Before the season, the Team Ragde Charge skier had no goal of winning the Yellow Champion competition. Nevertheless, he held it from December to April, and until mid-March, it seemed that the overall victory was almost sealed. But then, things fell apart for Kasper Stadaas. 

Before the double Pro Tour weekend with Reistadløpet and Summit 2 Senja, Stadaas led the Yellow Champion competition by one point. After the weekend, he is in second place overall, 129 points behind the leader and teammate Johan Hoel. 

With how the points are distributed in Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet on Saturday, it is mathematically impossible to close that 129-point gap as long as the man in the Yellow bib finishes the event. 

Also Read: Ski Classics Standings ahead of Grand Finale Janteloppet Season XV

You had a solid grip on the Yellow bib for a long time. What happened?

“As I said from the beginning, I don’t race for the Yellow. But then when racing for the Yellow, it turned to sh*t,” says Stadaas, and continues:  

“My goal for the season was to win the big four (i.e., Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet). I tried my best to be good in those four races, but I didn’t manage to do well in any of them.” 

On one hand, Stadaas had the Yellow bib for a long time. It was nice while it lasted, but it’s not like he failed to meet a specific goal he had set. 

And on the other side?

“As a sportsman, I don’t like to lose. But I gave everything I had, so I cannot do much more than that,” says Stadaas. 

In that context, it’s consolation that his teammate Johan Hoel will now take the Yellow bib overall. He took it after his sensational victory in Reistadløpet on Saturday, where he became the first skier ever to win the challenging 50km race without kick wax. 

“The Yellow bib goes to the strongest skier throughout the season, and Johan Hoel deserves that,” says Stadaas. 

Magnar Dalen, Team Ragde Charge Pro Team Director, had a specific goal of winning the Yellow bib. Kasper Stadaas will finish the season in line with his original goal of winning ski races. 

What will be your goal for Janteloppet this weekend?

“I want to ski hard and be on the offensive. I want to do stupid stuff on Saturday, and then hopefully, I can be up there doing something fun.”

Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet

On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet will take place in Norway as the 15th and final Pro Tour event of Season XV, where all the Pro Team athletes and their Pro Teams will be present celebrating the end of the season.

Read More: Are you ready for Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet?

Janteloppet – Course Map & Profile

Janteloppet – Ski Classics Pro Tour Event 15

• Date: April 13, 2024
• Distance: 100km Classic Technique
• Place: Mosetertoppen, Norway
• Start Time: Men 8:00 CET / Women 8:05 CET
• Website: Janteloppet  
• Live Center: Janteloppet
• SC Play: Janteloppet 

More information about Janteloppet can be found HERE and HERE

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 Janteloppet on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The 100-kilometer long-distance skiing race in classic technique marks the 15th and final Ski Classics event, 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, 35km 
• 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, 55km
• 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