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From the Ski Classics race series
The Gastein Classics 2026
With four races over two consecutive weekends, Bad Gastein will kick off the Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII from December 11 to 20, 2026.
International professional athletes will compete alongside ambitious amateur cross-country skiers, making Bad Gastein the center of the international cross-country skiing scene.
With four professional races, a Challenger event, Nordic Week, and an extensive supporting program, Bad Gastein will serve as an international stage for elite sports, young talent, and recreational sports over the course of ten days, combining top athletic performances with a unique winter atmosphere.
December 11–20, 2026
Program
1st Event Weekend | December 11–13, 2026
The first weekend will be all about new race formats and spectacular courses. The event kicks off with the Bad Gastein Vertical City Sprint in the town center, followed by the Sportgastein Criterium, a challenging hill climb awaiting the athletes in Sportgastein .
Friday, December 11
- Bad Gastein Vertical City Sprint Prologue (1 km Individual Time Trial)
- Start at Merangarten
- Turnaround point at the waterfall
- Finish at the Salzburger Hof/Silver Bullet
- Support program in the town center
Saturday, December 12
- Media Day in Sportgastein
- Press and Team Activities
- Side Events and Fan Program
Sunday, December 13
- Sportgastein Criterium (30 km)
- Race start at the event grounds near the Valeriehaus
- Finish at the Goldbergbahn mid-station
Nordic Week | December 11–20, 2026
Alongside the races, Bad Gastein will be all about Nordic sports for ten days.
Scheduled Program Items
- Cross-Country Skiing Retreat
- Touring Camp
- Lectures and workshops on cross-country skiing, training, and health
- Kids' Day
- Opportunities to test gear and equipment
- …
2nd Event Weekend | December 19–20, 2026
The second weekend marks the sporting highlight of the event. In addition to the professional competitions , ambitious amateur athletes also have the opportunity to compete in the Ski Classics Challenger.
Saturday, December 19
- Bad Gastein ITT (7 km Individual Time Trial)
- 1:00 p.m. Bad Gastein Classics Challenger
- 15 km
- 30 km
- Awards Ceremonies and Supporting Program
Sunday, December 20
- Bad Gastein Criterium (36 km)
- Pro Tour race of the Ski Classics World Championship
- Multiple ascents of the legendary “The Wall” climb
- Awards ceremony at the conclusion of the event block
Ski Classics Tour Calendar 2026:
Partner & Sponsoren
All race information
*Subject to change without notice!
Any questions?
Please send us your mail to gastein.classics@gastein.com
We are looking forward to your message!
Ski storage in the start area
The start area is open 45 minutes before the start for ski deposit.
Included in the entry fee
- Gastein Alpine Road toll (Sat and Sun)
- Catering during the race
- Goodie bag
- Medical care during the race
- race number
- Timekeeping
- Certificate to print out yourself
- Clothes bag
Prize money
The total prize money for the Gastein Classics Challenger race is € 2000.00.
Team ranking
A team consists of 4 participants. Women and men are possible as team members. The three fastest members of the team are judged. The winner is the team with the fastest overall time.
Classification
- Classification 30 km:
Jgd II W/M 2009 - 2008
F/M 2007 - 1996
W-I/M-I 1995 - 1986
W-II/M-II 1985 - 1976
W-III/M-III 1975 - 1966
W-IV/M-IV from 1965
- Classification 15 km:
Jgd W/M 2011 - 2008
F/M 2007 - 1996
W-I/M-I 1995 - 1986
W-II/M-II 1985 - 1976
W-III/M-III 1975 - 1966
W-IV/M-IV from 1965
Start groups
- Elite (start number 1 - 6; allocation reserved to the organizer)
- Start group 1 (start number 7 - 67; top 10 m/f 15km + top 15 m/f 30km Gastein Classic 2023,
- Other runners only upon prior separate request to the organizer with proof of an active FIS code or proof of corresponding placements.
- Requests for pre-ranking in the 1 starting group must be submitted by 11.12.2024, 11.59 p.m. at the latest when online registration closes. Later requests will not be considered
- Starting group 2: Ambitious runners
- Start group 3: pleasure runners
Start group 2 or 3 can be chosen independently at the start depending on your ambition.
Start authorization
The minimum age for participation in the races over the 30 km classic distance is 16 years.
Journey to Sportgastein
When traveling to Sportgastein, there is no toll charge for the Gastein Alpine Road on the race weekend (Sat & Sun).
We recommend traveling to Sportgastein by public transport.
Start number distribution
Details follow
Distances
15 km or 30 km classic
Clothes drop-off and collection
Clothes can be handed in 1 hour before the start in the designated area with a clothes bag marked with the respective start number. The dropped-off clothing can be collected from the clothing collection area in the finish area up to 30 minutes after the finish.
Closing time
16:00
Timekeeping
Timekeeping is carried out by Ovento Timing by means of transponder timekeeping.
If the transponder is not returned or is lost , the respective participant is obliged to reimburse the organizer for the costs incurred by the timekeeper within 14 days of being requested to do so.
Rescue service & security
Final runners and the rescue service are expressly permitted to remove participants from the race who are in poor physical condition or show other signs of inadequate condition.
Medical care and ambulance service
Teams from the Gastein Red Cross and Bad Gastein Mountain Rescue.
Liability
Participation is at your own risk. The organizer accepts no liability for damage to property or personal injury. In particular, the organizer is not liable for negligent or grossly negligent behaviour.
All participants are obliged to sign the Gastein Classics disclaimer and present it at the start number issue:
Data protection
The participant agrees to the IT processing and forwarding of his/her data to the organizer.
The personal data provided by participants when registering will be stored and processed for the purposes of organizing and running the event.
Media & press photos/videos
The photos, film recordings and interviews of the participants taken in connection with participation in the event may be distributed and published by the organizer in radio, television, social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), print media, books, photomechanical reproductions (films, video cassettes, etc.) without any claim to remuneration.
Complaints
Complaints must be reported to the jury no later than 10 minutes after the end of the race.
Reimbursement
If the participant does not start at the Gastein Classics for any reason, the entry fee will not be refunded.
If the event cannot be held or can only be held in part due to force majeure, official orders or for other reasons beyond the control of the organizer, the entry fee will not be refunded.
Changes to the route
The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the route, the organizational procedure and other program items until further notice.
In the event of changes, there is no entitlement to a refund of the entry fee.
Registration fee
- Early bird: € 69.00 - until 30.9.2025
- Normal price: € 79.00 - from 1.10.2025
- Late registration: € 89.00 - from 11.12.2025 (directly at the race office until 2 hours before the start of the race; only cash payment possible)
- Online registration until Wednesday, 10.12.2025, 23.59 hrs
Gastein Classics Friends Hotel
- Best Price
- Early Bird athlete's breakfast on race day
- Late check out on departure day
- Ski depot with boot dryer, laundry service
- Free use of cross-country ski trails and toll with accreditation
- Information material and information about the race at the hotel
Mondi Hotel Bellevue Gastein
The Comodo
EUROPÄISCHER HOF Active Hotel & Spa
The Schiller
Hotel Miramonte
Hotel Rader
Impressions 2025
The Gastein Classics are synonymous with top athletic performances against the impressive backdrop of Sportgastein. At both the Bad Gastein ITT on Saturday and the Bad Gastein Criterium on Sunday, the passion for cross-country skiing was palpable at every moment once again this year. The amateur races also provided intense and thrilling moments—captured in our photos.
The Gastein Classics Results
Setting
For the fourth time, the Sportgastein valley floor provided an impressive backdrop and ideal conditions for top-level cross-country skiing as part of the Ski Classics. A total of 30 PRO teams and around 120 amateur athletes took to the starting line on Saturday and Sunday under glorious conditions on the high-altitude trail in Sportgastein.
36-Kilometer Criterium – Fast-Paced Professional Race in Stunning Scenery
The 36-kilometer Criterium was held as a mass-start race for both women and men. The first sprint and mountain points of the season were awarded during the race.
- Men’s Race: Norwegian One-Two-Three Finish After a Thrilling Final Sprint
The men’s race—thanks in part to extremely fast conditions—turned into a breathtaking back-and-forth battle. In an extremely thrilling finish sprint, Kasper Stadaas (Team Aker Dæhlie) prevailed with a time of 1:23:15.3. He won by a narrow margin ahead of his compatriots, brothers Amund Hoel (Team Engcon) and Johan Hoel (Team Ragde Charge), who thus secured an all-Norwegian podium.
- Women’s Race: Thrilling Finale Among the Favorites
The women’s race also treated spectators to a top-class competition. In the final kilometers, a three-woman lead group broke away and battled it out for the win. In the final sprint, last season’s overall champion, Anikken Gjerde Alnæs, secured first place with a time of 1:35:52.5. Swedish Olympic champion Stina Nilsson (Team Ragde Charge) finished a close second, while Silje Øyre Slind (Team Aker Dæhlie) took third place for Norway.
The sprint and mountain classifications, spread over five laps, provided additional highlights and made the race particularly varied.
All results in detail
Team Tempo – 7 kilometers without steep climbs
In this category, where men and women are ranked together, the focus was clearly on team performance. In the end, Team Engcon—led by the two Ski Classics champions, Norwegians Anikken Gjerde Alnæs and Ole Jørgen Bruvoll—prevailed and claimed victory. Olympic champion and cross-country skiing legend Petter Northug also competed in the Pro Team Tempo. The Norwegian finished seventh with his team “Burger King Northug,” trailing by +2:26.7, and was thrilled with the conditions.
All results in detail
Gastein Classics Challenger over 15 or 30 kilometers
This race was open to both professionals and ambitious amateurs and enjoyed great popularity and strong local participation.
Full results
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all sponsors, partners, and the numerous volunteers whose tireless efforts made this event possible.
