After finishing 26th in the Pro Team Competition during Season XVI, the Danish Skimarathon Team returns to the Ski Classics Pro Tour with renewed motivation, fresh faces, and a clear objective: to break into the top 25.
Pro Team athlete Joachim Thrane shares his reflections on the past season and what lies ahead for the Danish Skimarathon Team.
Calendar Outlook: Training Gaps and New Challenges
The Pro Team welcomes several aspects of the Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII calendar, particularly the return to Austria.
“We are happy that the PTT (Pro Team Tempo) is back in Bad Gastein. It’s a different and fun race to do,” says Thrane to Ski Classics and ProXCskiing.com.
He also highlights the new formats added to the calendar.
“The Bedřichov Sprint is new to the team and seems like a fun addition, and the 50km ITT will definitely test the athletes’ ability to keep pushing alone. It fits well into the long-distance skiing circuit.”
Thrane sees the pause between Jizerská50 and Vasaloppet as a positive opportunity: “It gives the possibility of getting a proper training block,” he notes.
Also Read: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII 2025/2026
Season XVI Recap: Historic Firsts and Key Performances
While the Pro Team narrowly missed its top-25 goal last season, several noteworthy milestones and performances were achieved.
“We had the first Ski Classics start of an athlete from Greenland in Bad Gastein. Sune scored points in Jizerská, and Philippe in Reistadløpet. We had athletes in every race throughout the season,” Thrane says.
He also returned to racing himself after a long injury break, starting with Vasaloppet: “It was my first race back in two years after finally fixing an elbow injury in January.”
Other highlights included:
- Ingeborg Kristensen Hoftun’s podium at La Sfida (3rd)
- Nina Virtanen’s 2nd place at Finlandia Ski Marathon Classic
- Madelene Melin’s 2nd at Skinnarloppet
- Sune Elmose finished 2nd overall in the Vets category
Also Read: Final Ski Classics standings Season XVI – All bib winners
Goals for Season XVII: Pushing for the Top 25
The Danish squad is aiming for growth in both results and development.
“Our main goal is to compete for a spot in the top 25 teams, which would give us a guaranteed license for next season,” Thrane explains. “We also want to support personal bests and development for our athletes, especially with several new names on the team.”
Team Changes and New Additions
The squad sees both continuity and change heading into Season XVII:
- Bjørn Toft will continue as Team Director but won’t race due to a back injury.
- Nina Virtanen has transitioned to high-level gravel bike racing.
- Sune Elmose, Madelene Melin, and Joachim Thrane will continue as core athletes.
- Tobias Dargatz joins from xc-ski.de A|N Skimarathon Team.
Three new female athletes strengthen the Pro Team:
- Lovisa Kjerstensson and Sara Elfström, both from XC Ski Club Stockholm
- Ana Zoltak, a Polish skier making the switch from traditional cross-country skiing to long-distance racing and Ski Classics
With a diverse and motivated roster, the Danish Skimarathon Team is ready to challenge the field and build on the momentum of past seasons.
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