Ski Classics is a world championship series within cross-country ski races in classic style that has been held since 2011. In season XII, 2021–2022, the circuit included 15 events, in a professional tour for the 35 Pro Teams involved. From 2015 to 2022, the official name of the circuit was Visma Ski Classics, thanks to their main sponsor. The special thing about the Ski Classics concept is that anyone can start the races: professional or amateur, male or female, 25 or 75 years old. Everyone stands together on the same starting line to face the same weather conditions and the same course.
Ski Classics has also, since April 2019, launched the concept of Challengers. This tour has been created to connect and promote long distance skiing events worldwide. By autumn 2021, 39 races were on the Challenger calendar, combining cross-country skiing in winter and roller skiing throughout the year.
History The cup was first arranged in 2011. The Czech skier Stanislav Řezáč won the men's overall cup, and the Swiss skier Seraina Boner won the ladies' overall cup.
In 2012, the cup consisted of 7 races. The races were Jizerská padesátka, Marcialonga, König Ludwig Lauf, Tartu Maraton, Vasaloppet, Birkebeinerrennet and the final Norefjellrennet which was cancelled because of lack of snow. The Norwegian cross country skier Anders Aukland won the overall cup. He participated for the Norwegian team Team Xtra Personell. The Swedish skier Jenny Hansson won the ladies' overall cup.
In 2013, the cup consisted of 6 races, Jizerská padesátka, Marcialonga, König Ludwig Lauf, Vasaloppet, Birkebeinerrennet and Årefjällslopet. It is an overall-cup, a sprintpoints-cup, a youth-cup and a team competition. The most profiled teams are Team Xtra Personell, Team United Bakeries, Team Coop, Team Tynell, Team Skinfit Racing Team and Team Skigo.
In 2014, the cup consisted of 6 races, among them La Diagonela, Marcialonga and Vasaloppet. Rickard Tynell won the first race, held in Switzerland due to lack of snow in Czech Republic.
Season I 2010-11 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Anders Aukland Team Xtra Personell Sandra Hansson Team United BakeriesMarcialonga70km Italy Jerry Ahrlin Team Xtra Personell Seraina Boner Engadin Skimarathon TeamKönig-Ludwig-Lauf50km Germany Jerry Ahrlin Team Xtra Personell Sandra HanssonTeam United BakeriesVasaloppet90km Sweden Jörgen Brink Team United Bakeries Jenny Grip Team ExspiritBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Stanislav Řezáč Patria Direct Team Seraina BonerEngadin Skimarathon TeamNorefjellrennet60km Norway Anders Aukland Team Xtra Personell Seraina BonerEngadin Skimarathon Team
Season II 2011-12 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Stanislav Řezáč Patria Direct Team Sara Svendsen Team Xtra PersonellMarcialonga70km Italy Jørgen Aukland Team Xtra Personell Susanne Nyström Team ExspiritKönig-Ludwig-Lauf50km Germany Stanislav Řezáč Patria Direct Team Susanne Nyström Team ExspiritTartu Maraton63km Estonia Jörgen Brink Team United Bakeries Susanne Nyström Team ExspiritVasaloppet90km Sweden Jörgen Brink Team United Bakeries Vibeke SkofterudBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Anders Aukland Team Xtra Personell Seraina Boner Team ExspiritVålådalen50km Sweden Anders Aukland Team Xtra Personell Seraina BonerTeam Exspirit
Season III 2012-13 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Anders Aukland Team Xtra Personell Valentina Shevchenko Ixmind Racing TeamMarcialonga70km Italy Jørgen Aukland Team Xtra Personell Seraina Boner Team CoopKönig-Ludwig-Lauf50km Germany Jerry Ahrlin Team Xtra Personell Seraina BonerTeam CoopVasaloppet90km Sweden Jørgen Aukland Team Xtra Personell Laila Kveli Team Xtra PersonellBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Anders Aukland Team Xtra Personell Seraina BonerTeam CoopÅrefjällsloppet75km Sweden Jørgen AuklandTeam Xtra Personell Seraina BonerTeam Coop Anders Aukland
Season IV 2013-14 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamLa Diagonela50 km Switzerland Rikard Tynell Team Tynell Seraina BonerTeam CoopMarcialonga70km Italy Simen Østensen Team Centric Julia Tikhonova Russian Marathon TeamKönig-Ludwig-Lauf50km Germany Johan Kjølstad Team United Bakeries Seraina Boner Team CoopVasaloppet90km Sweden John Kristian Dahl Team United Bakeries Laila Kveli Team CentricÅrefjällsloppet75km Sweden Daniel Richardsson Helsinge Ski Team Charlotte Kalla
Season V 2014-15 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamLa Sgambeda35km Italy Anders Aukland Team Santander Seraina BonerTeam CoopJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Morten Eide Pedersen Team Coop Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderLa Diagonela50 km Switzerland Øystein Pettersen Team United Bakeries Masako Ishida Team United BakeriesMarcialonga70km Italy Tord Asle Gjerdalen Team Santander Kateřina SmutnáTeam SantanderKönig-Ludwig-Lauf50km Germany Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Britta Johansson Norgren Team SkiProAMVasaloppet90km Sweden Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Justyna Kowalczyk Russian Marathon TeamBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Therese JohaugÅrefjällsloppet50km Sweden Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Seraina BonerTeam Coop
Season VI 2015-16 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamLa Sgambeda35km Italy John Kristian Dahl Team United Bakeries Kateřina SmutnáTeam SantanderJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Britta Johansson Norgren Lager 157 Ski TeamLa Diagonela50km Switzerland Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamMarcialonga70km Italy Tord Asle Gjerdalen Team Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamKaiser Maximilian Lauf50km Austria Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Seraina Boner Team ExspiritToblach-Cortina30km Italy Tord Asle Gjerdalen Team Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamVasaloppet90km Sweden John Kristian Dahl Team United Bakeries Kateřina SmutnáTeam SantanderBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway John Kristian Dahl Team United Bakeries Seraina BonerTeam ExspiritÅrefjällsloppet55km Sweden Johan Kjølstad Team United Bakeries Justyna Kowalczyk Team Santander
Season VII 2016-17 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamPrologue8km Switzerland Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderLa Sgambeda35km Italy Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamVasaloppet China50km China Andreas Nygaard Team Santander Olga Rotcheva Russian Marathon TeamKaiser Maximilian Lauf50km Austria Andreas Nygaard Team Santander Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderLa Diagonela50km Switzerland Ilya Chernousov Russian Marathon Team Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderMarcialonga70km Italy Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam Santander Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderToblach-Cortina50km Italy Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam Santander Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Morten Eide PedersenTeam BN Bank Kateřina Smutná Team SantanderVasaloppet90km Sweden John Kristian Dahl Team United Bakeries Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Martin Johnsrud Sundby Team United Bakeries Justyna Kowalczyk Team SantanderÅrefjällsloppet55km Sweden Anders Aukland Team Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamReistadløpet54km Norway Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Justyna Kowalczyk Team SantanderYlläs-Levi70km Finland Petter Eliassen Team Leaseplan Kateřina Smutná Team Santander
Season VIII 2017-18 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamPro Team Tempo15km SwitzerlandLager 157 Ski TeamLager 157 Ski TeamLa Sgambeda35km Italy Andreas Nygaard Team Santander Britta Johansson Norgren Lager 157 Ski TeamKaiser Maximilian Lauf60km Austria Tord Asle Gjerdalen Team Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamLa Diagonela65km Switzerland Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamMarcialonga70km Italy Ilya Chernousov Bauer Ski Team Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamToblach-Cortina50km Italy Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam Santander Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Morten Eide PedersenTeam BN Bank Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamVasaloppet90km Sweden Andreas Nygaard Team Santander Lina Korsgren Team Åre LängdskidklubbBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Andreas Nygaard Team Santander Justyna Kowalczyk Team Trentino Robinson TrainerReistadløpet54km Norway Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam Santander Masako Ishida Team United BakeriesYlläs-Levi70km Finland Andreas Nygaard Team Santander Astrid Øyre Slind Team United Bakeries
Season IX 2018-19 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamPro Team Tempo15km SwitzerlandTeam KaffebryggerietLager 157 Ski TeamLa Sgambeda35km Italy Øystein Pettersen Team BN Bank Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamKaiser Maximilian Lauf60km Austria Petter Eliassen Team BN Bank Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamLa Diagonela65km Switzerland Andreas Nygaard Team Ragde Eiendom Kateřina Smutná ED System Bauer TeamMarcialonga70km Italy Petter Eliassen Team BN Bank Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Andreas Nygaard Team Ragde Eiendom Lina KorsgrenTeam RamuddenVasaloppet90km Sweden Tore Bjørseth Berdal Team Koteng Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamEngadin Ski Marathon42km Switzerland Dario Cologna Natalie Von SiebenthalBirkebeinerrennet54km Norway Petter Eliassen Team BN Bank Justyna Kowalczyk Team Trentino Robinson TrainerReistadløpet54km Norway Mikael Gunnulfsen Team Telemark Astrid Øyre Slind Team KotengYlläs-Levi70km Finland Andreas Nygaard Team Ragde Eiendom Astrid Øyre SlindTeam Koteng
Season X 2019-20 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamPro Team Prologue15km SwitzerlandTeam Ragde EiendomLager 157 Ski TeamIndividual Prologue35km Italy Emil Persson Lager 157 Ski Team Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamLa Venosta35km Italy Ermil Vokuev Russian Winter Team Astrid Øyre SlindTeam KotengKaiser Maximilian Lauf60km Austria Emil Persson Lager 157 Ski Team Lina KorsgrenTeam RamuddenLa Diagonela65km Switzerland Chris Andre Jespersen Team Koteng Astrid Øyre SlindTeam KotengMarcialonga70km Italy Tore Bjørseth Berdal Team Koteng Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes Team KotengToblach-Cortina50km Italy Andreas Nygaard Team Ragde Eiendom Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Andreas Nygaard Team Ragde Eiendom Britta Johansson NorgrenLager 157 Ski TeamVasaloppet90km Sweden Petter Eliassen Team Ragde Eiendom Lina Korsgren Team Ramudden
Season XI 2020-21 EventDistanceCountryMenTeamWomenTeamLa Diagonela54km Switzerland Oskar Kardin Team Ragde Eiendom Jenny Larsson Team RamuddenToblach-Cortina40km Italy Ermil Vokuev Russian Winter Team Lina KorsgrenTeam RamuddenMarcialonga70km Italy Emil Persson Lager 157 Ski Team Lina KorsgrenTeam RamuddenJizerská padesátka50km Czech Republic Emil Persson Lager 157 Ski Team Lina KorsgrenTeam RamuddenVasaloppet90km Sweden Tord Asle GjerdalenTeam XPND Lina KorsgrenTeam RamuddenVålådalsrennet54km Sweden Emil Persson Lager 157 Ski Team Ebba Andersson Lager 157 Ski TeamTåssåsen Criterium54km Sweden Emil Persson Lager 157 Ski Team Lina Korsgren Team RamuddenÅrefjällsloppet100km Sweden Andreas Nygaard Team Ragde Eiendom Lina Korsgren Team Ramudden
Season XII 2021-22