This Norwegian Pro Team is the longest-existing Pro Team and has been in the game since the inception of Ski Classics. For Season XVI, Team Ragde Charge relies on homegrown, Swedish and German talent, as four athletes are from Norway, two from Sweden, and one from Germany.
Comprising seven Pro Team athletes, three women and four men, for Season XVI, Team Ragde Charge has been a pivotal part of Ski Classics since the Tour's early days, being one of the best Pro Teams every year.
According to Magnar Dalen, Pro Team Director, the goal for the upcoming winter is clear: "Team Ragde Charge is ready to defend an amazing season last year with the Yellow bib and top 3 overall in the men's classification," and adds:
"This year we are beyond excited to see what the Olympic Champion from 2018, Stina Nilsson, will accomplish in her first season in Ski Classics!"
With solid names for Ski Classics Season XVI: Stina Nilsson (1993), Moa Lundgren (1998), Victoria Carl (1995), Andreas Nygaard (1990), Johan Hoel (1994), Kasper Stadaas (1994), and Mathias Aas Rolid (1996), we will surely see Team Ragde Charge's colors well represented in the upcoming winter season, fighting for points, victories and the Yellow bib overall.
This team conquered the Champion competition by having three male skiers on top. Johan Hoel won the Champion title while Kasper Stadaas was second and Andreas Nygaard third. Both Stadaas and Nygaard are Ski Classics Legends with their 7 and 19 victories, respectively.
Nygaard has been winning races eight years in a row, and there seems to be no end to his winning streak. Stadaas will most likely continue winning more races, and Hoel is one of the most consistent skiers on the Tour as he was on the podium in seven races last season. These three athletes will be hard to beat when the season starts in December.
Mathias Aas Rolid is a good top-40 skier who performed really well at Alliansloppet and Klaralvsloppet, two well-known Ski Classics Challengers roller ski races, by finishing third at both.
On the women's side, Stina Nilsson is an interesting addition to the team. This Olympic gold medalist tried her wings in biathlon and is now solely focusing on long-distance skiing. It would not be a big surprise to see her on the podium in some of the races this season, or at least close by.
Victoria Carl is another athlete who could easily find herself on the podium this winter. This German skier has not completed many Ski Classics races yet, but she was second at Reistadlopet last spring. This Olympic gold medalist will focus on traditional distances, but whenever she shows up in any Ski Classics race, she will certainly be a true candidate for podium places.
The third woman in the team is Moa Lundgren who is also better-known in the World Cup circuit than in Ski Classics. She did two Pro Tour races last season, Gronklitt Classic and Gronklitt ITT, and finished sixth and fourth, respectively.
