Who Will Win Marcialonga?

by ANDRÉ SANTOS • 29.01.2023
The next event on the Ski Classics Pro Tour calendar is Marcialonga, celebrating its 50th edition during Season XIV. ProXCskiing evaluates the top women and men athletes with the most chances to take victory in Italy tomorrow. 
The next event on the Ski Classics Pro Tour calendar is Marcialonga, celebrating its 50th edition during Season XIV. ProXCskiing evaluates the top women and men athletes with the most chances to take victory in Italy tomorrow. 

One of the most important long-distance skiing events of the season has arrived. ProXCskiing analyzed the top Ski Classics Pro Tour athletes who can win the 50th edition of Marcialonga. 

The Men’s Favorites For Marcialonga

Emil Persson – Lager 157 Ski Team

Emil Persson is the most obvious contender for the men’s race. The Swedish skier has been unbeatable so far (winning all individual races this season), and he doesn’t seem to be getting tired. Will he be the favorite for Sunday’s race?

“Yes, I think so,” Emil replies to the question during the pre-evet interview earlier this week.

“After last weekend’s results, many people are counting on me as a favorite.”

However, Marcialonga is one of the most competitive races on the Ski Classics calendar, so Emil might find his competitors performing better and more ambitious during this race. However, Emil believes it will be as hard as the previous races.

“All the skiers at the starting line of any event want to win, so to be on the podium will be equally hard as before.”

Emil believes that there will be a big group until the finish line, with some of his competitors fighting for victory, like Andreas Nygaard, Max Novak, and other top skiers who can fight for the podium places.

Watch Here: Marcialonga Pre-Event Interviews

Andreas Nygaard – Team Ragde Charge

Andreas Nygaard did not perform as we are used to seeing him doing at Engadin La Diagonela, but that does not mean that he is out of shape. 

And as Max Novak said, “Nygaard is saving himself for this weekend. Those four minutes he didn’t go hard will probably do him good for next Sunday (tomorrow at Marcialonga).”

We have reasons to believe that Nygaard will be fighting hard for the victory, as he has never won Marcialonga. Even the current Champion bib leader Emil Persson believes Nygaard will be focused on this race since it has been one of his goals for the season.

Moreover, at the beginning of the Season, Nygaard stated that he would focus on the bigger races. Now the time has come. 

Max Novak – Team Aker Dæhlie

Max Novak has been improving throughout the season, finishing 2nd place at Engadin La Diagonela after not having felt especially strong during the Pustertaler Ski Marathon and Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge.

“It was a nice surprise to do such a good result at Engadin La Diagonela,” Max says during the Marcialonga pre-event interview. 

“After the Toblach weekend, I have been in good shape and feeling good. I didn’t expect such a good result at La Diagonela, which feels good ahead of Marcialonga.”

And if the Swedish skier could choose a race to win, it would be the famous Italian race. 

“I think every race is important, but if I could choose one, it would be Marcialonga,” he says.

Max Novak has not been fortunate at Marcialonga, but he hopes the changed finishing course will work better for his skiing capabilities. 

“But I feel that La Diagonela’s results correlate well with Marcialonga’s results, so this should fit me now.”

Kasper Staadas – Team Ragde Charge

Another top contender is Kasper Staadas. The Norwegian athlete has been having a good season, with consistent performances. He is currently ranked as the 3rd skier in the Yellow bib competition.

Last year, Kasper was second in his first-ever participation in Marcialonga. 

“It has been amazing for me to be on the podium at Marcialonga. Maybe I will do what Emil Vokuev did,” says Kasper.

“The difficult part of Marcialonga is staying relaxed and avoiding things like breaking poles or falling because it is such a tight course. And the main challenge is to get to the Cascata with enough energy.”

Kasper is hoping to have his best season performance on Marcialonga, and he has set his goals on stepping up on the podium.

Here you can check the men’s start list for Marcialonga:

Men’s Start List

The Women’s Favorites For Marcialonga

Anikken Gjerde Alnæs – Team Ragde Charge

Anikken Gjerde Alnæs seems to be in good shape, especially after Christmas. 

“I’m pretty happy about my three races, it’s the best I have ever done, so I am satisfied,” says Anikken during the pre-event interview. 

For this reason, we believe that Anikken’s shape is on an uphill phase and that the Norwegian skier may surprise her opponents and reach more podium positions. And, as she says during the interview: 

“I have been able to train more and just have fun with what I do.” 

Anikken has been fighting for the Sprint bib, while also trying to reach good positions at the end of the race, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for her. 

“I love a good sprint; it’s like a trigger to me.” And despite becoming more tolerant for longer distances, Anikken’s goal is still the Green bib.

Jenny Larsson – Team Ragde Charge

Jenny Larsson has had an impressive comeback after a hand injury, with a 2nd place at La Venosta Criterium and top 10 at the other races. Before her injury, Jenny had finished 4th at Marcialonga, and even before, she showed that this race suited her capabilities. 

Ida Dahl – Team Engcon

Ida Dahl missed Engadin La Diagonela due to being sick. However, if she is recovered, there are reasons to believe she will win Marcialonga. 

First, she is probably fresher than the other athletes who raced Engadin La Diagonela. Second, her main rival, Astrid Øyre Slind, will not race Marcialonga due to competing at the World Cup in Les Rousses, France.

Ida Dahl also won Marcialonga last year, and she is having a great season, so there is a strong probability of watching her on the top of the podium again.

Magni Smedås – Team Ekjöhus

Magni Smedås will probably be the main rival to Ida during Marcialonga. With consistent 4th, 5th, 4th, 4th, and 3rd places in all the races, Magni is in good shape to become a strong contender for the Yellow bib, especially with Emilie Fleten, Team Ramudden, out of the game due to being ill.

“I don’t think I am in my best shape, so hopefully, it will be better from now,” Magni says during the pre-event interview.

Magni was 5th in last year’s edition of Marcialonga. 

“I am really looking forward to Marcialonga, it is one of my goals for the season, and I have prepared well for it.”

However, Magni believes that since this is the first Grand Classics race, it will be more competitive.

“Many women have tried to be in top shape for this weekend, so that it will be a tough competition. Many women will be fighting for the top 3 positions.”

Here you can check the women’s start list for Marcialonga:

Women’s Start List

The Season XIV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 14 events on 10 event weekends in 6 different countries. 

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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