The Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII begins in just three weeks, and winter has already taken firm hold in the Gastein Valley.
After last week’s snowfall, Sportgastein is now covered in deep-winter conditions, with frozen tracks and more snow in the forecast. Course preparations for the season premiere are progressing smoothly, setting up what looks to be an ideal start to the winter.
The winter season officially opens in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 12–14, 2025, beginning with the Pro Team Presentation on Friday, followed by the Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo on Saturday and the Bad Gastein Criterium on Sunday. With snow in place and tracks being shaped daily, the venue is on track for an ideal start to the season.
The story continues below.
A promising start in the Alps
Sportgastein is already attracting early-season skiers eager to take advantage of the fresh snow. Despite the biting cold, several hundred recreational skiers have been on the trails in recent days.
Peter Kiene, Team Director of the Austrian Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team, inspected the course and reported highly encouraging conditions.
“The track is already largely race-ready,” Kiene says. “Only in the windier, far end of the valley, there are a few small patches where the snow cover is thin, but that can be easily remedied. The criterium section of the course, the so-called ‘Wall,’ is also already in race-ready condition. We’ve scheduled a team training session, and the whole team is looking forward to our home race, with high expectations.”
With additional snowfall forecast for the week, the conditions for the Ski Classics Premiere look increasingly solid.
Bad Gastein: the perfect venue to open the season
Surrounded by high alpine peaks and winter landscapes, Bad Gastein once again hosts the opening weekend of the Pro Tour. The Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo returns to the calendar after a one-year break, followed by the Bad Gastein Criterium on Sunday, setting the pace for the winter ahead before athletes head into the holiday break.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)
• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Austria – 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90k
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Sweden – 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Sweden – 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Norway – 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km
Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII 2025/2026
For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com.
Author: Leandro Lutz
Top Photo: Peter Kiene
