Marcialonga, the seventh Ski Classics stage, and first Grand Classics event, Season XV, took place today in Italy. Runar Skuag Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, won the 70-kilometer-long race in grand style.
The traditional Italian race that started in Moena and finished in Cavalese saw Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, mastering their respective races and winning the 51st edition of Marcialonga, the seventh event of Ski Classics and first Grand Classics Season XV.
MARCIALONGA – MEN’S RACE
In the men’s race, which started at 8:00 CET, the action started early with Team Ragde Charge, Team Eksjöhus, Team Ramudden, and Lager 157 Ski Team setting the pace for the first few kilometers.
With about 53km to go, Fabián Štoček, Vltava Fund Ski Team, hit the front, stretching the field, with the big group being attentive and not letting anyone get a break. From there until Canazei, the group remained together.
At Canazei, the first Sprint checkpoint at the 18.6km mark, we saw Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, crossing first, followed by Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet, in second, and Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, in third position.
Right after the Sprint checkpoint, Team Ragde Charge hit the front, setting a fast pace and stretching the field.
With 33.3km into the race at Soraga, Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, tried his luck and got a break, gaining a few seconds over his chasers.
Heading to the second Sprint checkpoint of the day, with about 34km to go, Persson was brought back, and a small group of 12 skiers was formed at the front, increasing the speed and preparing for the coming Sprint.
The day’s second and last Sprint checkpoint was contested in Predazzo at the 45.4km mark, with Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, taking maximum points. Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, crossed in second place, followed by Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet, in third place.
With 22km to go, Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team got a break, and 16 skiers were chasing behind, already in action and preparing for the challenging last part of the race. The gap increased, and at Lago di Tesero, about 15km to go, Skaug Mathisen was 25 seconds ahead of the chasers.
With 8.8km to go, the leader increased the gap to 55 seconds, with the chasers trying their best to bring the breakaway back.
After some kilometers and 3km to go, the gap decreased to 40 seconds over the chasers. Team Ragde Charge led the chasing group and set a fierce pace.
With 1.3km to, the gap increased to 53 seconds, and it looked like Skaug Mathisen was set to get his first Ski Classics Pro Tour victory.
In the end, with an epic effort, Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, soloed to win Marcialonga and the first Grand Classics Season XV. Second place went to Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, 4.8 seconds back. Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, completed the podium in third place, 5.5 seconds behind.
Marcialonga – Top 5 Men
- Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, 2:35:53.6
- Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, +4.8
- Johan Hoel, Team Ragde Charge, +5.5
- Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus, +9.7
- Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, +16.0
Complete Marcialonga results can be found HERE
MARCIALONGA – WOMEN’S RACE
In the women’s race, which started 5 minutes after the men, at 8:05 CET, a fast pace was set from the gun, and a leading group of about 15 skiers formed early on.
One top name in the women’s field was missing today. Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, is recovering from illness and did not start at the first Grand Classics of Season XV.
At the first Sprint point in Canazei, 18.6km into the race, Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, crossed first, followed by Frida Erkers, Team Eksjöhus, and her teammate Magni Smedås. Sixteen skiers were within 13.6 seconds from the front of the group with about 51km to go.
At Soraga, 33.3km into the race, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, crossed first, followed by Jenny Larsson and Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, both from Team Ragde Charge.
A leading duo was formed with 30km to go, with Emilie Fleten and Anniken Gjerde Alnæs in the front.
Before Predazzo, the duo leaders were brought back. At the Sprint checkpoint, 45.4km into the race, Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, took the points, followed by Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 0.1 seconds behind, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, 1.5 seconds back. Jenny Larsson, Team Ragde Charge, and Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, were the other two skiers in the front group of five skiers.
With 1.5km to go, the five leading skiers were still together, with Emilie Fleten at the front at the start of the final climb. Soon, the incline began; Fleten started to push hard, and only Smedås could follow. With 1km to go, Fleten made a decisive move and never looked back.
Ultimately, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, just flew up Cascata and won Marcialonga in a solid style and a total time of 3:01:07.9.
Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, finished second, 13.9 seconds back, followed by Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, 36.9 seconds behind the winner.
Marcialonga – Top 5 Women
- Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, 3:01:07.9
- Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, +13.9
- Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, +36.9
- Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, +37.5
- Jenny Larsson, Team Ragde Charge, +1:47.6
Complete Marcialonga results can be found HERE
SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS – CURRENT STANDINGS
After Marcialonga, 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.
Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, carry the bib for the Climb Competition. The Pink Bib for the best Youth rests on Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus.
Team Eksjöhus is the best Pro Team after Marcialonga Season XV.
The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries.
Next up is Jizerská50 on Sunday, February 11. The 50-kilometer classic race marks the eighth Ski Classics stage and Season XV’s second Grand Classics event.
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 16, 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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Photos: Vanzetta/NordicFocus
