Cross-country: Discontent in Ski Classics — several teams slam new formats as a “parody”

Ski Classics has introduced two new race formats for the coming 2025/26 season, prompting sharp criticism from athletes and team managers.

The changes are: - A 1.5 km sprint in Bedřichov, Czech Republic, scheduled the same weekend as the Grand Classics race Jizerská 50. - A 50 km individual time trial in Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, placed between two of the sport’s biggest long-distance events, Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet.

Team Eksjöhus manager Espen Trældal is particularly unhappy with the sprint addition, calling it a “parody” and arguing that it makes the series less enjoyable and exposes a weakness in Ski Classics. He also criticizes the placement of the 50 km ITT between Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet, saying the structure is poor even in an Olympic winter.

Ragde Charge manager Magnar Dalen, whose team includes Stina Nilsson and Andreas Nygaard, also opposes the changes. He argues sprint races do not belong in Ski Classics and that all events should be 42 km or longer.

Athlete Max Novak, recently based in Oslo, says that while the sprint isn’t a sporting disadvantage for him personally, it has come at the expense of a “real” long-distance race. He adds that Ski Classics skiers are neither trained for nor the world’s best at sprinting, likening it to watching lower-division football instead of the top league. An anonymous figure within the circuit also criticizes the 50 km ITT’s timing and says teams have conveyed that the plan diverges from their performance profiles.

SVT reports that Ski Classics’ new director Oskar Svärd, who took over in June, has held meetings with teams to explain the calendar and listen to feedback. (SVT also provides a separate piece where Svärd responds to the criticism.)

Provisional Ski Classics 2025/26 calendar highlights: - Dec 13, 2025: Bad Gastein Pro Team Tempo (7 km) - Dec 14, 2025: Bad Gastein Criterium (36 km) - Jan 17, 2026: Engadin La Diagonela (55 km) - Jan 25, 2026: Marcialonga (70 km) - Jan 30, 2026: Bedřichov Sprint (1.5 km) — new - Feb 1, 2026: Jizerská 50 (50 km) - Mar 1, 2026: Vasaloppet (90 km) - Mar 7–8, 2026: Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women/Men (50 km, individual start) — new - Mar 14, 2026: Birkebeinerrennet (54 km) - Mar 21, 2026: Marcialonga Bodø (50 km) - Mar 28–29, 2026: Reistadløpet (46 km) and Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja (60 km)

SVT notes it will broadcast Ski Classics.