Ylläs-Levi 70 km / Visma Ski Classics race course

70 KM START is on the Ylläsjärvi side of the fell Ylläs (Sport Resort Ylläs, address Iso-Ylläksentie 44, 95980 Ylläsjärvi).

For the 70 km skiers, the course starts from the Sport Resort Ylläs at Ylläsjärvi. The start will be on flat ground onto a turn to the right followed by skiing up a slope, so there will be a small climb right at the beginning. After a few hundred metres, the track turns to the forest and the first downhill section begins. The downhill section also features a couple of bends, and since the gaps between skiers are not that big yet, the competitors should be aware of both their own speed as well as the skiers around them in order to avoid “near misses”. For this year, the organisers have made improvements in this particular section by making it wider and by straightening the bends.

The course runs in the Ylläsjärvi area for another couple of kilometres until it reaches “Kahvikeidas”. From there, the course will continue upwards, up the Kellostapuli ravine, with an elevation gain of 150 metres. The ravine climb is followed by a downward slope and the first service point is located at 9 km. From there, the course runs along the famous “Isomettän nousu” climb, but downhill, for about two kilometres. Even a recreational skier can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour if the conditions are right. From the “Maisematie” road, the skiers head towards Äkäslompolo and the Äkäslompolo lake. At this point, the distance covered is 15 kilometres and the next service point is located on the Äkäslompolo lake.

From the Äkäslompolo lake, the skiers head towards the “Kukastunturin nousu” climb, which is nearly 4 km long altogether and has an elevation gain of over 200 metres. Undoubtedly, the best views along the route can be admired from the top of the Kukastunturi fell, weather permitting. And from there begins a high-speed downhill section towards “Kotamaja”, which is also the location of another service point. From Kotamaja skiers head towards the Pyhäjärvi lake and the terrain varies from flat ground to gentle slopes. When the skiers reach the Pyhäjärvi lake, they have covered the distance of 36 km and found the next service point. Pyhäjärvi is also the starting point of the ascent towards the Aakenustunturi fell and “Aakenuspirtti”. At Aakenuspirtti, the skiers have covered the distance of 47 km and reached another service point. From Aakenuspirtti, the course runs towards the Pyhä fell. This section of the route is clearly the one with the flattest terrain. The final proper climb starts before “Kätkänlaavu”. The “Pyhätunturin nousu” climb (about 2 km) has the elevation gain of approximately 100 metres. After the climb comes another high-speed downhill section and the skiers arrive at Kätkänlaavu and a service point. The distance covered at this stage is 61 km. The final 9 km are the familiar ski tracks of Levi, running along the foot of the Kätkätunturi fell. The terrain varies from flat ground to gentle slopes towards the end of the Immeljärvi lake. From the end of the Immeljärvi lake, skiers head towards “Koutamaa” and continue on a scenic route towards the centre of the Levi village and the finish line.

55 KM START is in Äkäslompolo on the lake Äkäslompolo ice (Jounin Kauppa, address Sannanrannantie 3, 95970 Äkäslompolo).

The 55-kilometre course starts from the Äkäslompolo lake. The “Kukastunturin nousu” climb begins only a few kilometres from the Äkäslompolo lake. The climb is nearly 4 km long and has the elevation gain of over 200 metres. Undoubtedly, the best views along the route can be admired from the top of the Kukastunturi fell, weather permitting. From there begins a high-speed downhill section towards “Kotamaja”, which is also the location of the first service point.

From Kotamaja skiers head towards the Pyhäjärvi lake and the terrain varies from flat ground to gentle slopes. When the skiers reach the Pyhäjärvi lake, they have covered the distance of 22 km and found the next service point. Pyhäjärvi is also the starting point of the ascent towards the Aakenustunturi fell and “Aakenuspirtti”. At Aakenuspirtti, the skiers have covered the distance of 33 km and reached another service point. From Aakenuspirtti, the course runs towards the Pyhä fell. This section of the route is clearly the one with the flattest terrain.

The only place where the 55 km course differs from the 70 km course is before “Kätkänlaavu”, where the skiers will not tackle the “Pyhätunturin nousu” climb. From Kätkänlaavu, the final 9 km are the familiar ski tracks of Levi, running along the foot of the Kätkätunturi fell. The terrain varies from flat ground to gentle slopes towards the end of the Immeljärvi lake. From the end of the Immeljärvi lake, skiers head towards “Koutamaa” and continue on a scenic route towards the centre of the Levi village and the finish line.

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