Reistadløpet, the thirteenth stage in Ski Classics Season XIV, took place today in Norway. With superior performances, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Team Eksjöhus, dominated the 40km long-distance race.
At Reistadløpet, considered one of the most demanding events in the Ski Classics Pro Tour, the women started at 10:00 CET and the men at 10:30 CET. The action started early, and there was a thrilling race among both the women and men.
REISTADLØPET – WOMEN’S RACE
The women’s race started at 10:00 CET, and an early big leading group was formed, with real action already in the first kilometers with Anniken Gjerde Alnes, Team Ragde Charge, in front and as one of the few double poling skiers in the women’s side.
At Storlømyra, the only Sprint checkpoint of the day, at 5.1km into the race, Anniken Gjerde Alnes, Team Ragde Charge, crossed first. She was followed by Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, 4.7 seconds back, and Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, 5.1 seconds behind.
The day’s only Climb checkpoint started with about 30km to go, and Astrid Øyre Slind showed her diagonal striding strength getting a considerable gap and disintegrating the main field. The only close chasers were Rosie Brennan, Team Robinson Trentino (first chaser), and the duo Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Magni Smedås (second chaser group).
At Orta Climb, 13.5km into the race and the fourth and final Iconic Climb this season, Astrid Øyre Slind crossed first and grabbed maximum points, followed by Rosie Brennan, 40.9 seconds, and the duo Emilie Fleten and Magni Smedås, 1:48 behind. The next chasing group was 2:40 behind, with Ida Dahl almost 6 minutes back.
After the Climb and into some rolling stretches, Astrid kept a high pace, but with about 18km to go, Rosie Brennan could close the gap, and the duo started to work together, heading to the final part of the race and over challenging terrain.
At the Kampenhytta checkpoint, 21.4km into the race, Øyre Slind crossed first, closely followed by Brennan, 3.6 seconds behind, and Smedås, 1:15.2 back. With 11.2km to go at Sundlifjellet, Rosie Brennan and Astrid Øyre Slind were still strong and had a gap of 1:08.8 seconds over Emilie and 1:40.2 over Magni.
With about 4.7km to go, the leading duo was still strong, and the gap increased to 1:10 over Fleten and another 34 seconds over Smedås.
In the end, Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, had a small gap and won Reistadløpet in beautiful classic style with a time of 2:18:25.1.
Second place went to Rosie Brennan, Team Robinson Trentino, 5.8 seconds back, and first Ski Classics podium for an American Pro Tour skier. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, completed the podium in the third position, 1:25.3 behind the winner.
Reistadløpet – Top 3 Women
- Astrid Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, 2:18:25.1
- Rosie Brennan, Team Robinson Trentino, +5.8
- Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, +1:25.3
Reistadløpet results can be found HERE.
REISTADLØPET – MEN’S RACE
The men’s race started at 10:30 CET, and there was no decisive action until before the only Sprint checkpoint of the day at Storlømyra, 5.1km into the race. Torleif Syrstad, Lager 157 Ski Team, crossed first and got maximum points. Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, and Nils Dahlsten, Lager 157 Ski Team, followed in second and third place.
With the Sprint points, Buskqvist secured the Green bib overall, with only one Sprint checkpoint left in Season XIV.
Soon the uphill started, and with about 30km to go, Ole Jørgen Bruvoll, Team Engcon, and Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Team Eksjöhus, took the lead and soon had a gap over Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team XPND Fuel, and the chasing group behind.
At the Climb checkpoint of the day at Orta, the fourth and final Iconic Climb of the season, Ole Jørgen Bruvoll took the lead and crossed first, closely followed by Eirik Sverdrup Augdal in second, and Tord Asle Gjerdalen in third, 46.7 behind.
After the Orta Climb, Bruvoll and Sverdrup Augdal were active in the front, keeping the chasers in check. But with about 19km to go, the chasers could close the gap, and the race’s final part proved exciting.
At Kampenhytta checkpoint, 21.4km into the race, the seven athletes in the leading group crossed the line within six seconds, with Nyenget, Valnes, and Musgrave the first three. With 11.2km to go at Sundlifjellet, the leading group was reduced to fours skiers: Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Andrew Musgrave, and Thomas Ødegaarden, the only one in the front group just double poling.
Inside the last 5km, a crash in the leading group left Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Team Eksjöhus, alone in the front and with superior performance and a great demonstration of power won Reistadløpet for the second year.
Behind, we could watch a fierce battle for the remaining podium places. Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, also from Team Eksjöhus, finished in second place, 24.2 seconds behind the winner, followed by Andrew Musgrave, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, 41.2 seconds back, in the third position and first Ski Classics podium for a Brit Pro Tour skier.
Reistadløpet – Top 3 Men
- Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Team Eksjöhus, 1:56:55.7
- Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Team Eksjöhus, +24.2
- Andrew Musgrave, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, +41.2
Reistadløpet results can be found HERE.
SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS – CURRENT STANDINGS
After Reistadløpet, Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, lead the Champion bib competition. Ida Dahl is only one point ahead of Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, with only Summit 2 Senja race left.
Anniken Gjerde Alnes, Team Ragde Charge, is carrying the Green bib of the Sprint competition, together with Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, who secured the Green bib Season XIV.
Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, carry the bib for the Climb competition. Dahl secured the bib Season XIV, and Hoel has a 25-point margin ahead of the last Pro Tour event of the season.
The Pink bib for the best Youth is resting on the shoulders of Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, who secured the bib in Season XIV, and Amund Riege, Team Ramudden, who leads by 142 points.
Next up is Summit 2 Senja tomorrow, April 2. The event marks the 14th and final Ski Classics stage Season XIV.
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, Bedřichov, 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, 68km
More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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Photo: Manzoni/NordicFocus.
