By Leandro Lutz
Temperatures are dropping and summer is almost over, this means that Visma Ski Classics Season X is coming and it’s time to fine tune training for the winter season ahead, but not without taking part in Klarälvsloppet first.
Klarälvsloppet is Sweden's longest roller-ski race and the perfect warm-up for the winter season, welcoming both recreational and pro athletes to a 90km classic technique race starting at Hagfors and finishing in Karlstad.
This Sunday, September 22nd, the elite men and women start together at 9:00 CET at the new Visma Ski Classics Challengers event, crossing the Värmland countryside and attracting all the best Visma Ski Classics pro athletes.
Last year’s winner Britta Johansson Norgren, Lager 157 Ski Team, is defending her title, while Anton Karlsson, also from Lager 157 Skit Team, who won the men’s race a year ago, is not able to attend.
In the women’s race, Britta Johansson Norgren will be a tough competitor to beat. Team Koteng skier Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes, who was third place last year, is another skier to watch out for as she won Gautefallrennet in late August.
With the absence of the last edition winner, the competition will also be fierce among men, with Pro skiers Stian Hoelgaard, Team Koteng, who was second last year and Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Eiendom, third place in 2018, among many other Pro athletes, battling for the first place.
The race is held on the Klarälvsbanan, an old railway line which is today a beautiful 90km bike path running through the forests and fields of Värmland region and following the course of Klarälven river.
Klarälvsloppet will certainly be an action-packed roller-ski race from start to finish and athletes will certainly fight to see who is best prepared for the Visma Ski Classics Season X.
“For Klarälvsloppet it’s a great honor to be a Visma Ski Classics Challengers event”, says Glenn Olsson, Klarälvsloppet CEO. “The 2019 edition is our third event ever and to already attract the world’s top skiers is of course fantastic. We look forward to develop this event into the world’s biggest cross-country ski race during summer season”.
Stay tuned for more information about Klarälvsloppet this week!
