Visma Ski Classics Season XI is in full swing, but some Challengers events struggle with the ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions in their respective countries.
Årefjällsloppet 10.0 is part of the Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour and exclusively for elite skiers who meet certain criteria. Årefjällsloppet 4.5 cannot take place due to the current restriction, but recreational skiers are offered “Årefjällen Öppet Fjäll” which means that they ski the track whenever it suits them on Friday March 26 and Sunday March 28.
The course will be the same as the last 45km of Årefjällsloppet 10.0, with start in Edsåsdalen and finish in Vålådalen. Since “Årefjällen Öppet Fjäll” is not a race, it will not be part of Visma Ski Classics Challengers and therefore no points for the SC Ranking are distributed. On March 28th you can also ski a shorter course of 25km between Trillevallen and Vålådalen.
Other Challengers events have announced to cancel for this season:
- February 13, 2021
Åsarna Ski Marathon – Sweden - February 14, 2021
La Transjurassienne – France - February 20, 2021
Trysil Skimaraton – Norway - February 20, 2021
Les Belles Combes – France - March 6, 2021
Ganghoferlauf Classic – Austria - March 7, 2021
Ganghoferlauf Skating – Austria - March 7, 2021
Trysil-Knut rennet – Norway - March 26, 2021
Arctic Circle Race – Greenland - March 28, 2021
Flyktningerennet – Norway
With these changes, the next planned Challengers event is Alutaguse Marathon on February 13, 2021. Alutaguse Marathon is one of few events in Estonia that have received a special allowance from the government to organize the race with a maximum of 2000 participants.
Live results can be followed in Visma Ski Classics Livecenter.
Remaining Visma Ski Classics Challengers 2020/21:
- February 13, 2021
Alutaguse Marathon – Estonia - February 21, 2021
Bessemerloppet – Sweden - February 27, 2021
American Birkebeiner – USA - February 28, 2021
Latloppet – Latvia - March 6, 2021
Novosibirsk Classic Marathon – Russia - March 13, 2021. New date.
Furusjøen Rundt-rennet – Norway - March 14, 2021.
La Savoyarde Caisse d’Épargne – France - March 27, 2021
Blåvegenløpet – Norway - March 27, 2021
BCC Hålogalandsløpet – Norway - April 4, 2021
Taivalkoski Ski Maraton – Finland
Preview Visma Ski Classics Challengers 2021/22
- April 12-16, 2021
Lapponia Ski Week – Finland - April 17, 2021
Fossavatnsgangan – Iceland
