins,” Persson concludes with a laugh.

Also Read: Ski Classics Standings after Marcialonga Bodø Season XVI

Reistadløpet and Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja

The Ski Classics ends Season XVI with a back-to-back Pro Tour event weekend with Reistadløpet on Saturday, March 29, and the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on Sunday, March 30, 2025. On SC Play, you can watch the events live with English commentary, with Guy McCrea as a host and Ski Classics Legend Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, as an expert commentator.

It will be Guy McCrea and Ski Classics Legend Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, who (in English) will lead the viewers through this weekend’s broadcast on SC PLAY. 

WATCH HERE ON SC PLAY!

The SC Play app is available to download for iOS, Android, and Apple TV. You can watch it on your television, mobile device, and computer. SC Play is part of the SC Ski Community and is accessible to all members on news sites ProXCskiing.com, Langd.se, Langrenn.com, Maastohiihto.com, and Bezky.net. 

Also Read: Reistadløpet and Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja ending Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI

Next up is Reistadløpet on Saturday, March 29, and the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on Sunday, March 30. The events mark the 13^th and 14^th and final Ski Classics Pro Tour events of Season XVI.

Reistadløpet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 13

• Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
• Location: Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway
• Distance: 46km Classic Technique
• Start Time: 10:00 CET for Men and 10:05 CET for Women
• SC Sprints: 1
  • Storlømyra: km 5
• SC Climbs: 1
  • Orta (Iconic Climb): km 13
• Total Ascent: 1225m
• Last Edition Winners: Astrid Øyre Slind (2:20:32.7) and Johan Hoel (2:01:15.3)
• Website: Reistadløpet 
• SC Play: Reistadløpet

More information about Reistadløpet can be found HERE and HERE

Course Map and Profile

Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 14

• Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
• Location: Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway
• Distance: 60km Classic Technique
• Start Time: 8:30 CET for Men and 8:35 CET for Women
• SC Sprints: 1
  • Johannesmyra: km 11
• SC Climbs: 1
  • Magdaskaret (Iconic Climb): km 55
• Total Ascent: 1357m
• Last Edition Winners: Magni Smedås (3:10:33.0) and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget (2:45:08.0)
• Website: Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja 
• SC Play: Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja

More information about the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja can be found HERE and HERE

Course Map and Profile

Also Read: The Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja ending Ski Classics Season XVI

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI (2024/2025)

Season XVI of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events across 10 event weekends in 6 countries. It started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 13, 2024, with the Pro Team Presentation and ends in Finnsnes, Norway, with the Ski Classics Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on March 30, 2025.

• Event 0: Friday, December 13, 2024 –Ski Classics Pro Team Presentation XVI – Bad Gastein, Austria
• Event 1: Saturday, December 14, 2024 – Bad Gastein ITT – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: Sunday, December 15, 2024 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: Saturday, January 11, 2025 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Sexten, Italy, 60km
• Event 4: Sunday, January 12, 2025 – La Venosta ITT Kapron-Melago – Val Venosta, Italy, 11km
• Event 5: Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 43km
• Event 6: Sunday, January 26, 2025 – Marcialonga – Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 7: Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 8: Saturday, February 15, 2025 – Grönklitt Criterium 61 – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 61km
• Event 9: Sunday, February 16, 2025 – Grönklitt ITT – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 13km
• Event 10: Sunday, March 2, 2025 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 11: Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 12: Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Marcialonga Bodø – Valnesfjord, Norway, 50km
• Event 13: Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 46km
• Event 14: Sunday, March 30, 2025 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com