The Tour de France only counts those athletes who finish every stage, and the winner is decided by overall time. What if Ski Classics did the same? Here are the 18 athletes who completed every Pro Tour event during Season XVI – and the surprising winner.

Since its inception in 2011, Ski Classics has drawn inspiration from various sports, particularly cycling. The concept is to crown the world’s best long-distance skier throughout an entire season, across multiple terrains, distances, and conditions.

Like the Tour de France, Ski Classics also awards a yellow overall leader’s bib as the most prestigious prize. There are also bibs available for the sprint, climb, and youth categories, as well as a team competition.

But while Ski Classics crowns its overall winner based on cumulative points throughout the season, the Tour de France declares its overall winner based on total time across all stages. And only riders who complete every stage count in the final general classification of the Tour de France.

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

18 out of 294 completed all Pro Tour events

Ski Classics Season XVI (2024/2025) consisted of 14 events, but only 18 out of 294 registered Pro Team athletes completed all of them.

The Tour de France has 21 stages and two rest days. Ahead of Stage 19, only 20 of the 184 starters have abandoned. A former biathlete is currently leading the youth classification and sits third overall in this year’s Tour, with three stages left to Paris.

Also see: Former biathlete fighting at the top of the Tour de France

Tour de France fun facts: Overall leader Tadej Pogačar has cross-country skiing as his second passion. In the race for the green jersey, Jonathan Milan from Lidl-Trek is in the lead. The 24-year-old Italian has worked with a Swedish cross-country ski coach in recent years.

Who would have won the Ski Classics Season XVI based on time?

If Ski Classics had an overall classification based on time, with the requirement to finish every race, the general classification for Season XVI (2024/2025) would have looked like this. The actual placement last season (2024/2025) is shown in parentheses:

Men’s overall (time-based classification):

1. (2) Johan Tjelle, Team Engcon – 27:18:00
2. (6) Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Team Eksjöhus – 27:23:52
3. (9) Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus – 27:25:35
4. (8) Torleif Syrstad, Team Engcon – 27:24:46
5. (4) Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge – 27:28:18
6. (15) Jeremy Royer, Team Eksjöhus – 27:33:27
7. (12) Morten Eide Pedersen, Team Eksjöhus – 27:33:55
8. (21) Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden – 27:43:49
9. (11) Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team – 27:44:28
10. (19) Oskar Kardin, Lager 157 Ski Team – 27:58:56
11. (24) Henrik Haugland Syverinsen, Team Kaffebryggeriet DRIV – 28:11:38

Women’s overall (time-based classification):

1. (1) Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Engcon – 31:25:31
2. (2) Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden – 31:27:38
3. (4) Jenny Larsson, Lager 157 Ski Team – 32:19:14
4. (6) Louise Lindström, Team Eksjöhus – 32:24:43
5. (10) Julie Kvale Støstad, Team Ramudden – 33:20:22
6. (12) Tereza Hujerová, Team Robinson Trentino – 34:19:06
7. (19) Hilda Löf, Ski Team Göhlins – 35:38:57

Also Read: Final Ski Classics standings Season XVI – All bib winners

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