This Saturday’s Årefjällsloppet in Sweden is the 12th stage in the Visma Ski Classics Season XII. The longest Pro Tour race in history is expected to have a lot of tactical play and challenging weather conditions. Looking at the start list, here are some favorites.

The Pro Tour race starts and finishes in Vålådalen. Women start at 7:30 CET and men at 8:15 CET. With three laps, the race will be 104km long with a total ascent of 2588m, and there will be two sprints and two climbs’ checkpoints: Sprint 1 at 15km and Sprint 2 at 51km, both at Vålan; Climb 1 at 35km and Climb 2 at 71km, both at Ottfjället.

Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet winners Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Koteng Eidissen, and Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, are firm favorites to win the race tomorrow due to their impressive performances on the last Pro Tour races.

The first woman to win Birkebeinerrennet without wax and double poling to an impressive victory, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Koteng Eidissen, is a favorite to win the race tomorrow due to her remarkable form in the women’s field in the last races. 

Øyre Slind is one of the favorites, but there are at least three more potential podium skiers. We can mention Emilie Fleten, Team XPND Fuel, who had a solid performance last weekend at Birkebeinerrennet, Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team, who is looking for top performance and defend the yellow bib, and Ida Dahl, Team Ramudden, who is looking forward to being back on top form and regain the Champion bib. 

Keep attention to the strong names of Sofie Elebro, Team Næringsbanken, Anniken Gjerde Alnes, Team Ragde Charge, Laila Kveli, Team Engcon, Thea Krokan Murud, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden, who is back after a covid infection.

For the men’s race, it seems that we have a more open game and various contenders.

After showing a high-speed finish again last weekend, Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, can be considered one of the favorites.  

Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, is also one of the most definite favorites. Persson is now looking forward to tomorrow’s battle with rising form and craving for another win. Team Ramudden Pro Tour skiers Max Novak and Johannes Eklöf are solid names for the top spots at Årefjällsloppet and can get good results.

In addition, we can anticipate some outstanding performance and a good fight for top places from Kasper Stadaas and Oskar Kardin, both from Team Ragde Charge. 

Let’s not forget about Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team XPND Fuel, Stian Hoelgaard, Team Curira, Magnus Vesterheim, Team Kaffebryggeriet, and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus, to name a few of the top Pro Tour skiers.

Expect many battles all the way to the Vålådalen finish, as the Pro Tour skiers fight to win Season XII’s 12th stage.

Don’t miss out on the event, available on Ski Classics Play. Updated starting times: women start at 8:35 CET and the men at 8:30 CET. 

ÅREFJÄLLSLOPPET – FACTS

• Location: Vålådalen, Sweden
• Date: Saturday, March 26
• Start Time: Women 8:35 CET / Men 8:30 CET
• Distance: 104km Classic Technique
• Visma Ski Classics Sprint: 15km and 51km, both at Vålan
• Visma Ski Classics Climbs: 35km and 71km, both at Ottfjället
• Total Climbing: 2588m
• Website: Årefjällsloppet 

Årefjällsloppet program, start lists, and live streaming on SC Play can be found here.

ÅREFJÄLLSLOPPET – MAPS

COURSE MAP

COURSE PROFILE

Next up in the Visma Ski Classics is Årefjällsloppet. The 104-kilometer classic race takes place in Sweden on March 26, 2022.

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