Ski Classics continues with Vasaloppet on Sunday, March 5. The 90-kilometer classic race marks the eleventh stage, the third Grand Classics event of Season XIV, 101 years of history, and the 99th edition in 2023.
Vasaloppet, on the first Sunday of March, is the oldest and most prestigious event in Ski Classics. With thousands of participants standing together at the same start area, this long-distance mass start race is one that every Pro Tour athlete dreams about winning.
On Vasaloppet women’s side, the Norwegian Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie (former Team Koteng Eidissen), won the race after a winning streak of Swedish Pro Tour athletes since 2017. On the other hand, the Norwegian men have been dominating the race for ten consecutive editions. Can next Sunday, someone else, stop the trend?
Importance and Traditions
Vasaloppet is not just the most extensive 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 1.7 million participants have crossed Vasaloppet’s finish line portal. The saga of the race goes back to 1520, depicting the tale of Gustav Eriksson Vasa, who rebelled against Denmark and eventually became the first King of free Sweden, with the 2023 Vasaloppet edition marking the 500th anniversary since the crowning of the King.
Starting in Sälen, known for its popular alpine ski resorts, and heading to Mora, world-famous as the finish location, Vasaloppet traditions, and importance are not only within Sweden. People from around the World take part in the event each year and spread long-distance skiing vibes across the globe.
With good cooperation over the years, Vasaloppet and Ski Classics keep developing together, bringing a century of traditions and culture since 1922 and recreating that in a modern way.
In the pre-event interviews ahead of Vasaloppet, broadcast on SC YouTube earlier today, Tommy Höglund, Sports Director Vasaloppet, has some good impressions about the Vasaloppet Winter Weekend and the final event, Vasaloppet, on Sunday:
“So far, we have had very good competitions and events. We had Tjejvasan that it is for the first time a Ski Classics Challengers event, with almost all Ski Classics girls on the start line with a very thrilling finish with a photo finish, and it was a really good competition,” says Tommy during today’s interview and continues:
“We have had so far very good snow conditions. We have had natural snow, so there is no lack of snow, we had cold nights and sunny days with fast and good conditions, and we are very happy with already almost 20.000 people passing the finish so far and on Sunday, the 99th edition of Vasaloppet.”
For Sunday, Höglund expects good conditions as well:
“I hope it will be hard and fast tracks for the Elite in the morning. Normally we prepare the tracks at night, so it can freeze and be hard in the morning, but for the amateurs, of course, will be soft in the afternoon. But I think we will have really good and fast conditions for the Elite.”
Watch The Full Pre-Event Interviews Here With Some Of The Favorites For The Weekend: Vasaloppet Pre-Event Interviews Live On SC YouTube
Ski Classics Pro Tour XIV – Event 11: Pre-Vasaloppet Interviews
Expect many battles in Sweden as the Pro Tour skiers fight for glory in Vasaloppet, the eleventh Ski Classics stage, and the third Grand Classics event in Season XIV.
VASALOPPET – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 11
- Date: March 5, 2023
- Distance: 90km Classic Technique
- Place: Sälen-Mora, Sweden
- Start Time: 8:00 CET Women & Men
- Number of SC Sprints: 2
- Sprint 1: 11km – Smågan
- Sprint 2: 47km – Evertsberg
- Number of SC Climbs: 1
- Climb 1: 3km – First Hill
Course Map & Profile
The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries.
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, 36km
- 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, 12km
- 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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