The Grand Classics events are the four largest and most prestigious events in Ski Classics: Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet. The skier that wins all four events in the same season completes a Grand Slam. Get to know the details for Season XIV.
During Season XI, the Grand Classics events and the Grand Slam were introduced in Ski Classics. The concept was an immediate success and a great motivation among the best Pro Team athletes of Ski Classics. Nobody has completed a Grand Slam in the history of long-distance skiing, but it might happen in Season XIV.
If you win all four Grand Classics, Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet, in the same season, you complete a Grand Slam.
The races in the Grand Classics have a higher value than the other events in the Tour. There are 300 points for victories and a more considerable prize sum, whereas the other events in the Pro Tour hand out 200 or 100 points.
The Grand Classics events have a minimum of 30.000 euros in total prize money. Pro Tour events have a minimum of 20.000 euros for 200 points events and 10.000 euros for 100 points events.
Impressive Achievements
Historically, no one has ever managed to complete a Grand Slam, winning all four Grand Classics events. The Italian Cristina Paluselli has twice been close to reaching this goal. In 2005 she only missed winning Vasaloppet, and the year after, she only missed Birkebeinerrennet. The Swede Sven Åke Lundbäck has also been close. He won all races but Jizerská50 in 1981.
Most recently, during Season XI, Lina Korsgren won all but the last event, as the week before Vasaloppet, the Birkebeinerrennet was canceled. In Season XII, Andreas Nygaard had a triple win at Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet. Still, he was fourth at Marcialonga, the first Grand Classics of the season, keeping the Grand Slam myth alive.
Grand Classics Winners Season XII
Marcialonga
- Ida Dahl(former Team Ramudden and now Team Engcon)
- Ermil Vokuev (Russian Winter Team)
Jizerská50
- Ida Dahl(former Team Ramudden and now Team Engcon)
- Andreas Nygaard (Team Ragde Charge)
Vasaloppet
- Astrid Øyre Slind (former Team Koteng Eidissen and now Team Aker Dæhlie)
- Andreas Nygaard (Team Ragde Charge)
Birkebeinerrennet
- Astrid Øyre Slind (former Team Koteng Eidissen and now Team Aker Dæhlie)
- Andreas Nygaard (Team Ragde Charge)
Grand Classics Season XIV
Marcialonga – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 7
- Location: Trentino, Italy
- Date: January 29, 2023
- Distance: 70km Classic Technique
Jizerská50 – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 8
- Location: Bedřichov, Czech Republic
- Date: February 12, 2023
- Distance: 50km Classic Technique
Vasaloppet – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 11
- Location: Sälen-Mora, Sweden
- Date: March 5, 2023
- Distance: 90km Classic Technique
Birkebeinerrennet – Ski Classics Pro Tour – Event 12
- Location: Rena-Lillehammer, Norway
- Date: March 18, 2023
- Distance: 54km Classic Technique
Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV
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