The Cub category continues to develop in Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII, highlighting the development of young athletes and the increasing international depth of the Pro Tour.
Cub athletes are aged 23 or younger, with age determined by the year the Ski Classics Final takes place. Each Pro Team may register up to five different Cub athletes per season, regardless of gender, and start with two Cub athletes per event in addition to the regular roster.
Originally introduced to give young skiers the opportunity to test Ski Classics events within a professional Pro Team structure, the category has quickly developed into a competitive and internationally diverse part of the Pro Tour.
Four nations in women’s Top 10
In the current Cub standings for Season XVII, four different nations are represented in the women’s Top 10: Sweden, France, Norway, and Finland, with Germany also represented just outside the Top 10.
Anja Stolpe, from Sweden, The Youth Team, leads the women’s Cub competition with 899 points, ahead of Suzette Christin, from France, Team Nordic Expérience/Coste – Fromagerie Marcel Petite, and Vera Myhlback, from Sweden, The Youth Team.
The story continues below.
Strong diversity also in men’s standings
The men’s Cub standings show similar diversity. Four different nations are represented in the Top 10: Sweden, Norway, Italy, and the Czech Republic, with Germany and Poland also present just outside the Top 10.
Alvar Myhlback, from Sweden, Lager 157 Ski Team, currently leads the men’s Cub competition with 870 points. He is followed by Erik Ola Jorde, from Norway, Team Aktiv Mot Kreft, and Bruno Dettmann, from Sweden, The Youth Team, while athletes from Italy and the Czech Republic also hold strong Top 10 positions.
The mix of nations and racing backgrounds highlights how the Cub category has become a natural entry point for young athletes from across Europe to step into the Pro Tour.
A growing and competitive platform
In Season XVII, the Cub category has moved beyond development and become a visible and competitive part of the Pro Tour.
Young athletes are not only gaining experience but also competing at a high level and contributing to their Pro Teams’ results.
The Cub category underlines Ski Classics’ long-term vision: to create a sustainable development pathway for the next generation of athletes while strengthening the Pro Team competition.
Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII 2025/2026
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)
Season XVII of the Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 13 events across 9 event weekends in 6 countries.
- Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Sportgastein, Austria, 7km
- Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Sportgastein, Austria, 36km
- Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Pontresina-Zuoz, Switzerland, 47km
- Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Moena-Cavalese, Italy, 70km
- Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 1.5km
- Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
- Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
- Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
- Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Bodø, Norway, 50km
- Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 35km
- Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Bardufoss-Finnsnes, Norway, 60km
For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com
Author: Leandro Lutz
Photos: Reichert/NordicFocus
