Grönklitt Classic, the ninth Ski Classics event of Season XV, took place today in Sweden. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, won the 60-kilometer-long race in a challenging course and breathtaking battle for the podium.
The Pro Tour event in Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, saw Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, winning the ninth event of Ski Classics Season XV.
GRÖNKLITT CLASSIC – WOMEN’S RACE
In the women’s race, which started at 8:00 CET, the speed was high from the gun, with Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, taking control of the race and setting a furious pace, splitting the leading group already in the first kilometers and going solo for the rest of the race.
At the first intermediate time, at 4.6km into the race, Fleten was already 46.8 seconds ahead of a big group of 15 chasers. Team Eksjöhus, with Kati Roivas and Magni Smedås, were at the front of the chasing group, trying to close the gap.
In the only Sprint checkpoint of the day, 8.3km into the race, Emilie Fleten crossed the line first and solo, followed by Anniken Gjerde Alnæs and Magni Smedås, 51 seconds behind the leader.
After the Sprint, Fleten kept the pace high and increased the leading gap. With about 40km to go, the leader had a gap of 1:35 over the first chasing group of 14 skiers.
At the Climb checkpoint of the day, 26.6km into the race, Emilie Fleten increased the gap over the chasers, showing her strength and crossing the Climb first, 1:32.4 ahead of Kati Roivas in second, and 1:38.8 ahead of Anniken Gjerde Alnæs in third position.
After the Climb, Fleten was still looking strong, and a fight for the remaining podium places was fierce between Roivas and Gjerde Alnæs, with the second chasing group (Smedås group) another 0:47 back.
With 13km to go, Anniken increased the pace and got a small gap over Roivas, who was starting to struggle to follow.
Over the kilometers, the gaps were stabilized, and about 10km to go, the first chaser (Anniken) was 1:15 behind, the second chaser (Roivas) was 1:26 behind, and the third chaser (Jenny Larsson) was 3:34 back. With 3.4km to go, gaps were 1:40.2 and 2:10.7, respectively.
In the end, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, showed her winning form in another Pro Tour event and crossed the finish line in first place in a decisive solo victory. With the victory, Fleten won her fifth Ski Classics Pro Tour event, becoming a Ski Classics Legend.
Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, finished second, 1:31.4 back, and Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, completed the podium in third, 2:23.0 behind the winner.
Grönklitt Classic – Top 5 Women
- Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 2:44:56.6
- Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, +1:31.4
- Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, +2:23.0
- Jenny Larsson, Team Ragde Charge, +3:39.3
- Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, +3:52.5
Results can be found HERE
GRÖNKLITT CLASSIC – MEN’S RACE
The men’s race started at 10:30 CET, and it all started with a controlled pace from a big group and no real moves before the Sprint checkpoint, with all the favorites in the front group.
Well placed for the Sprint checkpoint of the day, 8.3km into the race, Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, crossed the line first, followed by Vebjørn Moen, Team Eksjöhus, and Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet.
After the Sprint, Fabián Štoček, Vltava Fund Ski Team, took the reigns and set a fast pace at the front, being helped immediately by Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team.
Heading to the Climb point, a large group was still in the front, with Bing doing most of the work there.
At the only Climb point of today’s race, 26.6km into the race, Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, showed his strength and crossed the line first, followed by Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus, and Morten Eide Pedersen, Team Eksjöhus.
Over the kilometers, the pace was controlled, and with 29.9km into the race, Alvar Myhlback, Lager 157 Ski Team, crossed the checkpoint first, with 24 skiers in the front group within 20.1 seconds. At the 34.6km mark, the same 24 skiers were in the front group, but now within 12.8 seconds from Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie, the leading skier.
With 10km to go, the main group was still solid, with the skiers preparing for the challenging final part of the race and Bing setting the pace.
Under 7km to go, Alvar Myhlback and Oskar Kardin were on the offensive, but no one could get a break, leaving the race open for a thrilling final sprint and without Emil Persson, who was struggling to follow the leading group.
With 4km to go, Kasper Stadaas took the lead and increased the pace, trying to make a selection for the final Climb of the day.
In the end, the fight for positioning was tight. With about 300m to go, Kasper Stadaas hit the front, pushed hard, and won the race, followed by Andreas Nygaard in second place and Johan Hoel, completing the podium in the third position and a total domination from Team Ragde Charge.
Grönklitt Classic – Top 5 Men
- Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, 2:26:22.4
- Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, +2.4
- Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, +3.3
- Oskar Kardin, Lager 157 Ski Team, +5.6
- Morten Eide Pedersen, Team Eksjöhus, +6.0
Grönklitt Criterium results can be found HERE
SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS – CURRENT STANDINGS
After Grönklitt Classic, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, lead the Champion Bib Competition. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, are carrying the Green bib of the Sprint Competition.
Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, carry the bib for the Climb Competition. The Pink Bib for the best Youth rests on Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus.
Team Eksjöhus is the best-ranked Pro Team after Grönklitt Classic Season XV.
The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries.
Next up is Grönklitt ITT on Sunday, February 18. The 13-kilometer individual time trial race in classic technique marks the tenth Ski Classics stage of Season XV.
SKI CLASSICS PRO TOUR SEASON XV (2023/2024)
- Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
- Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
- Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km
- Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
- Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
- Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
- Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
Event 8: February 11, 2024 –Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km- Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
- Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
- Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
- Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
- Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
- Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
- Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km
More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com
Photo: Reichert/NordicFocus
