Ski Classics Season XIV returns after the Christmas and New Year’s break with events 4 and 5, in another two Pro Tour events weekend, Pustertaler Ski Marathon and Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, in Italy.

PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON

On Saturday, January 14, Season XIV starts 2023 with the Pustertaler Ski Marathon, the season’s fourth event. 

After a successful edition last season, the 62km long-distance race is again part of the Ski Classics Pro Tour. Self-titled the longest and hardest ski race in the Drei Zinnen Dolomites (Three Peaks in the Dolomites), Pustertaler Ski Marathon offers a very challenging course and breathtaking scenery. 

The race starts in Sesto/Sexten, goes South, then turns and heads towards San Candido and Dobbiaco, passing through the famous cross-country skiing stadium Nordic Arena, where a Sprint point after 22 kilometers will wait for the Pro Tour athletes. The Climb checkpoint will be at Cimabanche after 36 kilometers of race, where the tracks turn, and the course leads back to the Nordic Arena. From there, it continues to the finish line in Villabassa/Niederdorf.

PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 4

• Date: January 14, 2023
• Distance: 62km Classic Technique
• Place: Sesto/Sexten, Italy (Start) – Villabassa/Niederdorf, Italy (Finish) 
• Start Time: Women 9:15 CET / Men 9:00 CET
• Number of SC Sprints: 1
  • Sprint: Nordic Arena 22km
• Number of SC Climbs: 1
  • Climb: Cimabanche 36km

Pustertaler Ski Marathon – Course Map & Profile

PRATO PIAZZA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

On Sunday, January 15, the weekend continues with the fifth event in Season XIV, the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, voted the best event in Season XII. 

Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge is a 32km uphill mass-start race, and last season proved to be a real climb competition. The mythical climb to Prato Piazza is the biggest climb of Season XIV, with the finish line almost 2000 meters above sea level, high up in the magnificent Dolomites scenery. 

The new addition to Season XIV is the Ski Classics Iconic Climbs, a new category in the Ski Classics points table used for the most iconic climbs of Ski Classics. 

For Season XIV, there will be four Iconic Climbs. First is to Prato Piazza, the finishing hill of the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge. 

Prato Piazza Iconic Climb

• Event: Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge – Ski Classics Event 5
• Date: January 15, 2023 
• Climb: Prato Piazza, from 1460 to 2000m above sea level, including 6 kilometers on a continuous uphill following an old military road. 

PRATO PIAZZA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 5

• Date: January 15, 2023
• Distance: 32km Classic Technique 
• Place: Villabassa/Niederdorf, Italy (Start) – Prato Piazza (Finish)
• Start Time: Women 9:05 CET / Men 9:00 CET
• Number of SC Sprints: 1
  • Sprint: Lago di Dobbiaco 8km 
• Number of SC Climbs: 1
  • Climb/Finish: Prato Piazza 32km 

Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge – Course Map & Profile

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 40km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 30km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour and overall standings you can find at skiclassics.com.

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