The next race on the Ski Classics calendar is Engadin La Diagonela, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary during Season XIV. ProXCskiing evaluates the top 5 women and men with the most chances to take victory in Switzerland.
The Women’s Favorites For Engadin La Diagonela
Emilie Fleten – Team Ramudden
Emilie Fleten from Team Ramudden had a good season start, with three podium positions conquered. However, the Norwegian Pro Tour skier feels motivated to improve and learn more to keep fighting for the next races.
“I am aiming for more,” she says during Engadin La Diagonela pre-event interviews earlier this week.
When asked about where she could improve, Emilie says:
“Everything! I want to be a better skier and be able to win races”, while also sharing the feeling that she is getting there and excited about what is about to come.
Emilie has been on the podium at Engadin La Diagonela, and this course suits her capabilities.
“I really like this course.” And one of the motivations that Emilie feels is the ambition of beating Astrid Øyre Slind. However, with more than 90 kilometers of racing over two events last weekend, Emilie felt very tired. So, she has spent the week trying to get her energy back.
Read More: Engadin La Diagonela Pre-Event Interviews
Astrid Øyre Slind – Team Aker Dæhlie
After having a long skiing session in the sunny Pontresina, Astrid Øyre Slind showed up at the pre-event interviews feeling good. The Norwegian Pro Tour athlete had her first season victory at Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge. She didn’t race at the Pustertaler Ski Marathon to recover since she competed at Tour de Ski and wasn’t feeling ready for a two-event weekend.
However, Astrid has a challenging decision to make. “I am still kind of riding two horses,” she says. The Norwegian skier is competing in both long-distance and traditional skiing events, which challenges her in terms of training, recovery, and logistics.
Despite the challenge, Astrid believes that her chances of winning are high.
“My chances are good so that we will see with skis and the other girls.” Astrid was the winner of the 2020 edition, and this brings her good memories:
“If we can do something like that, we will be really happy,” she says.
Anikken Gjerde Alnæs – Team Ragde Charge
Anikken Gjerde Alnæs is coming from her best Ski Classics result so far. The Norwegian Pro Tour skier seems to be finding her best shape, and last week, in an interview for ProXCSkiing.com, she said that she hopes to get better results at the big races.
“My body is responding better to training longer sessions,” said Anikken. After her second position at Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Anikken showed that her body can tolerate longer distances, and she might use her strength to go after more podiums.
Read More: First Ski Classics Podium For Anikken Gjerde Alnæs
Jenny Larsson – Team Ragde Charge
Jenny Larsson has had an impressive comeback. After a year of fighting against an injury, Jenny seems to be strong, both physically and mentally. She is currently 4th overall in the Champion and Climb competitions and 3rd at the Sprint competition.
Moreover, Jenny has had consistent top-10 races and has already conquered the podium this season at La Venosta Criterium. As she is building her form, there are reasons to believe she will fight for more podiums throughout the season.
Ida Dahl – Team Engcon
Until earlier today, Ida Dahl was considered one of the most probable winners for this weekend’s race. She has been almost unbeatable this season, and last year at Engadin La Diagonela, she did an impressive race, finishing about two minutes ahead of her competitors.
But soon after the start lists were published, it was confirmed that Ida Dahl would not start in tomorrow’s race.
Magni Smedås – Team Eksjöhus
Magni Smedås is coming from a solid start to the season. Currently, she has 4th place at Bad Gastein Criterium, 5th at La Venosta Criterium, and two 4th places last weekend at Pustertaler Ski Marathon and Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge. The Norwegian Pro Tour skier is currently placed 2nd overall in the Champion competition, and with the absence of Ida Dahl, she will be wearing the Yellow bib tomorrow.
Magni Smedås seems to be finding her best shape and might use her speed to reach the podium this weekend.
Here you can check the women’s start list for Engadin La Diagonela:
The Men’s Favorites For Engadin La Diagonela
Emil Persson – Lager 157 Ski Team
Emil Persson had another impressive weekend, winning both events and getting five individual Ski Classics victories in a row.
“I didn’t expect that when the season started, but it feels really good,” Emil says during Engadin La Diagonela pre-event interviews.
The Swedish skier feels calm and confident during the races. He has been feeling good and strong since the first individual race of the season, thus making him ski the races with a relaxed mind and body.
“I really enjoy being in the competition, and that means a lot to me. If I feel good and my body is in shape, I feel really calm and don’t do anything stupid during the race,” shares Emil.
Last week, Emil shared that he developed his uphill skills, which seems evident with his victory at Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge. He is feeling proud about his uphill skiing capacity.
“I think an increase in Vo2Max and strength is the reason for being stronger on the uphills.”
Kasper Staadas – Team Ragde Charge
Kasper Staadas also has a solid start to the season, with three top 4 results.
“It’s been pretty good. More than I expected, so I am happy with the start, and hopefully, I can build on this.”
Kasper is one of the favorite candidates for the win tomorrow, as he is the reigning champion of Engadin La Diagonela.
“It feels good to win a race. It was my first Ski Classics victory. La Diagonela is a cool and special race, with a good environment and nice tracks.”
The racecourse is now different, so Kasper believes that there will be more athletes with chances to win due to the shorter distance. And Marcialonga is one of the goals for the season, so Kasper’s shape is getting better for the races that are about to come.
“I think I am on the route for a good shape. Hopefully, I can build on La Diagonela and be in better shape for Marcialonga.”
Andreas Nygaard – Team Ragde Charge
At the beginning of the season, Andreas Nygaard was not feeling in his best shape. The Norwegian reigning Ski Classics Champion had to train less due to being sick, but despite that, he has managed to keep fighting for the win against Emil Persson.
But now that Marcialonga is coming, Andreas is surely finding his best shape again, as he has the goal of winning the big races.
Moreover, he didn’t start at Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, so he is probably feeling fresher for Engadin La Diagonela than most skiers. Will Andreas stop the unbeatable Emil?
Max Novak – Team Aker Dæhlie
With one podium this season, it is always worth keeping an eye on Max Novak. The Swedish skier has already shown that he is a versatile skier, with both climbing and long-distance capabilities.
Moreover, he was 5th last year at La Diagonela, and this is a course that may suit him well.
Torleif Syrstad – Lager 157 Ski Team
Torleif Syrstad is currently in 4th place overall at the Champion competition and has been showing good performance throughout the season. Last week, despite not having a good day at Pustertaler Ski Marathon, the Norwegian skier managed to end Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge in 4th place.
During the summer season, Torleif gave an interview to ProXCSkiing, where he said that Vasaloppet is one of his primary goals. So, he is getting ready for the big races that are about to come, and he is probably getting in better shape now.
Read More: Torleif Syrstad – “I Think About Vasaloppet In Almost Every Training Session”
Here you can check the men’s start list for Engadin La Diagonela:
The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)
- Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
- Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
- Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km
- Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
- Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
- Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km
- Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
- Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
- Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
- Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
- Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
- Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
- Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km
More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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