Neither Mikael Gunnulfsen nor Mattis Stenshagen will be seen in Norway’s team for the cross-country skiing World Cup in Les Rousses, France, next weekend. Now the two traditional cross-country skiers choose to start at Marcialonga for Team Aker Dæhlie.

Both skiers took part in last weekend’s Norwegian National Championships. As a result, Stenshagen finished sixth place in the 15km freestyle race, while Gunnulfsen was 28th. 

Mattis Stenshagen had a place during the World Cup before Christmas since he won the Scandinavian Cup last season. There, his best result was seventh place during the pursuit in Ruka, Finland. After Christmas, his best result was sixth in the Scandinavian Cup in Østersund in the 30-kilometer classic mass start.

The 26-year-old Norwegian is not inexperienced in the long-distance circuit as he raced in two Ski Classics Pro Tour events last season, La Venosta Time Trial, 19th place, and Engadin La Diagonela, 18th position. 

Mikael Gunnulfsen has shown good form, especially in this season’s classic technique races. He finished eighth at the 10km race at the Beitostølen World Cup before Christmas. That same weekend he was on the Norwegian winning relay team. After Christmas, he climbed onto the podium during the Scandinavian Cup in Østersund, finishing third in the 30km race in classic technique.

Gunnulfsen also started at several long-distance races last season, being on the podium twice at Engadin La Diagonela and Reistadløpet. Back in 2019, he won Reistadløpet.

The two Norwegian athletes have yet to start at Marcialonga.

Teammate Is Enthusiastic

Team Aker Dæhlie’s teammate, Stian Hoelgaard, is enthusiastic about having the two skiers join the team.

“Both have enormous capacity, and I think it will be advantageous for us to have a large and strong team at the start. It is, of course, an advantage to be specially trained for the long distances, but both have previously shown that they are also strong in long races,” says Hoelgaard to Langrenn.com.

“I think it is important for Team Aker Dæhlie to bring such strong athletes. Then more people can contribute at the front of the field, and if necessary, we can send someone into a break. We get more to play on. That is only positive.

It was a good day for Team Aker Dæhlie last weekend at Engadin La Diagonela. Hoelgaard finished third, while teammate Max Novak finished second. Astrid Øyre Slind also won the women’s race.

Read More: Astrid Øyre Slind and Emil Persson Winners of Engadin La Diagonela

The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Marcialonga, a 70km classic technique event in Italy on January 29.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 40km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.

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