“Reaching my fifth victory in the Ski Classics is a big goal this season,” says Stadaas to Langd.se.

Saturday, December 16, is time for the third Ski Classics Season XV event. A challenging 37km long-distance race waits at the La Venosta Criterium, with a challenging course and high altitude, where the skiers reach up to 1.950 meters above sea level.

This is a few hundred meters higher than at last weekend’s races in Sportgastein, Austria:

“High altitude is always a factor. Some manage it better than others. But several skiers came straight up to high altitude from the low altitude last weekend; now they have had longer preparations, so there will be more fast skiers this weekend. I expect it to be a tough and fast race,” says Team Ragde Charge skier Kasper Stadaas, who took his fourth victory in the Ski Classics last Sunday.

Read More: Fleten and Stadaas winners of Bad Gastein Criterium Season XV

If Stadaas takes another victory, he will join the exclusive group of Ski Classics Legends:

“Taking five victories and becoming a Ski Classics Legend is something I really want to do. It’s a big goal this season.”

On Sunday’s race in Bad Gastein, the Team Ragde Charge Pro Team athlete was on the offensive throughout the race:

“I tried to play my cards right, and it worked well. Then, I don’t know if I felt so strong during the race. It’s difficult when competing against so many strong skiers; you never really know how it will go.”

How have you prepared during the week?

“We went straight back to Livigno after the race. Celebrated the victory with a pizza on the way. Then, my plan is to keep up the training throughout December. It’s a long season, and the biggest races come after Christmas, so I’ve put in a lot of training at the beginning of the week to keep up the volume.”

Which of the Ski Classics bibs are you mainly aiming for?

“To be honest, I’m not aiming for any bib. The main goal is to win races. Then, if I am in the sprints, I will let Alfred (Buskqvist) work for the sprint points, and I hope to help Johan (Hoel) in the Climb competition. But for me, the focus is on one race at a time. It’s a boring answer, but it’s the truth,” says Kasper Stadaas.

Next up is La Venosta Criterium on December 16 and La Venosta ITT on December 17, 2023. The events mark the third and fourth Ski Classics stages, Season XV.

Read More: All you need to know ahead of La Venosta weekend 

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 56km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

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