With a new name and renewed ambition, Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team enters Season XVII ready to build on its decade-long presence in the Ski Classics Pro Tour. Based in the heart of the Austrian Alps, the team combines experience and international flair, uniting athletes from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden.
In total, eleven athletes make up the squad -- seven men and four women -- including one Youth and two Cubs competitors. The composition reflects both the team's longevity in the circuit and its ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of long-distance skiers.
"The Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team was established in 2015 and is based in the heart of the Austrian Alps. The team has been part of the Ski Classics Pro Tour for 10 years now. Looking back, it was often a battle against windmills to keep the team going. Nevertheless, the team has achieved numerous and prestigious successes to date. We have established ourselves in the Ski Classics Pro Tour over the years and are now an integral part of this unique racing series," explains Pro Team Director Peter Kiene, and continues:
"The new premium sponsorship from Cibes Lift Austria opens up future prospects for the team that are unparalleled in German-speaking long-distance cross-country skiing. We are already a force in the Alpine region - now we are working on conquering the cross-country skiing world! Wir sprechen Deutsch (We speak German), but the team has an international flavour. Our goals for Ski Classics Season XVII are a top 15 finish in the Pro Team rankings and the development of a strong team for the coming years. Our motto: Up to the next level! Be a part of it!"
A decade in Ski Classics - and aiming higher
Cibes Lift Ski-Willy Marathon Team will line up for Season XVII with eleven Pro Team athletes -- four women and seven men: Luisa Griessbaum (1997), Nicole Troger (1983), Nicole Donzallaz (1981), Cecil Kumpel (2005), Jonathan Goppert (2002), Markus Kocheler (1996), Matthias Waldauf (1999), Florian Gobel (1972), Stefan Falk (1997), Lorenz Gruber (1999), Aaron Gunnarsson (2009).
