Vasaloppet – March starts with the third Grand Classics of Season XVI

by Leandro Lutz • 25.02.2025
Vasaloppet
On Sunday, March 2, 2025, the Ski Classics Pro Tour continues with Vasaloppet. Covering a challenging 90-kilometer course, the event marks the tenth Ski Classics stage and the third Grand Classics event, Season XVI.

On Sunday, March 2, 2025, the Ski Classics Pro Tour continues with Vasaloppet. Covering a challenging 90-kilometer course, the event marks the tenth Ski Classics stage and the third Grand Classics event, Season XVI.

Vasaloppet, the 90-kilometer race on the first Sunday of March, is the oldest and most prestigious event in Ski Classics. With 15 thousand participants standing together in the same starting area, this long-distance race is one that every Pro Team athlete dreams about winning.

In 2025, the iconic Vasaloppet celebrates its 101st edition in a true Folkfest. Many skiers say it is the most prestigious of all long-distance skiing events. It will also mark 100 years since the first radio broadcast from Vasaloppet, the first Swedish national radio broadcast from a sporting event.

Also Read – Warning: This mistake could cost you dearly in Vasaloppet and Birken

Vasaloppet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 10

  • Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025
  • Distance: 90km Classic Technique
  • Location: From Sälen to Mora, Sweden
  • Start Time: 8:00 CET for Women and Men
  • SC Sprints: 2
    • Smågan: 11km
    • Evertsberg: 48km 
  • SC Climbs: 1
    • Högsta Punkten: 3km
  • Total Ascent: 948m
  • Last Edition Winners: Emilie Fleten (4:23:06.7) and Torleif Syrstad (3:52:43.7)
  • Website: Vasaloppet
  • SC Play: Vasaloppet 

More information about Vasaloppet can be found HERE and HERE

Vasaloppet – Course Map and Profile

Image: Ski Classics

Relevance and Traditions

Vasaloppet is not just the biggest ski race in the world; it’s also one of the most significant sports events globally. The brand has evolved into an institution with several events and activities in its annual Summer and Winter weeks.

Since 1922, over 1.8 million participants have crossed Vasaloppet’s finish line portal. The race’s saga goes back to 1520, depicting the tale of Gustav Eriksson Vasa, who rebelled against Denmark and eventually became the first King of free Sweden. 

A Popular Mountain Destination 

Sälen, the start location of Vasaloppet, is Sweden’s most popular alpine ski area, known for its seven alpine ski resorts. The oldest of them is Högfjällshotellet, which was built in 1937 and remained one of the most popular vacation destinations in the area. In 2019, Scandinavian Mountains Airport opened. 

Many mountain huts also serve waffles, snacks, and hot drinks, which Vasaloppet participants can enjoy before the long journey from Sälen to Mora. 

Swedish Tradition at its Best

Of course, Mora is world-famous as the finish location of Vasaloppet, but it is much more. There is a very idyllic Scandinavian-style downtown area with boutiques, cafés with Swedish’ fika,’ great diners, and restaurants serving local dishes.

The town is also known for its Mora knives and longcase clocks, and today, for example, high-quality mixer taps with functional designs are manufactured and sold in the global market. Everyone also knows the area’s symbol: “Dalahäst,” a traditional carved, painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna. IFK Mora is one of the most successful cross-country ski clubs in Sweden.

With good cooperation over the years, Vasaloppet and Ski Classics have continued to develop together, bringing a century of traditions and culture since 1922 and recreating it in a modern way.

Grand Classics

The Grand Classics are the four largest and most prestigious events in Ski Classics: Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet. The skier that wins all four events in the same season completes a Grand Slam. 

During Season XI, the Grand Classics events and the Grand Slam were introduced in Ski Classics. The concept was an immediate success and a great motivation among the best Pro Team athletes of Ski Classics. Nobody has completed a Grand Slam in the history of long-distance skiing.

If you win all four Grand Classics, Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet, in the same season, you complete a Grand Slam.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI (2024/2025)

Next up is Vasaloppet on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The 90-kilometer classic race marks the tenth Ski Classics Pro Tour stage and Season XVI’s third Grand Classics event.

Season XVI of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events across 10 event weekends in 6 countries. It started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 13, 2024, with the Pro Team Presentation and ends in Finnsnes, Norway, with the Ski Classics Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja on March 30, 2025.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVI (2024/2025)

  • Event 0: Friday, December 13, 2024 –Ski Classics Pro Team Presentation XVI – Bad Gastein, Austria
  • Event 1: Saturday, December 14, 2024 – Bad Gastein ITT – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
  • Event 2: Sunday, December 15, 2024 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
  • Event 3: Saturday, January 11, 2025 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Sexten, Italy, 60km
  • Event 4: Sunday, January 12, 2025 – La Venosta ITT Kapron-Melago – Val Venosta, Italy, 11km
  • Event 5: Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 43km
  • Event 6: Sunday, January 26, 2025 – Marcialonga – Trentino, Italy, 70km
  • Event 7: Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
  • Event 8: Saturday, February 15, 2025 – Grönklitt Criterium 61 – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 61km
  • Event 9: Sunday, February 16, 2025 – Grönklitt ITT – Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 13km
  • Event 10: Sunday, March 2, 2025 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
  • Event 11: Saturday, March 15, 2025 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
  • Event 12: Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
  • Event 13: Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 46km
  • Event 14: Sunday, March 30, 2025 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com

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