Keen to fight: “I’ve recharged my batteries”

Emilie Fleten
This Saturday marks the year’s first Ski Classics Pro Tour event, the 3 Zinnen Marathon. Emilie Fleten currently holds the Yellow bib, but only by one point. This weekend, another showdown is expected between her and Ida Dahl.

The 62-kilometer long 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon is the season’s first longer distance race, with the longest so far being 35km. There’s been a close fight between Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, and Ida Dahl, Team Engcon, throughout the season. In the overall standings, they’re vying for the Yellow bib, and before this weekend’s event, it’s Fleten who leads, but just by one point.

“It’s fun to have the Yellow bib, but I’m only leading by one point. It feels like it’s going to be a long fight between me and Ida Dahl all winter. But I also enjoy leading, as it means I’ve done something good before Christmas. It’s a good feeling,” says Emilie Fleten to ProXCskiing.com.

For Fleten, it’s about staying sharp and focused every weekend, especially when competing so closely with Dahl.

“The battle between me and Ida Dahl, I think, will be tight. We are so evenly matched that we can’t afford a bad result. That means you have to be on top almost every weekend if you want to take the Yellow bib,” says the Team Ramudden skier.

Maintaining form is fundamentally easy for Fleten; it’s other factors that are more challenging.

“You need luck with skis and to stay healthy. That’s the biggest challenge. Being in decent shape throughout the season isn’t problematic for me, it usually goes well. If you get knocked out for a weekend due to illness, you fall far behind, so that’s what’s critical,” she says.

Long-distance skiing king Anders Aukland has his bets on Emilie Fleten this coming weekend. He is curious about how Fleten has spent her Christmas holiday.

“I used Christmas to train well, but tried to stay refreshed. The period we are entering now requires top performance, so I’ve been with family and friends to get ready to go out to ski races again. I’m satisfied that I’ve mentally disconnected. It feels like I’ve recharged my mental batteries.”

Fleten finished third in the Pustertaler Ski Marathon (now 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon) last year and fourth the year before. Both times she was beaten by her rival Ida Dahl. Now she’s eager to do better, but still doesn’t have a concrete plan.

“You can make as many plans as you want before the start, but you quickly sense how the day’s form and skis are. It’s probably the day’s form that will decide when to make a move in the track this weekend. Being a bit cautious and having several scenarios ready is probably wise. I haven’t performed so well in the race on Saturday before, but that only triggers me to try and perform better,” concludes Emilie Fleten.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. The season started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 9, 2023, and will end in Norway with the 100km Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet on April 13, 2024.

Next up is the 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon in Italy on January 13, 2024. The event marks the fifth Ski Classics Pro Tour stage of Season XV.

Read More: 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon this Saturday in Italy

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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