Visma Ski Classics season XI is ready to start with nine Pro Tour events. Two events has been cancelled; the The Pro Team Tempo and La Venosta due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Season XI will start with La Diagonela in the Engadine valley, Switzerland, on January 16th.
With excellent snow conditions in the Alps, Visma Ski Classics is now looking forward to the season XI start in Switzerland- less than two weeks away! The season XI calendar has been undergoing changes two times during the planning phase due to the pandemic. Now the organisation is ready to deliver a Pro Tour with nine events, starting with La Diagonela January 16th.
"Due to local restrictions connected to Covid -19 we have taken a decision to cancel the Pro Team Tempo, which was planned for January 14th and La Venosta, planned for February 7th. With these changes, we now have a Pro Tour calendar consisting of 9 strong events. In addition we are removing all side events such as the flower ceremonies, and all meetings will be held digital. Day before each event of the Pro Tour races all athletes will be Antigen tested on site. With our Covid-19 protocol in place in addition to local regulations we believe we are doing the best we can to ensure a safe but yet exciting Pro Tour this winter." says Visma Ski Classics CEO David Nilsson.
As La Venosta is canceled, the Visma Alp Trophy will include three events: La Diagonela, Toblach-Cortina and Marcialonga. Another change for the season is that the Pro Team athletes will not count their best Challengers events points into the Yellow bib Champion and Pink bib Youth competitions in order to limit travel.
The Pro Teams are now doing their last preparations heading to Switzerland for a long-awaited start of Season XI. With lots of snow in the Alps they will get a a nice stay in the area. There are three competitions taking place in a row and the Visma Alp Trophy competition will show which athletes is the stronger in the first part of the season XI.
Visma Ski Classics season XI calendar
Event 1: Jan. 16, 2021, Engadin La Diagonela, 65 km ,Zuoz, Switzerland
Event 2: Jan. 23, 2021, Toblach-Cortina, 42 km, Toblach-Cortina, Italy
Event 3: Jan. 31, 2021, Marcialonga*, 70 km, Trentino, Italy
Event 4: Feb. 14, 2021, Jizerská Padesátka*, 50 km, Bedrichov, Czech Republic
Event 5: Mar. 7, 2021, Vasaloppet*, 90 km, Sälen-Mora, Sweden
Event 6: Mar. 20, 2021, Birkebeinerrennet*, 54 km, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway
Event 7: Mar. 27, 2021, Årefjällsloppet, 100 km, Vålådalen, Sweden
Event 8: Apr. 10, 2021, Reistadløpet, 50 km, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway
Event 9: Apr. 17, 2021, Ylläs-Levi, 70km, Ylläs-Levi, Finland
