SKI CLASSICS. Visma Ski Classics premieres in one and a half week with the prologue and La Sgambeda in Livigno, Italy. First out is the prologue where the women race 15km with a mass start. The men will also race 15km where the Pro Teams starts with 2 min difference and the clock will stop at the third Pro Team athlete crossing the finish line. The time will be multiplied with three and added to the team’s best women time. The Prologue is an important event as it will be awarded with points both in the Visma Ski Classics Team and Champion competition.

La Sgambeda 35km is held the day after the Prologue and Team Exspirit will arrive in Livigno all ready this Friday. Enough time to acclimatize to the altitude and make the final preparations.

-The race course starts at 1800 m above sea level and turns around at 2200 so the acclimation to the altitude is very important. The athletes will be 8 days on the race elevation before the prologue and should be well prepared for the race, says Christer Skog, Director of Sport Team Exspirit.

Several of the athletes from Team Exspirit has all ready tested the race nerve during the national opening races in Beitostølen, Norway and Bruksvallarna, Sweden. Morten Eide Pedersen ended up fourth at 15km classic and fifth at the sprint race in Beitostølen. At the same time Tuva Toftdahl Staver ended 22nd at 10km classic and was one of the few women double poling the course without kick wax.

Jimmie Johnsson had a great race in Bruksvallarna and ended up 2nd at 10km classic, only beaten by Petter Northug. Also Daniel Richardsson, Bill Impola, Anders Södergren and Annika Löfström raced in Bruksvallarna showing that they’re in the right place for the long distance season. Daniel Richardsson also got selected for the Swedish World Cup Team to the World Cup opening in Kuusamo this weekend.

-Kuusamo is a part of my season plan so it feels good to be selected. I need a couple of races to get going and missing the high tempo in shorter races. But it comes together more and more and now it’s time to shift mode from training to competition, says Daniel Richardsson.

The prologue in La Sgambeda will be the start for an exciting season of Visma Ski Classics and Team Exspirit is ready!

-The whole team has had good training during the summer and fall, now it’s time to deliver on the race course. Livigno will be the first test and where our season starts for real but of course it’s good to have encouraging results at the national opening races. Also to have Daniel Richardsson selected for the Swedish World Cup team shows that we’re in the right place leading in to the season. It’s tough competition in Visma Ski Classics but we will be hard to beat this season, says Erik Nilsson, Team Director Team Exspirit.

Team Exspirit is one of the world´s leading long distance pro teams in Visma Ski Classics. The Team is based in Stockholm Sweden, although it consist of skiers from several different nations.

Team Exspirit 2015/16
Daniel Richardsson, Sweden
Morten Eide Pedersen, Norway
Bill Impola, Sweden
Jimmie Johnsson, Sweden
Anders Södergren, Sweden
Seraina Boner, Switzerland
Tuva Toftdahl Staver, Norway
Annika Löfström, Sweden

Team Exspirit
www.teamexspirit.com
A press release from the world´s leading long distance ski team
Wed, November 25, 2015