Team Edux is aiming for a clear step forward next season. One of the Pro Team athletes expected to raise his level is the experienced Isac Holmström, originally from Åland, for whom Vasaloppet will once again be the main race of Ski Classics Season XVII.
Isac Holmström has long been the top skier for Team Edux, and last season he was already approaching top-20 level in the challenging Pro Tour series. Isac tells Maastohiihto.com that his summer training has gone well, and it feels great to be back together with the Pro Team at a training camp.
“These training camps are where we build up our peak fitness, and we already saw the results of good camps last summer. Vuokatti is our number one location, offering excellent training facilities. We also have good recovery conditions here, with a cottage equipped with a hot tub and sauna. It’s nice to push yourself hard and then recover properly afterward,” says Isac during a Vuokatti camp, reflecting further on his training:
“Right now, I feel like I’ve found a good training template, and I’ll continue in the same way with just a few small adjustments. The biggest change this year is that we will train at altitude with the team, starting with a longer camp in October and again during December and January. That might give me the little extra boost I need for skiing this coming winter.”
Also Read: Team Edux goes all in for Season XVII
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Despite illnesses and other setbacks, Isac had fairly consistent results in last season’s Ski Classics. In the season opener in Bad Gastein, Austria, he finished 25th. He then placed 42nd in Marcialonga, 39th in Vasaloppet, and 26th in Birkebeinerrennet.
The Team Edux skier competed in ten Pro Tour races and finished in the top 40 in all of them, except for Engadin La Diagonela (55th) and the Marcialonga, where he narrowly missed out on the top 40.
“Everything has to go perfectly in the races to get a good result. When you manage to deliver one or two strong races, it builds confidence and self-belief. I definitely want to improve my position and aim to be part of the lead groups – and when you stay with them, anything can happen in the end.”
Isac has been the best Finnish male skier at Vasaloppet for several years, and he admits that the legendary race is always on his mind during training.
“Whenever training gets tough or painful, I remind myself that this is giving me a push toward Vasaloppet, and this session is making me better. My entire training program is largely designed with Vasaloppet in mind. I’ve also raced it over ten times, so I’m well aware of my strengths and weaknesses, which enables me to plan the race strategically. We’ve also found a very good team setup and race strategy, which really helps.”
Isac’s best result in Vasaloppet so far is 34th place, which he achieved in 2022. This coming winter, Team Edux’s star wants to stay in the main pack and get even closer to the front.
Also Read: Team Edux flies the blue-and-white flag as the only Finnish Pro Team in Ski Classics
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