The new Ski Classics winter is finally here. As the Pro Tour returns to Bad Gastein this weekend, the focus shifts back to the prestigious color bibs.
Before the Pro Tour Season XVII officially begins, here is a complete overview of last winter’s bib winners, the athletes already carrying valuable Challengers points into the new season, and a reminder of how each competition works.
Season XVI recap: who earned the color bibs?
Last winter delivered one of the closest battles in Ski Classics history.
In the Champion competition, Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Engcon, secured the women’s Yellow bib with 4040 points, finishing 31 points ahead of Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, while Stina Nilsson, Team Ragde Charge, completed the podium, 580 points behind the winner.
On the men’s side, Team Engcon swept the top three, with overall winner Ole Jørgen Bruvoll ahead of teammate Johan Tjelle and Amund Hoel.
In the Sprint competition, Alnæs also claimed the Green bib for the women, with Nilsson and Silje Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, following. Vebjørn Moen, Team Eksjöhus, topped the men’s standings, ahead of Anton Persson, Team Ramudden, and Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet DRIV.
The Climb bib went to Emilie Fleten for the women and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus, for the men, both rewarded for their season-long consistency over the hills. Behind the Climb bib winners, Stina Nilsson and Anikken Gjerde Alnæs rounded out the women’s podium, while Ole Jørgen Bruvoll and Johan Hoel claimed second and third place in the men’s competition.
The Youth competition saw Louise Lindström and Jeremy Royer, Team Eksjöhus, claim the Pink bibs, followed by Hanna Lodin and Karolina Hedenström on the women’s side, and Amund Riege and Alvar Myhlback rounding out the men’s podium.
The Cub and Vet categories were won by Silva Kemppi, Team Mäenpää, and Nicole Tröger, Ski-Willy Marathon Team Austria, on the women’s side, and Alvar Myhlback, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Sadurni Betriu Boix, Team Internorm Trentino GSG, for the men.
Athletes already holding points for Season XVII
Several Pro Team athletes begin the Pro Tour Season XVII with 50 points after victories at Ski Classics Challengers events. Only one result counts for each athlete, but these early points can play an important role in the first standings after Bad Gastein.
Among the women, Anikken Gjerde Alnæs leads the list after wins at Värnamorullen and Sovereign 2 SilverStar Classic. She is joined by Stina Nilsson (Lofsdalen Epic), Sofie Elebro Lind (Vaajmarathon), Julia Angelsiöö (Båstad-Mölle), Sofia Lindberg (Nordenskiöldsloppet), Tereza Hujerová (Kobberløpet), Karolina Hedenström (Tanumsloppet), Sandra Schützová (Energamo Lipnolopet), Hanna Lodin (Klarälvsloppet), and Magni Smedås (Alliansloppet).
The men’s standings show ten athletes tied at 50 points, including Oskar Kardin (Sovereign 2 SilverStar Classic), Kasper Stadaas (Kobberløpet), Max Novak (Båstad-Mölle), Johannes Eklöf (Lofsdalen Epic), Johan Hoel (Tana-Varangerrennet), Thomas Bing (Fossavatnsgangan), Miro Karppanen (Lapponia Ski Week), Alvar Myhlback (Alliansloppet and Klarälvsloppet), Lauri Mannila (Värnamorullen), and Magnus Vesterheim (Energamo Lipnolopet).
With the field tightly packed at the top, the early Pro Tour events in Austria will immediately reshape the standings.
What the color bibs represent
The Yellow Champion bib is worn by the athlete with the most Champion points throughout the season. Points earned in Pro Tour events and one’s best result from a Challengers race are included.
The Green Sprint bib rewards speed at intermediate sprints, with up to two sprint checkpoints per event. The seven fastest split times for men and women receive points.
The Squared Pattern Climb bib highlights the season’s strongest uphill performers. Like the Sprint bib, up to two climb checkpoints per event award points to the seven fastest men and women.
The Pink Youth bib is open to athletes aged 26 or younger, based on Champion points and including their single best Challengers result.
The Cub category is reserved for athletes aged 23 or younger, with a maximum of five Cub athletes per Pro Team across the season, with two allowed per event in addition to the regular squad. The Vet category highlights athletes aged 40 or older.
Pro Tour Season XVII begins
The Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII opens in Bad Gastein on December 13–14 with the Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo and the 36km Bad Gastein Criterium. With carry-over Challengers points, last season’s champions, and new talents ready to challenge for the bibs, the first weekend promises an immediate shake-up in all competitions.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII (2025/2026)
• Event 1: December 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo – Austria – 7km
• Event 2: December 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
• Event 3: January 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 4: January 25, 2026 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 5: January 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 6: February 1, 2026 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 7: March 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km
• Event 8: March 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women – Sweden – 50km
• Event 9: March 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men – Sweden – 50km
• Event 10: March 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 54km
• Event 11: March 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø – Norway – 50km
• Event 12: March 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 13: March 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km
Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII 2025/2026
For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com.
Author: Leandro Lutz
Photo: Barbieri/NordicFocus
