Vasaloppet reigning champion: "It will be interesting"

Ski Classics

Vasaloppet reigning champion: “It will be interesting”

by MAJA ERIKSSON/Leandro Lutz • 02.03.2024

Member Article

Photo: Vanzetta/NordicFocus

Last year, Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, came to Vasaloppet with several victories behind him. This season, the situation is different, but his goal is still to be in the fight for victory.

Emil Persson has a different situation ahead of this year’s edition of Vasaloppet. He has two podium finishes this winter season and has described Season XV as a roller coaster. Two weeks ago, the Ski Classics Pro Tour was in Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, and he only started the Saturday Grönklitt Classic there.

“I broke my pole after a few kilometers. It was a chaotic race, and it took a lot of energy to get back into the race after the broken pole. After one lap, I felt that I had nothing to do with the top positions”, says Emil Persson about Saturday’s race, where he finished 23rd.

Also Read: Fleten and Stadaas winners at Grönklitt Classic Season XV

On Sunday, there was another Pro Tour event, Grönklitt ITT, in which he was not on the starting line.

“It was a pretty easy decision not to start on Sunday. The way I felt after finishing on Saturday, I wasn’t looking forward to Sunday’s race,” he explains to ProXCskiing.com during Vasaloppet’s Live Sessions.

Recovery Mode

Since the race weekend in Orsa, Emil has taken it easy and tried to find energy for Vasaloppet, which takes place this Sunday.

“There were a few days on the couch. Then, I started training easily with shorter sessions and then developed it. Today (Wednesday), I skied a longer session, and it was the longest since Orsa.”

How are you feeling?
“It feels better now than before Orsa and I have more energy during the sessions. It feels like my body is faster and better.”

Heavy Course

The weather forecast during the Live Sessions showed plus degrees and possible precipitation, which may mean slow tracks. Vasaloppet has offered fast victory times in recent years, but it may be different on Sunday.

“It was a few years ago that there were slow tracks, and the guys are generally stronger now. This year, more strong teams can do something and have special tactics. It will be interesting to see.”

Can the warm and heavy tracks affect the tactics?
“No, my tactic is to win, and that will not be affected by the conditions,” Persson concludes.