The Norwegian Pro Team, Team Ragde Eiendom, consists of eight Pro athletes for season XI.
Anders and Jørgen Aukland established their Pro Team back in 2007. They have won Visma Ski Classics Pro Team competition eight times under different team names since the Pro Tour started in 2011.
“For season XI our goal is to win as many races as possible,” says Pro Team Director Magnar Dalen.
“I feel that for the athletes, winning is what counts. If you finish fifth in a race in the world cup, you can see it as a success. Maybe it should be like this in Visma Ski Classics as well, but for the athletes, it is about stepping up to the top of the podium,” Dalen continues.
Dalen is fully aware that the level of the skiers in Visma Ski Classics has become higher in recent years.
“Winning has become increasingly tougher in recent years. Previously, the peloton could quite easily be decimated to about 20 skiers and further into the race to maybe four-five. The level of the athletes between 20th and 50th place has risen considerably in the last four-five years. The best athletes today have to dig quite deep to get rid of an athlete who may be finishing in 38th place,” says Dalen.
Regardless of the above, Dalen has a Pro Team of winners. Three of the Pro Teams athletes are in the Visma Ski Classics Hall of Fame: Anders Aukland (16 event wins), Petter Eliassen (13 event wins) and Andreas Nygaard (11 event wins). Also, Oskar Kardin, second in Jizerska in season X, is a future winner.
“Oskar is one of the Swedish skiers who can be the winner of Vasaloppet in March,” says Dalen.
On the women’s side, the Pro Team has made the two most spectacular signings before season XI: Marit Bjørgen and Therese Johaug.
Marit only has one race planned in the calendar, Vasaloppet. Maybe she will do more races, but anyway, the interest will be at its peak when Marit is on the starting line the first Sunday in March. As for Johaug, we can see her at the earliest after the World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.
However, the entire Visma Ski Classic season XI schedule is in the 26-year-old new addition Anikken Gjerde Alnæs’ plan.
Athletes:
ANNIKEN GJERDE ALNÆS
born on 11/04/1994
SC ranking: #137
Skis: ROSSIGNOL. Boots: ROSSIGNOL. Poles: SWIX. Height: 170. Weight: 62.
MARIT BJØRGEN
born on 21/03/1980
SC ranking: #-
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 168. Weight: 64.
THERESE JOHAUG
born on 25/06/1988
SC ranking: #-
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 162. Weight: 46.
ANDREAS NYGAARD
born on 22/11/1990
SC ranking: #2
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 193. Weight: 88.
PETTER ELIASSEN
born on 01/12/1985
SC ranking: #1
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 182. Weight: 79.
OSKAR KARDIN
born on 13/01/1992
SC ranking: #11
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 185. Weight: 80.
ANDERS AUKLAND
born on 12/09/1972
SC ranking: #24
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 181. Weight: 72.
JOAR THELE
born on 07/07/1993
SC ranking: #18
Skis: FISCHER. Boots: FISCHER. Poles: SWIX. Height: 179. Weight: 73.
Pro Team Director:
MAGNAR DALEN/JØRGEN AUKLAND
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