Visma Ski Classics Season XI is in full swing, but some Challengers events struggle with the ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions in their respective countries.

Årefjällsloppet 10.0 is part of the Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour and exclusively for elite skiers who meet certain criteria. Årefjällsloppet 4.5 cannot take place due to the current restriction, but recreational skiers are offered “Årefjällen Öppet Fjäll” which means that they ski the track whenever it suits them on Friday March 26 and Sunday March 28.

The course will be the same as the last 45km of Årefjällsloppet 10.0, with start in Edsåsdalen and finish in Vålådalen. Since “Årefjällen Öppet Fjäll” is not a race, it will not be part of Visma Ski Classics Challengers and therefore no points for the SC Ranking are distributed. On March 28^th you can also ski a shorter course of 25km between Trillevallen and Vålådalen.

Other Challengers events have announced to cancel for this season:

• February 13, 2021
  Åsarna Ski Marathon – Sweden
• February 14, 2021
  La Transjurassienne – France
• February 20, 2021
  Trysil Skimaraton – Norway
• February 20, 2021
  Les Belles Combes – France
• March 6, 2021
  Ganghoferlauf Classic – Austria
• March 7, 2021
  Ganghoferlauf Skating – Austria
• March 7, 2021
  Trysil-Knut rennet – Norway
• March 26, 2021
  Arctic Circle Race – Greenland
• March 28, 2021
  Flyktningerennet – Norway

With these changes, the next planned Challengers event is Alutaguse Marathon on February 13, 2021. Alutaguse Marathon is one of few events in Estonia that have received a special allowance from the government to organize the race with a maximum of 2000 participants.

Live results can be followed in Visma Ski Classics Livecenter.

Remaining Visma Ski Classics Challengers 2020/21:

• February 13, 2021
  Alutaguse Marathon – Estonia
• February 21, 2021
  Bessemerloppet – Sweden
• February 27, 2021
  American Birkebeiner – USA
• February 28, 2021
  Latloppet – Latvia
• March 6, 2021
  Novosibirsk Classic Marathon – Russia
• March 13, 2021. New date.
  Furusjøen Rundt-rennet – Norway
• March 14, 2021.
  La Savoyarde Caisse d’Épargne – France
• March 27, 2021
  Blåvegenløpet – Norway
• March 27, 2021
  BCC Hålogalandsløpet – Norway
• April 4, 2021
  Taivalkoski Ski Maraton – Finland

Preview Visma Ski Classics Challengers 2021/22

• April 12-16, 2021
  Lapponia Ski Week – Finland
• April 17, 2021
  Fossavatnsgangan – Iceland