The green Sprint bib is worn by the female and male with the most current Sprint points before each event. There are 0-2 sprints in the events. The seven fastest women and seven fastest men split times at the sprints will get points. The overall winner is the athlete with the most sprint points after the season in each gender. 

The sprint competition is always an interesting one. Every year, many athletes solely focus on this particular category, and they pace themselves accordingly in races so that they are positioned well before approaching sprint points.

The last season’s winners are not in the game anymore as Stian Berg has said that he wants to follow in the footsteps of his inspiration, Andreas Nygaard, who started as a sprinter and became a bona fide Ski Classics hero. That is the path that Berg is keen on taking in the future. Then, Britta Johansson Norgren retired after last season and is not available to defend her title next winter.

Sprint Favorites Men

That leaves us with an open field in the sprint competition. Last season, Emil Persson, Ermil Vokuev, and Max Novak were the skiers behind Berg, but both Persson and Novak are shooting for the Yellow Bib, and Vokuev is banned from racing due to the conflict in Ukraine. It goes without saying that the Champion contenders have a great chance to win this category as well.

One of the favorites in the sprint competition is Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden. It depends on his role on the team. If he is asked to go for this competition, he will be a great point collector. He has competed in many Scandinavian Cup races, including sprints, and finished 28th both at Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet and 20th at Reistadløpet. He is a strong enough skier to stay in the lead group and shoot for sprint points if need be. 

Two good contenders could be Fredrik Helgestad, Team Kaffebryggeriet, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge. The former is a rookie in the world of long-distance skiing, but he has many Scandinavian Cup races, sprint ones included, under his belt. However, he needs to commit to a full season, be ready for attacks, and stay in the lead group long enough to score sprint points.

The latter has the potential to win races, which he actually did last winter by taking the victory trophies at La Diagonela and Årefjällsloppet. He was also among the best four skiers in four races, two of them on the podium. This category may not be what he is aiming for, but if his team wants to get points from the sprint competition as well, he can be the man for the job.

Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Charge, and Marcus Johansson, Lager 157 Ski Team, were 5th and 6th in this competition last season, and they were only six points behind Novak. They also have a chance if they choose to fight for the Green bib. For Kardin, the Yellow Bib is, for sure, his main goal.

Also interesting to mention Vebjørn Moen, Team Aker Dæhlie. The Norwegian skier has no previous experience with the hardship of Ski Classics. Still, he has gained some experience in World Cup and Scandinavian Cup ski racing, mainly in sprint skiing. If he decides to fight for the Green bib, he will have to take it step by step and get a feel for it. 

Sprint Bib Favorites Men – Ski Classics Season XIV

Emil Persson

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 05.04.1995
• Pro Team: Lager 157 Ski Team 
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Max Novak

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 01.02.1996
• Pro Team: Team Aker Dæhlie 
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Alfred Buskqvist

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 21.05.1996
• Pro Team: Team Ramudden
• Likelihood to win: 3 out of 5

Fredrik Helgestad

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 20.04.1997
• Pro Team: Team Kaffebryggeriet 
• Likelihood to win: 2 out of 5

Kasper Stadaas

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 21.02.1994
• Pro Team: Team Ragde Charge
• Likelihood to win: 2 out of 5

Oskar Kardin

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 13.01.1992
• Pro Team: Team Ragde Charge 
• Likelihood to win: Dark horse

Marcus Johansson

• Nationality: Sweden 
• Date of Birth: 21.03.1990
• Pro Team: Lager 157 Ski Team
• Likelihood to win: Dark horse

Vebjørn Moen

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 12.05.1998
• Pro Team: Team Aker Dæhlie 
• Likelihood to win: Dark horse

Sprint Favorites Women

Since Johansson Norgren is out of the game, no clear winner candidate is available in the women’s competition. Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, can collect enough points to win this competition if she goes for breakaways during races and manages to hold a gap between her and her rivals. The same applies to Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden.

However, the most likely sprint queen is Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, as this category has so far been the one she has clearly focused on. Her team will count on her valuable input, and she is now an experienced sprinter who knows the tricks of the trade.

Linn Sömskar, Team Engcon, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, are also skiers who are worth mentioning when considering possible sprint competition favorites. For Smedås, the Climb competition may be even more suitable, while Sömskar could easily put her focus on this competition since winning the Champion competition might be biting off more than she can chew.

Sprint Bib Favorites Women – Ski Classics Season XIV

Astrid Øyre Slind

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 09.02.1988
• Pro Team: Team Aker Dæhlie
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Anikken Gjerde Alnæs

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 11.04.1994
• Pro Team: Team Ragde Charge
• Likelihood to win: 4 out of 5

Magni Smedås

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 17.06.1995
• Pro Team: Team Eksjöhus 
• Likelihood to win: 3 out of 5

Linn Sömskar

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 03.06.1989
• Pro Team: Team Engcon 
• Likelihood to win: 3 out of 5

Ida Dahl

• Nationality: Sweden
• Date of Birth: 17.01.1996
• Pro Team: Team Engcon
• Likelihood to win: 2 out of 5

Emilie Fleten

• Nationality: Norway
• Date of Birth: 09.06.1992
• Pro Team: Team Ramudden
• Likelihood to win: 2 out of 5

It is incredibly difficult to come up with undisputed favorites in this competition. Still, after careful consideration, the scales will be dipped in favor of the ones who fight for the Yellow Bib as well. Therefore, Emil Persson and Max Novak are the male candidates, and Astrid Øyre Slind, along with Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, are the names on the women’s side.

Written by Expert Commentator Teemu Virtanen.

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