The new race of Engadin La Diagonela ‘La Sfida’ joins the Ski Classics Challengers calendar
La Sfida is a new long-distance skiing event of Engadin La Diagonela in Switzerland, starting in Zuoz and finishing at Silvaplana, and is joining the Ski Classics Challengers circuit for the upcoming edition on January 21, 2024.
The Local Organizing Committee is pleased to be joining the Ski Classics Challengers circuit:
“We are very happy to announce our new race of the Engadin La Diagonela Family! The challenge’ La Sfida’ over 29km from Zuoz to Silvaplana, in freestyle technique.”
Ramun Ratti, OC President of La Diagonela, is delighted with the new race under the umbrella of Engadin La Diagonela:
“We wanted to extend the La Diagonela weekend, and we have found the perfect partner in La Sfida for this purpose. We look forward to jointly expanding the La Diagonela experience over several days and offering cross-country skiers an even more diverse range of options. For us, being a Ski Classics Challengers with La Sfida is great. We are delighted to welcome the participants for the first edition of La Sfida on the Sunday after La Diagonela.”
The article continues below.

Florian Wohlwend, head of the tracks, explains about the course:
“La Sfida is the Romansh word for ‘The Challenge.’ Truly: The start in Zuoz along the track of the Engadin Skimarathon goes up with its small but fine climbs to La Punt. After La Punt, 8km of what is known in the cycling scene as a ‘false flat’ follow. At first glance, the route looks flat until Celerina, but in fact, it climbs steadily. After the famous airport passage and the Instagram hotspot ‘San Gian’ near Celerina, the climb to Pontresina follows. And now comes the real ‘sfida’: the famous Stazerwald, but uphill,” and adds:
“The iconic mattresses are only needed for resting. A tricky descent follows, which has also been the undoing of the stars of ‘La Diagonela.’ Across Lake St. Moritz, you can catch your breath for the first time before the grand finale: the ski jump passage in St. Moritz, in reverse ‘Engadin Skimarathon’ direction. On the last 2km, speed is the order of the day. But don’t overdo it; we want to see a dynamic final sprint to the finish in Silvaplana!”
Two section sprints are to be completed. The first is in Pontresina, and the second is in St. Moritz.

With La Sfida (the Ski Classics Challengers event), the Engadin La Diagonela weekend is extended in the upcoming winter. Along with La Pachifica – 25km in classic technique – which will be held on Saturday, there will also be a list with skiathlon classification.
The complete calendar of races includes four different events over two days:
Saturday, January 20, 2024
- Engadin La Diagonela – 55km classic technique (Ski Classics Pro Tour event)
- La Pachifica – 25km classic technique
- La Cuorta – 6km classic technique
Sunday, January 21, 2024
- La Sfida – 29km freestyle technique (Ski Classics Challengers event)
More information about the event can be found HERE, and registrations HERE
LA SFIDA
- Date: January 21, 2024
- Place: Zuoz-Silvaplana
- Country: Switzerland
- Race distance: 29km
- Technique: Freestyle
- Website: La Sfida
- Facebook: La Sfida
- Instagram: La Sfida
- Registration: La Sfida
COURSE MAP

COURSE PROFILE

As La Sfida’s 29km race is a Ski Classics Challengers event, Pro Team registered athletes can collect points for the Ski Classics Champion and Youth competitions in their respective genders.
A list of Ski Classics Challengers events with confirmed dates for season 2023/2024 can be found at Ski Classics. The list is updated continuously with new events.
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