Birkebeinerrennet, the eleventh event in the Ski Classics Pro Tour and the fourth and final Grand Classics event of Season XVI, takes place this Saturday, March 15, from Rena to Lillehammer in Norway. Here is everything you need to know before the legendary skiing event.
BIRKEBEINERRENNET
Birkebeinerrennet is not the longest race on the Pro Tour but has one of the most demanding courses. The 54-kilometer stage starts with a long uphill section with only one relatively short downhill segment. Then, the Pro Team athletes get to appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery before reaching the second climb.
On the last part of the course, the skiers can finally enjoy the wonder of speed as they start their descent to the finish line at the Olympic stadium, located a few kilometers from Lillehammer city center.
Birkebeinerrennet is one of the world’s most legendary long-distance ski races. With a long history, its legacy is based on a heroic tale of courage and adventure.
The saga dates to the harsh times of the 13th century when two fearless soldiers, birkebeiners, rescued a young prince and skied over the mountain, fighting against the wild nature around them. This young prince, Haakon, later became the King. To honor him and his rescuers, all participants at Birkebeinerrennet must carry a 3.5kg backpack symbolizing the prince’s weight.
Also Read: Birkebeinerrennet this weekend in Norway
COURSE MAP & PROFILE
FACTS
- Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
- Location: From Rena to Lillehammer, Norway
- Distance: 54km Classic Technique
- Start Time: 7:45 CET for Men and 8:00 CET for Women
- SC Climbs: 2
- Raudfjellet (Iconic Climb): km 20
- Midtfjellet: km 34
- Total Ascent: 1059m
- Last Edition Winners: Magni Smedås (2:47:09.9) and Andreas Nygaard (2:23:55.9)
- Website: Birkebeinerrennet
- SC Play: Birkebeinerrennet
Birkebeinerrennet program, start lists (when available), live timing, and live streaming on SC Play can be found HERE and HERE
NORWEGIAN ATMOSPHERE AND HISTORY
The starting point of “Birken” is a small town called Rena. It has a friendly and cozy atmosphere, while Lillehammer is more city-like, with almost 28.000 inhabitants. Both places can easily be accessed by train from Oslo airport. The Rena Military Camp, Norway’s largest military camp, is northeast of Rena.
Lillehammer’s center is a late nineteenth-century concentration of wooden houses. It enjoys a picturesque location overlooking the northern part of Lake Mjøsa and the river Lågen, surrounded by mountains. Lillehammer is also an Olympic town, having hosted the 1994 Winter Olympic Games and the 2016 Youth Winter Olympics.
There are also many museums to visit, like the Norwegian Olympic Museum, Lillehammer Art Museum, and Maihaugen, one of the largest open-air museums in Northern Europe.
Read More: Birkebeinerrennet – Why carry a backpack?
FOURTH AND FINAL GRAND CLASSICS SEASON XVI
Birkebeinerrennet is the fourth and final Grand Classics event this season. 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 great motivation among the best Pro Team athletes of Ski Classics. Nobody has completed a Grand Slam in the history of long-distance skiing.
Also Read: The Grand Classics Season XVI
The Iconic Climbs give an extra spark to the most challenging climbs in Ski Classics. For Season XVI, there will be four Iconic Climbs. The first was Cascata, the last hill to Cavalese in Marcialonga. This weekend, it’s time for the second Iconic Climb of Season XVI, Raudfjellet in Birkebeinerrennet.
The Iconic Climb, launched during Season XIV, is a category in the Ski Classics points table. The category is used for the most iconic climbs of Ski Classics.
The idea for the Iconic Climb category is that all climbs differ; some are tougher, and some have more history behind them. Ski Classics wants to enhance the interest around the climbs and reward the strongest athletes slightly more.
The Iconic Climb points are 50% higher than a 100% points Climb. Winners get 45 instead of 30 points in the Climb competition.
For Season XVI, there will be four Iconic Climbs. First, it is up to Cascata, the last hill to Cavalese in Marcialonga. The second Iconic Climb is Raudfjellet, the first long hill in Birkebeinerrennet.
The third is the Orta climb in Reistadløpet, and the fourth and final is the Magdaskaret Iconic Climb in Summit 2 Senja.
SKI CLASSICS FANTASY
The Ski Classics Fantasy League for Season XVI is underway. Join the excitement of Ski Classics managing your own Fantasy Team. Win prizes throughout the season and chase the Fantasy champion title of Season XVI.
- Go to Ski Classics Fantasy via https://fantasy.skiclassics.com/
- Login with your existing Fantasy account or create a new one
- Read through “HOW TO PLAY” to make sure you understand all the rules and new features.
- Go to “Team Selection” and choose/buy up to 10 athletes + 2 Cubs using your starting balance of 40.000 Fantasy dollars. Check out the start lists before each event to ensure your athletes are on the start line.
- Don’t forget to mark one of your athletes as a Team Captain!
- Go to “Leagues” and join an existing league or create your own to compete with your friends.
- Invite your friends and family to join you for free in an exciting battle for the win!
Have fun, and may the best ski coach win!
ALL TV CHANNELS SEASON XVI
Birkebeinerrennet is just around the corner. Here is an overview of where to watch Ski Classics Pro Tour events this season.
- NRK – Norway
- SVT – Sweden
- Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) – Finland
- Sport Live – Denmark/Faroe Islands/Greenland
- Czech TV – Czech Republic
- TVP – Poland
- Servus TV – Austria/Germany/Switzerland
- beIN Sports – Canada/USA
- TRT – Turkey (highlights)
- SC Play – all countries (English commentary)
- 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
When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round.
Top Photo: Magnus Östh/Ski Classics
