The Ski Classics Season XIV is full of action this weekend with two Pro Tour events. Pustertaler Ski Marathon on Saturday and Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge on Sunday.
This weekend in Italy, Ski Classics Season XIV returns after the Christmas and New Year’s break with events 4 and 5 in another back-to-back Pro Tour events weekend.
PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON – The Fourth Event Season XIV
On Saturday, January 14, Season XIV starts 2023 with the Pustertaler Ski Marathon, the season’s fourth event.
After a successful edition last season, the 62km long-distance race is again part of the Ski Classics Pro Tour. Self-titled the longest and hardest ski race in the Drei Zinnen Dolomites (Three Peaks in the Dolomites), Pustertaler Ski Marathon offers a very challenging course and breathtaking scenery.
The race starts in Sesto/Sexten, goes South, then turns and heads towards San Candido and Dobbiaco, passing through the famous cross-country skiing stadium Nordic Arena, where a Sprint point after 22 kilometers will wait for the Pro Tour athletes. The Climb checkpoint will be at Cimabanche after 36 kilometers of race, where the tracks turn, and the course leads back to the Nordic Arena. From there, it continues to the finish line in Villabassa/Niederdorf.
PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 4
- Date: January 14, 2023
- Distance: 62km Classic Technique
- Location: Sesto/Sexten, Italy (Start) – Villabassa/Niederdorf, Italy (Finish)
- Start Time: Women 9:15 CET / Men 9:00 CET
- Number of SC Sprints: 1
- Sprint: Nordic Arena 22km
- Number of SC Climbs: 1
- Climb: Cimabanche 36km
- Total Ascent: 770m
Pustertaler Ski Marathon – Course Map & Profile
Pustertaler Ski Marathon program, start lists, and live streaming on SC Play can be found HERE.
PRATO PIAZZA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE – Voted The Best Event Last Season
On Sunday, January 15, the weekend continues with the fifth event in Season XIV, the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, voted the best event in Season XII.
Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge is a 32km uphill mass-start race, and last season proved to be a real climb competition. The mythical climb to Prato Piazza is the biggest climb of Season XIV, with the finish line almost 2000 meters above sea level, high up in the magnificent Dolomites scenery.
Going up to Prato Piazza will be a feat for real ‘heroes’: 6 kilometers with an average gradient of 10% on an old military road.
The new addition to Season XIV is the Ski Classics Iconic Climbs, a new category in the Ski Classics points table used for the most iconic climbs of Ski Classics.
For Season XIV, there will be four Iconic Climbs. First is to Prato Piazza, the finishing hill of the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge.
Prato Piazza Iconic Climb
- Event: Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge – Ski Classics Event 5
- Date: January 15, 2023
- Climb: Prato Piazza, from 1460 to 2000m above sea level, including 6 kilometers on a continuous uphill following an old military road.
PRATO PIAZZA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 5
- Date: January 15, 2023
- Distance: 32km Classic Technique
- Location: Villabassa/Niederdorf, Italy (Start) – Prato Piazza (Finish)
- Start Time: Women 9:05 CET / Men 9:00 CET
- Number of SC Sprints: 1
- Sprint: Lago di Dobbiaco 8km
- Number of SC Climbs: 1
- Climb/Finish: Prato Piazza 32km
- Total Ascent: 1022m
Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge – Course Map & Profile
Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge program, start lists, and live streaming on SC Play can be found HERE when available.
Ski Classics Weekend With Unique Nature Experience And Fresh Air
The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage site and are widely regarded as among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world.
The beauty of these mountains derives from a variety of spectacular vertical forms, such as pinnacles, towers, and spires, with contrasting horizontal surfaces, including ledges, crags, and plateaus. All of which rise abruptly above extensive talus deposits and more gentle foothills.
Expect thrilling battles on the tracks and some splendid drama as the Pro Tour skiers fight for glory in mid-January.
Ski Classics Fantasy
The free-of-charge Fantasy League for Season XIV is up and running. Build your own Fantasy Pro Team and score the most points during the Ski Classics Season XIV.
How to Play
- Go to SC Fantasy via https://fantasy.skiclassics.com/
- Login with your existing Fantasy account or create a new one.
- Read through “HOW TO PLAY” to ensure you understand all the rules and new features.
- Go to “Team Selection” and choose/buy up to 10 athletes using your starting balance of 40.000 Fantasy dollars. Make sure to check out the start lists before each event to ensure that your athletes are on the start line.
- Remember 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 XIV
La Venosta Criterium is only one day away, starting on Saturday, December 17. Here is an overview of where you can watch Ski Classics this season:
- SVT – Sweden
- NRK – Norway
- Czech TV – Czech Republic
- TVP – Poland
- WB Discovery – Finland
- Nent Group – Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, UK
- beIN Sports – Canada, Turkey, and USA
- Eurovision (EBU) – News rights
- SC PLAY – all countries (English commentary)
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, 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 info about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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