March 27, 2021, it’s time for the longest race to date in the history of Visma Ski Classic. Årefjällsloppet in Sweden is back in the pro Tour with a new course of 100 kilometers.
“I was thrilled when I heard about the plans for a race here at my home ground. I am also very positive about a race of 100 km,” says Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden.
“It will be a tough competition, but a longer race is what many of us athletes have been waiting for, Korsgren continues.
How long do you think the winner time of the race will be?
“It will probably be between five and six hours. Of course, it depends in part on how the company turns out,” says Korsgren.
Will you have an advantage knowing the tracks?
“I want to believe that anyway. I know how long the slopes are. Sometimes you think that you climbed a hill is, but then it continues for a while longer,” says Lina with a smile.
“This spring, I trained a lot in this area when the competition season ended so abruptly. They are very good at grooming the tracks here.”
A presentation of a Plan B for season XI and a new exciting race was exactly what Korsgren wanted to hear about at this time.
“We needed such positive news to focus on. The whole team thinks it will be great fun to race Årefjällsloppet.”
Årefjällsloppet was part of Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour season III-VII and is now back in the new Plan B setup. The race will have both start and finish in Vålådalen and there will probably be two sprint prizes; Vålådalen 15.7 km/Ottsjö 25 km and two mountain prizes; Ytterstvallen 32 km/Ripkalhöjden 39 km.
“The athletes know the area and love to compete there. The area around Vålådalen, Trillevallen and Edsåsdalen offers an excellent track system, says Visma Ski Classics CEO David Nilsson.
“It’s fun that we can launch the longest race ever on the Pro Tour with its 100 km. It will be a challenge for the athletes and it will be interesting to see what tactics the Pro Teams will use,” Nilsson continues.
Årefjällsloppet 2014 with Daniel Richardsson first in a downhill. Photo: Visma Ski Classics/Magnus Östh.
The 100-kilometer race is open to the Visma Ski Classics Pro Team athletes and other elite skiers. However, David Nilsson can announce that it will also be possible for strong recreational skiers to do the race. Skiers who last winter was within +25% after the winner in a Visma Ski Classic’s race will have the possibility to register. It will be a maximum limit on the number that can start in the race.
Of course, for all other skiers, the usual races of 55, 30 and 8 km and the relay over 55 km remaining in the Årefjällsloppet race’s program.
Latti Östlund, responsible for Årefjällsloppets track, is now looking forward to the winter and is happy about the race’s coming back in the Pro Tour.
“It feels great that Årefjällsloppet is back in Visma Ski Classics. It will be a boost for us,” says Östlund.
“A challenging course awaits the athletes. There will be both tough uphill slopes and a bit difficult downhills and longer sections with skiing in flatter terrain. The course’s length will be demanding, and I think the athletes will appreciate the variety on the track,” Östlund concludes.
Årefjällsloppet 100 km course.
You can read more about Årefjällsloppet here.
When Årefjällsloppet was last part of Visma Ski Classics, Anders Aukland won. Here we see Aukland in the lead closest followed by Tord Asle Gjerdalen and Morten Eide Pedersen. PHOTO: Visma Ski Classics / Magnus Östh.
Top picture: Lina Korsgren on the far left at the start of Årefjällsloppet 2014.
