The longest and hardest race in the Drei Zinnen Dolomites (Three Peaks in the Dolomites), the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon offered a very challenging course, breathtaking scenery, and a real battle for the wins. 

3 ZINNEN SKI MARATHON – MEN’S RACE

The men’s race started at 9:00 CET, and there was a controlled pace and no decisive action besides a breakaway attempt by Johan Tjelle, Team Engcon, before the Sprint checkpoint, with all the favorites in the big chasing group.

With a 6.1 seconds gap for the Sprint checkpoint, 22.4km into the race, Johan Tjelle, Team Engcon, crossed the line first, followed by teammate Amund Hoel, Team Engcon, and Simen Ramstad, Team Kaffebryggeriet.

Heading to the Climb checkpoint, a big group was still in the front, with several teams taking the lead at a controlled pace before the start of the climb. With about 29km to go, the speed started to rise with Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, Thomas Ødegaarden and Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, both from Team Eksjöhus, getting a break, with the gap reaching 24 seconds with 27km to go.  

At the Cimabanche Climb checkpoint, 36.9km into the race, Thomas Ødegaarden, Team Eksjöhus, showed his strength, crossing first, followed by Runar Skaug Mathisen, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Eirik Sverdrup Augdal, Team Eksjöhus.

After Cimabanche, a powerful trio kept the break, with Ødegaarden, Sverdrup Augdal, and Skaug Mathisen setting a fast pace in the downhill section towards the finish line in Villabassa/Niederdorf.

With about 18km to go, the leading trio still worked strongly together and had a gap of around 15 seconds over the strong chasers behind. Four kilometers later, the break got caught up, and with 12km to go, 14 strong skiers were in the front and preparing for the final part of the race.

With 5km to go, the front group was still compact, with Skaug Mathisen at the front controlling the pace. At the 3km mark, Team Ragde Charge and Lager 157 Ski Team were active in front of the race, making it ready for the finish.

With 500m to go, the fight was tight. Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, hit the front, pushed hard, and won the race, followed by Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, and Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team.

3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Top 3 Men

1. Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, 2:24:13.7
2. Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, +1.4
3. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, +1.4

3 ZINNEN SKI MARATHON – WOMEN’S RACE

In the women’s race, which started at 9:05 CET, it all started with a fast pace, and soon a group with about ten skiers was formed, but no real moves at the beginning from the favorites. 

The real action started before the Sprint checkpoint when a smaller group was formed by Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge, Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, Silje Øyre Slind, Team Aker Dæhlie, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus.

In the only Sprint checkpoint of the day, 22.4km into the race, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, showed her speed and crossed the line first, followed by Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Anniken Gjerde Alnæs, Team Ragde Charge.

Right after the Sprint at the Nordic Arena, Ida Dahl kept the pace high and got a break together with Emilie Fleten, with a few seconds of a gap over the chasers. A few kilometers later, Dahl embarked on a solo move, with the gap soon growing to 46 seconds over Fleten, Slind, and Roivas with 29.1km to the finish.

Before the Cimabanche checkpoint, 36.9km into the race, Ida Dahl extended the gap, showing her strength and crossing the Climb first, 1:46.3 in front of Kati Roivas and 1:48.0 ahead of Silje Øyre Slind. 

With 18.3km to go, Dahl was still looking strong and had a gap of 2:10 over the chasers, growing to 2:57 with 7km to go, leaving Kati Roivas, Silje Øyre Slind, and Emilie Fleten fighting for second and third places.

In the end, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, showed her phenomenal performance in another Pro Tour event and crossed the finish line in first place in a solo victory.

Behind it was a fierce battle for the remaining spots on the podium. Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, finished second, and Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, completed the podium in third place. 

3 Zinnen Ski Marathon – Top 3 Women

1. Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, 2:46:48.2
2. Kati Roivas, Team Eksjöhus, +3:00.5
3. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, +3:21.7

3 Zinnen Ski Marathon results can be found HERE

SKI CLASSICS COMPETITIONS – CURRENT STANDINGS

After 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Kasper Stadaas, Team Ragde Charge, lead the Champion Bib Competition. Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Alfred Buskqvist, Team Ramudden, are carrying the Green bib of the Sprint Competition.  

Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, and Thomas Bing, eD system Silvini Team, carry the bib for the Climb Competition. The Pink Bib for the best Youth rests on Karolina Hedenström, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Axel Jutterström, Team Eksjöhus.

Team Eksjöhus is the best Pro Team after the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon.

Next up is Engadin La Diagonela on January 20, 2024. The event marks the sixth Ski Classics Pro Tour stage of Season XV.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 56km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com

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