Who Will Win Pustertaler Ski Marathon Today?
After a stop for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the world’s best long-distance skiers will return to competition at the Pustertaler Ski Marathon. It will be interesting to watch how the break has affected their shape.
Three Favorite Skiers To Win The Men’s Race
One of the favorites to win the men’s race is Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, who has won both individual races before Christmas (Bad Gastein Criterium and La Venosta Criterium). Last year, Emil broke his pole during Pustertaler, just 500 meters from the finish line. This year, he hopes to keep his equipment and shape until the finish line.
After spending almost one month at home, focusing on training, Emil Persson comes back feeling confident:
“I felt pretty good the last couple of days, and my shape is like in December races. I trained for many hours, but not very hard. I just managed to keep the good form.”
The Swedish skier who leads the Champion competition is motivated, partly due to his outstanding performance during the season’s first races. Both victories gave him the motivation to keep fighting for the win.
“It couldn’t be better. I am delighted with the start of the Winter. I am in a good position for the Yellow bib, which means a lot to my confidence. I show myself that I am still in top shape.”
From Livigno, Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, who recently broke the marathon distance World Record on SkiErg, feels motivated after trying a new challenge:
“It is good to do something funny and different, and it can be beneficial for later races.”
Andreas Nygaard’s training season has not gone as planned but reaching the podium in La Venosta gave him high hopes.
“Getting second in La Venosta is a sign that you are pretty much close to your highest level. I have not trained as I had planned, and now I got one week off again. It is not ideal, but sometimes you can still survive with less training.”
Nygaard is planning to only race at Pustertaler Ski Marathon because he is still recovering from health issues after his World Record.
“I guess I will only do Saturday’s race because two races in a weekend might be too much since I am still recovering, and Marcialonga is coming.”
The Norwegian skier chooses to compete in Saturday’s race because he believes it is a real long-distance race. And if he can rest well on Sunday, it can give him a good advantage for future races.
“Saturday’s race has everything, a long course with uphill and downhill parts. It’s the funniest race, like La Diagonela and Marcialonga. You get almost three hours at high intensity. And if I rest on Sunday, the race can help me reach another level.”
Finally, another top contender is Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie. The Swedish skier was third at the Yellow bib competition and finished 3rd at La Venosta Criterium.
Novak won Pustertaler Ski Marathon last season, his first-ever Pro Tour event win. Will he be able to repeat the victory this year?
Three Favorite Skiers To Win The Women’s Race
One of the natural favorites for the Pustertaler Ski Marathon women’s race is Ida Dahl, Team Engcon. Dahl raced Tour de Ski at the end of December and beginning of January. Since returning to Livigno, she has been training very easy to recover, hoping to be fully fit again today.
So far, Ida has won all the races this season, so she hopes to defend her victories, especially because Ski Classics races are her focus. However, the Swedish skier admits that participating in Tour de Ski might have affected her double-poling capacity.
“Of course, my double-poling capacity is affected by Tour de Ski. We will just have to wait and see if it’s positive or negative. Let’s just hope it’s not negative.”
Another strong contender is Jenny Larsson. The Team Ragde Charge’s athlete returned from a long injury recovery process. Still, nevertheless, she is showing good form with a 2nd place at La Venosta Criterium, a 6th place at Bad Gastein Criterium, and being named to compete in the World Cup at Davos.
“I feel really good, and my form is improving. I had a very good Christmas season and did all the training I wanted to do,” shares Jenny during the press conference earlier this week.
When she arrived with her Pro Team in Livigno, Jenny Larsson felt sick, but she is now feeling recovered and ready for today’s race.
Finally, another firm name for Pustertaler Ski Marathon is Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus. With a fourth and fifth place in the Ski Classics Season XIV before Christmas, Smedås is one of the favorites when the Pro Tour returns this weekend.
“Right now, I think the chances are very good,” said Magni at the pre-event interview earlier this week.
A name that will be missed in today’s race is Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie. Astrid was an obvious contender for the victory after finishing Tour de Ski in 7th place, with solid performances on both distance and sprint disciplines. However, the Norwegian Pro Tour athlete will not start today.
The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Pustertaler Ski Marathon, a 62km classic technique event in Italy today, January 14, followed by Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 32km race also in Italy tomorrow, January 15, 2023.
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, 55km
- 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 and overall standings you can find at skiclassics.com.
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