Birkebeinerrennet, the 12th stage in the Ski Classics Pro Tour, and the final Grand Classics event, Season XV, took place today in Norway. With superior performances, Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, won the 54km long-distance race from Rena to Lillehammer.

With a sunny day and temperatures below zero at Birkebeinerrennet, the men started at 7:45 CET and the women at 8:00 CET. The action started early, and there was a thrilling race among both the men and women.

BIRKEBEINERRENNET – MEN’S RACE

Known for its hilly profile, Birkebeinerrennet on the men’s side started fast from the gun, with a 20km climb to the first checkpoint.

With about 48km to go, seven strong athletes at the front created a dangerous gap, leaving the main group on alert.

At Skramstad, 8.8km into the race, eight skiers passed within 3.1 seconds, with Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, at the front. The first chasing skiers crossed the checkpoint 18.8 seconds back, with Amund Riege, Team Ramudden, leading the chase and a few of the favorites in the second group.

At Raudfjellet, the first Climb checkpoint of the day and an Iconic Climb at the 19.7km mark, six skiers crossed first. Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, got maximum points, followed by his teammate Andreas Nygaard and Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie.

The first chasers crossed the checkpoint 25 seconds back, and the next group 1:17 behind the leaders.

The second challenging uphill started 28km into the race, culminating at Midtfjellet, the second and last Climb checkpoint of the day, 34.3km into the race. Andreas Nygaard crossed first, getting the maximum points, followed by Johan Hoel in second and Max Novak in third.

With 40km into the race and 14km to go, the leading group of 5 skiers (Novak, Nygaard, Hoel, Stakston, and Sverdrup Augdal) reached Sjusjøen and started their descent to Lillehammer with a 400-meter drop in elevation.

The pace started to pick up in the fast sections after Sjusjøen, with Johan Hoel trying his luck to get a gap first, then Andreas Nygaard, but soon, the first group was again together and preparing for the final part of the race.

With about 2.5km to go, Johan Hoel was on the offensive, attacking the field and getting a couple of seconds in front of the leading group, with Andreas Nygaard closing the gap alone.

Team Ragde Charge, two athletes, entered the last kilometer before the finish in the front. Ultimately, the battle for the win was decided on the straight finish, with Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, winning Birkebeinerrennet in his usual powerful sprint.

After a tight fight to the line, Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, took second place 1.3 seconds back. Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie, was granted third place on the podium, 11.2 seconds behind the winner.

Birkebeinerrennet – Top 3 Men

1. Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, 2:23:55.2 
2. Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, +1.3
3. Max Novak, Team Aker Dæhlie, +11.2

Birkebeinerrennet results can be found HERE

BIRKEBEINERRENNET – WOMEN’S RACE

In the women’s race, which started at 8:00 CET, the speed was high from the start, with Team Eksjöhus, with Magni Smedås and Kati Roivas at the front, setting the pace and stretching the field right away.

Soon, a small group was formed, containing some of the favorites for the day: Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, Silje Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, and the Team Eksjöhus duo Magni Smedås and Kati Roivas.

A few kilometers later, with about 48.5km to go, Fleten increased the pace and left her rivals behind.

At Skramstad, 8.8km into the race, Emilie Fleten crossed first, leading the race alone. The closest chasing group contained Smedås, Roivas, and Øyre Slind 21 seconds back.

With about 40km to go, Fleten was working well alone, heading to Raudfjellet with the first chasers’ group 42 seconds behind.

At Raudfjellet, the first Climb checkpoint of the day and an Iconic Climb, 19.7km into the race, Emilie Fleten crossed first, getting the maximum points, followed by Kati Roivas, Magni Smedås, and Silje Øyre Slind, 26 seconds behind and closing the gap to the leader.

After the climb and towards the base of the second hill, with about 28km to go, the chasers caught the leader and formed a solid group of four skiers. At the Kvarstad checkpoint, the four skiers crossed within 1.7 seconds, with Øyre Slind first followed by Fleten, Smedås, and Roivas.

A few kilometers before Midtfjellet, Fleten and Smedås increased the pace and left their rivals behind. Soon, the gap between the leaders and Roivas grew to 18 seconds and 34 seconds over Øyre Slind.

Just before Midtfjellet, Smedås increased the pace and gained a gap. At Midtfjellet, the second Climb of the day, 34.3km into the race, Magni Smedås crossed first, followed by Emilie Fleten in second, 8 seconds back, and Kati Roivas in third, 48.2 seconds behind.

With about 10km to go, Smedås got a gap over Fleten and never looked back. With 4km to go, Magni increased the gap to 37 seconds to Emilie, and that lead proved to be enough for the finish.

In the end, Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, timed her breakaway perfectly to win this year’s Birkebeinerrennet with a total time of 2:47:09.0.

Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, took second place, 1:07.6 behind. Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, completed the podium in third place, 2:28.5 behind the winner.

Birkebeinerrennet – Top 3 Women

1. Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, 2:47:09.0
2. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, +1:07.6
3. Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, +2:28.5

Birkebeinerrennet results can be found HERE

SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS – CURRENT STANDINGS

After Birkebeinerrennet, 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 Johan Hoel, 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 Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus.

Team Eksjöhus is the best-ranked Pro Team after Birkebeinerrennet Season XV.

Next up is Reistadløpet on April 6 and Summit 2 Senja on April 7. The events mark the 13th and 14th Ski Classics stages of Ski Classics Season XV.

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries.

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 17, 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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