Today’s Bad Gastein Criterium in Sportgastein, Austria, was a mass start race completed in three laps of 7km plus two laps of 7.7km in a total of 36.4km on a challenging course. The Sprint and Climb competitions started here with several chances to collect valuable points for Season XV. 

The standard points were applied for the Champion and Sprint (two checkpoints) competitions at the Bad Gastein Criterium, but for the Climb competition (also two checkpoints), Pro Team athletes got 50% of the standard points.

After a day full of action and thrilling finales, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, showed a strong performance and won the Bad Gastein Criterium, the second event of Ski Classics Season XV.

Bad Gastein Criterium – Women’s Race

The women’s race started at 9:10 CET, and from the beginning, the pace was high, with Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, setting the pace and taking an early break over Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and the group behind.

With 6.6km into the race, the first Sprint of the season was won by Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden. Frida Erkers, Team Eksjöhus, and Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, crossed in second and third, respectively, with the chasing group already 49 seconds behind Fleten.

After the first Sprint, Emilie Fleten kept strong and increased the lead, with 11 skiers chasing behind. With 10.3km into the race, the gap increased, and the Norwegian Pro Team athlete already had a 1:36 advantage over the chasing group.

After the feeding zone and heading to the second Sprint of the day, 13.6km into the race, Emilie Fleten crossed the checkpoint line first, followed by Ida Dahl (2:15 behind) and Frida Erkers.

The pace in the chasing group was controlled after the Sprints, but with 20km to go, Ida Dahl tried her luck and got a gap from the chasing group towards the first Climb of the Season, trying to bring back the race leader.

At the first Climb checkpoint of Season XV, Emilie Fleten crossed the line first, getting 15 Climb points, followed by Ida Dahl, 2:36.8 back, and Sofie Elebro, 3:35.5 behind the leader.

Not easing the pace after the Climb, Fleten kept in front, with Dahl chasing behind and a trio of skiers (Karolina Hedenström, Sofie Elebro, and Frida Erkers) fighting for third place.

For the second Climb of the day, 28.6km into the race, Emilie Fleten crossed the checkpoint first, getting another 15 Climb points, with Ida Dahl in second, 2:43.3 behind, and Sofie Elebro, 4:39.4 seconds back.

At the end, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, soloed to the win, with a time of 1:50:34.0, followed by Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, 2:57.8 back. A fierce battle for third place saw Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, completing the podium in third position, 4:51.9 behind the winner.

Bad Gastein Criterium Women – Top 5

1. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 1:50:34.0
2. Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, +2:57.8
3. Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, +4:51.9
4. Frida Erkers, Team Eksjöhus, +4:53.6
5. Sofie Elebro, Team Eksjöhus, +4:57.8

Bad Gastein Criterium – Men’s Race

The men’s race started at 11:25 CET, and there was no decisive action until they got to the first Sprint checkpoint at 6.6km, with the field setting a controlled pace from the beginning.

At the first Sprint of the day, Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, crossed the checkpoint first, followed by Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, and Amund Riege, Team Ramudden.

After the Sprint, a small group of six skiers (Herman Paus, Johan Hoel, Kasper Stadaas, Max Novak, Amund Riege, and Alfred Buskqvist) took the reins and got a breakaway, pushing hard and trying to increase the gap. Meanwhile, Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, showed difficulties and couldn’t follow the leading group.

At the second Sprint, 13.6km into the race, Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, was the fastest, getting the Sprint points ahead of Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, and Johannes Eklöf, Team Ramudden.

A small group of 13 skiers was in the leading group for the first Climb checkpoint, 21km into the race. Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, led the way and crossed the line first but got no Climb points due to technique violation, followed by Amund Riege, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge.

Approaching the second Climb of the day, 28.6km into the race, the same 13 skiers were in the front group, with Thomas Bing again at the front. At the line, Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, crossed first, followed by Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, and Amund Riege, Team Ramudden.

Right after the Climb, the final action began, and the pace skyrocketed, with now a group of eight skiers in the lead (Stadaas, Novak, Hoelgaard, Riege, Jutterström, Buskqvist, Bing, and Bucher-Johannessen).

Under the 1km mark, a battle was between five strong Pro Team athletes, Kasper Stadaas, Max Novak, Stian Hoelgaard, Amund Riege, and Axel Jutterström.

In the end, Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, won the Bad Gastein Criterium with a powerful sprint finish. Second place went to Amund Riege, Team Ramudden, and Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie, in third place.

Bad Gastein Criterium Men – Top 5

1. Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, 1:37:29.1
2. Amund Riege, Team Ramudden, +1.6
3. Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie, +2.7
4. Stian Hoelgaard, Team Aker Dæhlie, +2.8
5. Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus, +4.3

Current Standings Ski Classics Competitions

After the Bad Gastein prologue weekend, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, lead the Champion Bib Competition. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, are carrying the Green bib of the Sprint Competition.

Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, carry the bib for the Climb Competition. The Pink Bib for the best Youth rests on Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Amund Riege, Team Ramudden.

Team Eksjöhus is the best Pro Team after the Bad Gastein weekend.

Next up is La Venosta Criterium on December 16 and La Venosta ITT on December 17, 2023. The events mark the third and fourth Ski Classics Pro Tour stages 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, 35km
• 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, 56km
• 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

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