Lager 157 Ski Team announced that Pro Team star Emil Persson will miss this weekend’s Ski Classics Pro Tour premiere in Bad Gastein.

Lager 157 Ski Team announced today that one of the team’s most decorated athletes, Emil Persson, will not take part in this weekend’s Ski Classics Pro Tour season opener in Bad Gastein. Last season, he finished second at the Bad Gastein Criterium, but now he is forced to sit out after his body, for some time, has not reacted as hoped to the training load included in the intensive autumn build-up.

“The body simply hasn’t coped with the strain required during the latter part of the autumn, and I now need to prioritize recovery in order to come back stronger,” says Emil Persson on a press release from Lager 157 Ski Team.

Emil Persson is one of the Ski Classics Legends and currently has 19 Ski Classics Pro Tour victories, including triumphs in Vasaloppet and Marcialonga. His absence is therefore a significant loss for the team, but the decision is seen as necessary to create the best possible conditions for strong performances later in the season.

“Emil is one of the absolute best long-distance skiers in the world. For him to perform at the level he and we aim for, recovery must come first right now. We fully support the decision and expect him to be back as soon as his body allows,” says Anton Järnberg, Pro Team Director of Lager 157 Ski Team.

According to the press release, “Despite the absence of one of its biggest profiles, Lager 157 Ski Team still travels to Bad Gastein with high ambitions and clear goals, convinced they can perform at the absolute highest level already from the start of the season.”

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This weekend, the Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII kicks off in Bad Gastein with the Pro Team Tempo on Saturday and the Criterium on Sunday.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)

• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Austria – 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Sweden – 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Sweden – 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Norway – 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km

Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII 2025/2026

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com.

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