The first event in Visma Ski Classics Season XI took place today. Also being the first one in Visma Alp Trophy. The 60 km Engadin La Diagonela in Zuoz, Switzerland, got two first-time Visma Ski Classics winners from Sweden. Jenny Larsson, Team Ramudden and Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Eiendom won the race in a fantastic and superior way. 

Oskar Kardin and Jenny Larsson managed both to do breakaways. Kardin won by 3 minutes and 54 seconds ahead of his teammate Andreas Nygaard who out-sprinted Petter Eliassen, Team Ragde Eiendom and Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team XPND Fuel of Norway. 

Larsson took her victory 3 minutes and 39 seconds ahead of her teammate Lina Korsgren. Emilie Fleten, Team Koteng, was third, 5 seconds behind Korsgren.

The women’s race offered much excitement early on. Ida Dahl, Team Ramudden, got a big gap with 40 km to go when the climb started through the “Zauberwald”. She then won the sprint in St. Moritz but was caught by her teammate, Jenny Larsson. After the sprint, Larsson got a big gap. 2 hours into the race with about 26 km to finish the lead was 60 seconds.

When Larsson reached Pontresina at 39,4 km she had a lead of one minute and 54 seconds ahead of Ida Dahl and Lina Korsgren, Team Ramudden, and Emilie Fleten, Team Koteng.

Larsson continued with great power all the way to the finish line in an impressive way.

“I felt from the start that the skis were amazing. I never had such skis, and my body was so so good. I have had so many scenarios in my head, but this was not one of them,” said Larsson and continued;

“I never thought I was able to win until the last 100 meters. I don’t have words. It’s so fantastic.”

“It’s amazing. We have such a team performance today,” a very emotional Lina Korsgren said after finishing second to Larsson.

Things started to happen in the men’s race already 12 minutes into the race when the 49 year old legend Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Eiendom, did a breakaway and was in the lead at the first sprint point in Samedan after 16 km.

The peloton then caught Aukland and when they reached the second sprint point about 20 skiers was in the leading group. Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, won the sprint in St. Moritz just ahead of Aukland.

Oskar Kardin, Team Ragde Eiendom, did a break away after the sprint point and soon got a big gap. At Pontresina he was one minute and 24 seconds ahead of the chasing group. 

Kardin then just continued to extend his lead to the chasers.

“It was a fantastic day. I was really tired the last 4 km, but then I heard that I had a 4 minutes lead. The last kilometers were then so emotional,” said Kardin after his first Visma Ski Classics victory.

“Anders (Aukland) was really strong at the beginning of the race, and our plan was to go hard to St Moritz and then towards Pontresina. Suddenly I got a gap. That was not my plan, but I tried to keep a good pace, and suddenly it was 2 minutes. Then I just went really hard the last 20 km,” Kardin explained.

Andreas Nygaard in second place, was happy to see Kardin win the race and also his own and the whole team’s performance.

“I felt really good from the start with amazing skis and amazing teammates. My roommate Oskar was so strong. I’m so happy for him. He’s been doing a great job the last 3-4 years and finally got to win. He deserved it”. Said Nygaard.

Due to the offensive skiing by both Jenny Larsson and Oskar Kardin throughout the race both were awarded as Visma Skier of the day. This is the first time two skiers get it in the same event, but it was decided after today’s two outstanding performances.

Jenny Larsson, Team Ramudden, and Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Eiendom, takes the lead in the Sprint competition.

Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team and Jenny Larsson takes the lead in the Youth competition.

Team Ramudden took the lead in the Team competition 

The next event in Season XI is Toblach-Cortina in Italy, on January 23, 2020.

From left: Andreas Nygaard 2nd place, Oskar Kardin 1st place, Petter Eliassen 3rd place.
Photo Björn Reichert/Nordic focus.

From left: Lina Korsgren 2nd place, Jenny Larsson 1st place, Emilie Fleten 3rd place.
Photo Björn Reichert/Nordic focus.

Top photo: Björn Reichert/Nordic focus.