During Season XIV, we could follow a close competition for the Veteran bib at the SC Ranking between Anders Aukland and Stanislav Řezáč.

Anders Aukland, born in 1972, won the Veteran bib competition Season XIV and was 33rd overall in the SC Ranking with 20,900,567 points. Stanislav Řezáč, Slavia Pojišťovna Sport Team, born in 1973, followed in 48th overall and second on the Veteran Bib list with 19,025,752 points.

In third place for the Veteran bib was Florian Göbel, Ski-Willy Marathon Team Austria, born in 1972, with 9,318,752 points and 159th place on the SC Ranking overall.

Veteran Bib Rules

The Veteran bib is worn by the male or female athlete with most SC Ranking points of age 44 or above. The athlete’s age is determined by the year when the Ski Classics final of the season takes place. 

The SC Ranking is for all skiers in the Ski Classics races, women and men in the same ranking list. The best 12 event points last 24 months are counted in the total points.

Veteran Bib Standings Season XIV – Top 3

1. Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Charge, NOR 1972 – 20,900,567 points
2. Stanislav Řezáč, Slavia Pojišťovna Sport Team, CZE 1973 – 19,025,752 points
3. Florian Göbel, Ski-Willy Marathon Team Austria, GER 1972 – 9,318,752 points

Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Charge, has completed his final two races as a Pro Team athlete in Ski Classics Season XIV at Reistadøpet and Summit 2 Senja and has ended his professional career on a high note. The Veteran bib winner had mixed feelings before the races but is glad to have experienced two tough races with his team.

“Of course, it’s a special feeling, the last two races of my whole career,” Aukland said.

Reflecting on his long career as a long-distance skier and the development of the sport, Aukland praised Ski Classics as an essential part of cross-country skiing. 

“It has been very interesting to follow the development of the sport. These races have been there for many years, and we have the monuments like Vasaloppet, Marcialonga, and Birkebeinerrennet, but Ski Classics has grown each year, and the teams have been stronger. Ski Classics have been an important part of all cross-country, and when you do ski races from one place to another, you work together as a team; as you have in cycling, it’s the future for cross-country skiing. The development of the sport has been very nice and interesting to follow.”

When asked about what he will miss and what he will not miss as an Elite athlete, Aukland said: 

“I will miss the feeling of being in good shape and looking forward to a competition, and the nerves before the start, like Vasaloppet,” and continues:

“But also, I want to take a big part of the team in the future and try to help other skiers to achieve their dreams and goals.”

Looking ahead, Aukland plans to stay involved with the Ragde team and help build it for the future. He also wants to support his son’s cycling goals and use his knowledge to help others in the sport.

“I will be part of the Ragde team for the future, together with Jørgen and Magnar Dalen. We want to build the team for the next years and try to win Ski Classics races. I also have a son, he’s 19 years old, and he is into cycling, so I want to help him achieve some goals he has in cycling and after that, I don’t know. I will take it easy for some months and see what I want to do. Hopefully, I will use some of my knowledge about training, racing, and being an athlete to help other athletes.”

Overall, Aukland has had a successful and fulfilling career in long-distance skiing and Ski Classics. When asked about the most important lesson he has learned, he said:

“The most important thing if you want to succeed in cross-country skiing and long-distance skiing is that you have to be willing to do arduous work over some years. You also have to be curious about development, because this sport has developed a lot in the last 10-15 years and still does, like double poling and training, for example, and you need to be interested in that and try to do things better,” concludes Anders Aukland.   

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consisted 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, Bedřichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 12km
• 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.