Magni Smedås About Her Victory In Marcialonga

Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, made her debut in Marcialonga last season, learned from the experiences, and as a result, had the first Ski Classics Pro Tour win of her career last weekend.
Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, made her debut in Marcialonga last season, learned from the experiences, and as a result, had the first Ski Classics Pro Tour win of her career last weekend.

Last week, Magni Smedås, the Team Eksjöhus Pro Tour athlete, announced that Marcialonga was one of her season’s main goals. And on Sunday morning, the dream came true – she crossed the finish line first in the traditional Italian long-distance race.

“It was a magical race. I immediately noticed that I had good skis and that my body felt very good. I tried to save as much energy as possible on the way up to Canazei and then go as cheap as possible on the downhill sections,” said Smedås to SC Play after the victory.

Interview with Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, after winning Marcialonga 2023. Video: Ski Classics


Surprised By The Development In The Race

Smedås was in the leading group with Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, Ida Dahl, Jenny Larsson, Linn Sömskar, and Kati Roivas. The group was caught up by some men, and later in the race, a strong duo consisting of Smedås and Gjerde Alnæs formed.

“I’m not sure when it happened, but I was very surprised. I had planned the tactics for the race a bit, but you never know what will happen during a race. Fortunately, it went somewhat as I had imagined. The only thing I hadn’t imagined was that I would end up with Anikken in the end.”

The two skiers at the front stayed together until the last hill, Cascata. It was a scenario Smedås had envisioned in advance and which she knew was an element that gave her an advantage.

“I have seen so far this season that it is on the uphills that I manage to keep up with Ida and Astrid. I also think it is a big advantage that it comes at the end of the race. Then it’s just something in my brain that kicks in and wants to join and fight all the way to the finish line. So having a steep climb at the end of a race will suit me very well. Then I can use my mental capacity to fight all the way,” the 27-year-old told at the pre-event interview ahead of Marcialonga. 

Watch Here: Marcialonga Pre-Event Interviews Live On SC YouTube

In the brutal finish, Smedås showed her strength, and Gjerde Alnæs quickly dropped back in the 2-kilometer climb. It was a show from Smedås, who could, for the first time, receive the iconic wreath at the finish line.

Also Read: Solid Wins For Emil Persson and Magni Smedås At Marcialonga 

Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus, winner of Marcialonga 2023. Photo: Vanzetta/NordicFocus.


Learned A Lot

Magni Smedås made her debut in Marcialonga last year. She eventually finished in fifth place, but in retrospect, she admits that there are many things she has learned since then:

“First of all, it was a very long race. I remember very well the cramps I had in the last 40 kilometers, says Magni and continues:

“Last year, I was so stressed to keep up with the group, so I completely forgot to eat the gels I had planned and drink enough. So, I was taking in too few carbohydrates.”

How much nutrition do you try to get in during a long race?

“It’s a lot. I’ve never done any of this before in terms of nutrition. I tried it out now in La Diagonela and have a large intake every hour, and it worked very well. I still eat a lot of Haribo in the days before, and during the race, there will be gels, and strong sports drink every hour.”

And it was precisely the nutrition plan that seemed to work this weekend for Smedås, who had the most strength at the end of the race.

Taking Over The Yellow Leader’s Bib

Marcialonga was the first of four Grand Classics Season XIV, meaning that the race gives more points overall to the winner.

With the victory in Marcialonga, Smedås is also now the only woman who has the opportunity to take a “Grand Slam,” in other words, winning Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkbeinerrennet in the same season. No long-distance skier has ever done that.

With 100 extra points overall for victory in a Grand Classics event than the other events, Smedås now also leads the women’s overall in Ski Classics. At Jizerská50, she will have the opportunity to wear the Yellow bib, leading with 15 points ahead of Ida Dahl, who was fourth place in Marcialonga.

Read More: Ski Classics Standings After Marcialonga – Persson and Smedås in Yellow

Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Magni Smedås, Team Eksjöhus. Photo: Magnus Östh/Ski Classics


A Little Break

After three weeks of intense competitions, the Pro Tour skiers now get a well-deserved weekend off. The next event is Jizerská50 in the Czech Republic on February 12. The race is also the second Grand Classics Season XIV.

Now Smedås returned home to Lillehammer, Norway, where the plan is to train a bit, relax and spend time with friends.

“Now I’m going home and filling up with even more Haribo,” laughs Smedås.

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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