The 42nd edition of König Ludwig Lauf in Oberammergau, Germany will have both start and finish in Ettal. Normally the start is in Ettal and the finish in Oberammergau but this year the 45 km course has changed due to weather and snow conditions. The terrain is relatively flat and the race will be of two laps with a 22,5 km loop.

Last year competition was probably the closest finish in in the history of Swix Ski Classics where Jerry Ahrlin (Team Centric) came just ahead of Jörgen Brink (Team LeasePlan Go). This weekend’s race in Oberammergau, Germany will probably be another close race due to the distance, course profile and the strong field of skiers fighting for the victory at the third race of Swix Ski Classics this season.

Swix Ski Classics is the long distance ski championships, consisting of the six most prestigious ski events in the world: La Diagonela in Switzerland, Marcialonga in Italy, König Ludwig Lauf in Germany, Vasaloppet in Sweden, Birkebeinerrennet in Norway and the Swix Ski Classics Final Årefjällsloppet in Sweden, all 50 K or more and open for professional as well as amateur skiers.

The leaders in the Swix Ski Classics Champion competition after two events are Simen Østensen (Team Centric) and Seraina Boner (Team Coop). Simen Østensen, who won Marcialonga last weekend is only a few points ahead of John Kristian Dahl (Team United Bakeries). Many good skiers are hungry to challenge these two, such as previous winners Stanislav Rezac (Team Centric), Jörgen Brink (Team LeasPlan Go) and Jerry Ahrlin (Team Centric).

In the women’s field there are many candidates for the victory other than Seraina Boner, for example Susanne Nyström (Team Centric), Larisa Shaidurova and Julia Thikanova (Russia marathon Team).

There are two Swix Ski Classics sprints in the race. John Kristian Dahl (Team United Bakeries) is currently wearing the green sprint bib, and will for sure do all he can to keep it. In the youth competition Tuva Toftdahl Staver (Team Coop) and Tore Bjørseth Berdal (Team United Bakeries) will be at the start line defending their pink bibs.

König Ludwig Lauf will be broadcasted on TV in more than 55 countries all over the world.

Standings before König Ludwig Lauf

Swix Ski Classics Champion

Men

#	Country	Name	Team	Points
1		SIMEN ØSTENSEN	CENT	320
2		JOHN KRISTIAN DAHL	UNBA	310
3		JOHAN KJØLSTAD	UNBA	290
4		JØRGEN AUKLAND	CENT	225
5		RIKARD TYNELL	TTYN	215

Women

#	Country	Name	Team	Points
1		SERAINA BONER	COOP	370
2		SUSANNE NYSTRÖM	CENT	240
3		LARISA SHAIDUROVA	RUSM	236
4		ANNIKA LÖFSTRÖM	SKIP	225
5		LAILA KVELI	CENT	220

Swix Ski Classics Sprint

#	Country	Name	Team	Points
1		JOHN KRISTIAN DAHL	UNBA	120
2		MORTEN EIDE PEDERSEN	COOP	60
3		RIKARD TYNELL	TTYN	45
4		THOMAS HENRIKSEN	LEAS	45
5		STANISLAV ŘEZÁČ	CENT	30

Swix Ski Classics Team

Swix Ski Classics Youth

Men

#	Country	Name	Team	Points
1		TORE BJØRSETH BERDAL	UNBA	185
2		CHRISTOFFER CALLESEN	LEAS	130
3		BILL IMPOLA	COOP	70
4		STIAN HOELGAARD	NPRO	65
5		RICCARDO MICH	ROSS	28

Women

#	Country	Name	Team	Points
1		TUVA TOFTDAHL STAVER	COOP	95
2		INGER LIV BJERKREIM NILSEN	UNBA	90
3		LINA KORSGREN	SKIP	58