Kasper Stadaas got a dream start with his new Team Aker Dæhlie when he won the Bad Gastein Criterium. Now the Norwegian has been training at high altitude in Livigno ahead of Engadin La Diagonela, a race he has already won.

During the Ski Classics opening weekend in Bad Gastein, Kasper Stadaas once again emerged as a winner in Sunday’s individual race, the Bad Gastein Criterium. He crossed the finish line first with his new Pro Team for the season, Team Aker Dæhlie.

“It was fantastic for our team. I think we have trained well together and worked really hard as a team, with the coach, the waxing team, and the skiers. So, we really made it a great day for all of us. It was really cool,” Kasper Stadaas said at the press conference ahead of Engadin La Diagonela.

Watch the full video interview at the bottom of the article.

Were you surprised that you were so strong in the finishing sprint, or was it as you had planned?

“No, of course I was surprised. It’s very difficult to win ski races. So, when you manage to do it, it’s always a bit of a surprise and a relief. You never know, anything can happen.”

At the end of the race, Stadaas got valuable support from his new teammate Petter Stakston.

“We train a lot together and talk about different scenarios, and now we know each other quite well. We’ve trained together two to three times a week. We clicked in the final kilometers, and this time it worked really well.”

Training at high altitude

After the Christmas holidays, he traveled to Livigno to train at altitude. There, he has been together with the entire team to prepare and build form ahead of three intensive race weekends in January. First up is Engadin La Diagonela in Switzerland. Engadin La Diagonela is a race that suits Stadaas, and he has won it a couple of times.

“Historically, Engadin La Diagonela has been good for me. I like the race. I think it’s like the fifth most important one,” he says, adding:

“Unfortunately, it won’t be in St. Moritz this year. I would have preferred that, but it’s a fantastic race and an iconic finish when you ski into Zuoz, so it’s good to be fresh until then.”

Also Read: Course and start time updates for Engadin La Diagonela

Hoping for a harder race

Stadaas hopes for a slightly more challenging race than what he feels is usually the case at Engadin La Diagonela.

“Historically, there are usually 30 to 40 skiers going into the final kilometers together. But hopefully, some want to make it a harder race. At the same time, it depends on the conditions and the skis for each team and each skier. So, I think many different tactics can work,” he says, before adding what he believes is the most straightforward tactic of all:

“I think the most important tactic is to be first across the finish line. It’s a simple tactic.”

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)

Season XVII of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 13 events across 9 event weekends in 6 countries. 

• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 47km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Moena-Cavalese, Italy, 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

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