By Teemu Virtanen

Toblach-Cortina is next in line in Visma Ski Classics, and the 7^th stage of the Pro Tour will most likely come with more surprises as that’s been the name of the game this season. The 42 km course has a long climb to the highest point and then a long downhill section, which means that there is a great chance for a sprint finish.

If that is the case in the men’s race, Team Ragde Eiendom’s athletes are strong favorites. Andreas Nygaard knows how to win a race when it comes to a sprint finish, and Tord Asle Gjerdalen has won the race three times. Both of these athletes performed extremely well at Marcialonga as Tord Asle finished 2^nd and Andreas 4^th.

But there are other powerful sprinters who can win Saturday’s race. One of them is, of course, this season’s two-time stage winner Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and another one who can finally get his first victory is Stian Hoelgaard, Team Koteng. He has been very consistent, and a podium place wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for him. Emil’s teammate Andreas Holmberg was 6^th at Marcialonga, and the only skier outside of Norway in the top 10, and he is motivated to be on the highest place of the podium.

What about Tore Bjørseth Berdal, Team Koteng, who won the legendary race last Sunday? He is certainly a potential candidate for the podium, but to win again may be too much to ask for. His teammate Chris Andre Jespersen performed outstandingly well at La Diagonela and left everyone else far behind, but this course may be too easy and short for him to break away like he did in Switzerland. And the same goes for Petter Eliassen, Team Ragde Eiendom, who finished 3^rd at Marcialonga. He will certainly try to push hard on the long climb to the highest point on the course, but the field is so strong that it won’t be easy for him to go solo.

Team Kaffebryggeriet Pro Team Athletes Morten Eide Pedersen and Vetle Thyli can be on among the best three finishers if they have a good sprinting day, and Vetle is certainly aiming to get his first ever podium place. But all in all, we should again be prepared for another surprise winner, and if that’s the case, it could be a name that’s not mentioned here.

In the women’s race, Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes, Team Koteng, has an advantage now being the winner of Marcialonga, and she has been on the podium in every race except Kaiser Maximilian Lauf. It would be quite safe to say that she will be there again when the award ceremony takes place in Cortina after the race. Her teammate Astrid Øyre Slind wears the Hertz Yellow Champion bib, and she is adamant about keeping it after this weekend. Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team, has been a bit off from her usual performance capacity, but she can return to form come Saturday.

Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden, has now recovered from her sickness as her Marcialonga 3^rd place proved, and she is ready to win another stage this season in addition to Kaiser Maximilian Lauf. Katerina Smutná can easily be on the podium, but if she wants to win the race, she needs to have her best day of the season.

This race could also lend itself for surprises from the young athletes such as Ida Dahl and Jenny Larsson from Team Ramudden, and Emilie Fleten and Thea Krokan Murud from Team Ragde Eiendom. They just need to hang on to the top of the hill and then position themselves well before the finish if there is a tight fight at the end.