Ski Classics director Oskar Svärd responds to criticism: “I don’t agree”

Ski Classics has faced criticism after unveiling a revamped competition schedule for the 2025/26 season.

Director Oskar Svärd has now responded. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I, of course, don’t agree. I think it’s very exciting that we’re going to test this,” he told SVT. He argues the sport needs to grow stronger and believes the additions will help broaden appeal.

What’s new includes a sprint race in Bedřichov, Czechia, scheduled the same weekend as the Grand Classics race Jizerská 50, and a pair of 50 km individual time trials at Orsa Grönklitt—women on March 7 and men on March 8—inserted between two of the tour’s biggest events, Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet. Previously, there were no races between those two.

Several team managers dislike the plan. Team Eksjöhus boss Espen Trældal called it a “parody,” while Ragde Charge’s Magnar Dalen said sprint “has nothing to do with long‑distance racing.” Svärd says he has met many teams over the summer and insists he has also received strong positive feedback, particularly from teams in Central Europe, who welcome diverse formats that could bring their athletes to the fore. “We’re not just a tour for Sweden but for the whole world,” he said.

Ski Classics also explained why there are no events in February 2026: the Winter Olympics run from February 6 to 22. “Running a race without TV broadcasting is something no team wants,” Svärd noted, which is why the tour added the Orsa ITTs in March instead.

Ski Classics 2025/26 schedule (new events in bold): - Dec 13, 2025 – Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo, Sportgastein, Austria, 7 km - Dec 14, 2025 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Sportgastein, Austria, 36 km - Jan 17, 2026 – Engadin La Diagonela, Pontresina–Zuoz, Switzerland, 55 km - Jan 25, 2026 – Marcialonga, Moena–Cavalese, Italy, 70 km - Feb 30, 2026 – Bedřichov Sprint, Bedřichov, Czechia, 1.5 km (same weekend as Jizerská 50) - Feb 1, 2026 – Jizerská 50, Bedřichov, Czechia, 50 km - Mar 1, 2026 – Vasaloppet, Sälen–Mora, Sweden, 90 km - Mar 7, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women, Orsa, Sweden, 50 km - Mar 8, 2026 – Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men, Orsa, Sweden, 50 km - Mar 14, 2026 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena–Lillehammer, Norway, 54 km - Mar 21, 2026 – Marcialonga Bodø, Bodø, Norway, 50 km - Mar 28, 2026 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen–Bardufoss, Norway, 46 km - Mar 29, 2026 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss–Finnsnes, Norway, 60 km

SVT will broadcast Ski Classics.