There are three races in in Livigno, Italy, this weekend: in addition to the 42-kilometer skate on Friday, which is the FIS Marathon Cup opener, the Ski Classics also kicks off this weekend with a 15-kilometer and the 35k classic on Sunday.
Madshus racers have dominated the Ski Classics for years, and the 2014 Ski Classics overall was won by Madshus racer Johan Kjølstad, with John Kristian Dahl (Madshus) second and also winner of the Ski Classics sprint jersey as well as Vasaloppet, the most prestigious long-distance race in the world. They are both back to defend their titles this season. Other Madshus Marathon Team racers include Jörgen Brink (SWE), Fredrik Byström (SWE), Markus Ottosson (SWE) and Sara Lindborg (SWE), as well as cross-country skiing’s grand old man Thomas Alsgaard (NOR).
Including the World Cup racers
Scheduling FIS Marathon Cup La Sgambeda 42km skate race for the day before the World Cup in Davos, Switzerland, on Saturday and Sunday allows World Cup racers to race La Sgambeda, as Davos is literally within spitting distance of Livigno. Accordingly, several World Cup skiers are also entered for the race this year.
Livigno, normally known as having snow from early November on, had to work hard last year to put the course together as snow was rare. However, this year it seems that all should be in perfect conditions. Many skiers and teams from around the world have been training in the valley the last weeks, and report ideal training conditions.
Next Ski Classics race: Jizerská Padesátka in Bedrichov (CZE)on Sunday, January 11, featuring 50 kilometers in classic technique.
Next FIS Marathon Cup: Dolomitenlauf, Austria, on January 18, featuring 42 kilometers in free technique.
For the Ski Classic, the La Sgambeda and ProTeam Tempo in Italy are new events on the race schedule, and with the addition of La Diagonela in January, the Ski Classics schedule is expanded from six to nine races.
For the FIS Marathon Cup the La Sgambeda kick-off is a tradition. But also the FIS Marathon Cup has an expanded schedule. This season, the FIS Marathon Cup consists of nine races total, with a new final in Russia: The Ugra Ski Marathon 50K skate in Khanty Mansisk, Siberia, caps the 2014-15 FIS Marathon Cup. Khanty Mansisk is best known for its Biathlon World Cups and World Championships.
Ski Classics 2014/2015 Calendar
Event 1: Ski Classics Prologue – ProTeam Tempo, Livigno (ITA) Saturday December 13, 2014- 15km Classic Technique
Event 2: La Sgambeda, Livigno (ITA) Sunday December 14, 2014- 35km Classic Technique Event 3: Jizerská Padesátka, Bedrichov (CZE) Sunday January 11, 2015- 50km Classic Technique
Event 4:La Diagonela, St Moritz, Engadin (SUI) Saturday January 17, 2015- 65km, Classic Technique
Event 5: Marcialonga, Cavalese, Val di Fiemme (ITA) Sunday January 25th, 2015- 70km, Classic Technique
Event 6: König Ludwig Lauf, Oberammergau, Bavaria (GER) Sunday February 1, 2015- 50km, Classic Technique
Event 7: Vasaloppet, Mora, Dalarna (SWE) Sunday March 8th, 2015 – 90km, Classic Technique
Event 8: Birkebeinerrennet, Lillehammer (NOR) Saturday March 21, 2015- 54km, Classic Technique
Event 9: Ski Classics Final, Årefjällsloppet, Åre (SWE) Saturday March 28, 2015- 75km, Classic Technique
FIS Marathon Cup 2014/2015 calendar
Event 1: La Sgambeda,Italy, Friday December 12, 2014- 42km Free Technique
Event 2:Dolomitenlauf,Austria,January 18, 2015- 60km Free Technique
Event 3: Marcialonga,Cavalese, Val di Fiemme (ITA)Sunday January 25th, 2015- 70km, Classic Technique
Event 4:La Transjurassienne,France, February 7, 2015- 56km, Classic Technique
Event 5: Tartu Marathon,Estonia,February 15th, 2015- 63km, Classic Technique
Event 6:American Birkebeiner, USA, February 21, 2015- 50km, Free Technique
Event 7:Bieg Piastow,Poland, February 28th, 2015 – 50km, Classic Technique
Event 8:Egadin Skimarathon,Switzerland, March 8, 2015- 42km, Free Technique
Event 9: Ugra Ski Marathon,Russia, April 11, 2015- 50km, Free Technique