The Vasaloppet acts according to the breaking record - so more people will be able to reach the finish line

During this year's Vasalopp, the riders had to deal with a snowfall that created problems on the track between Sälen and Mora. About a quarter of all those who started the race did not finish, despite rep times being extended due to the difficult conditions. A total of 2,700 skiers broke, which is a record for the Vasaloppet.

- Now we shouldn't say that everyone broke because of the rope, but many, several hundred, broke of their own free will. But it was very slow on the first hill and it was due to difficult conditions, said sports manager Tommy Höglund.

In view of this year's record listing, the Vasalopps organization is now trying to ensure that they are better prepared for next year's race. More work on retracking during the race and more machines and drivers are some of the changes that should prevent a similar experience for the riders.

- We need new thinking to meet the challenges we have seen in recent years. With piste machines that can come out earlier and work continuously during the race, we get completely different opportunities to improve the tracks while the race is in progress, says event manager Daniel Mäkinen in a press release.

Mäkinen says in the press release that in previous years, the organizer has mainly been able to use scooters with track sleds to improve the tracks during ongoing races. Now a new way of working, with, among other things, officials who form safety zones around the machines, will make it possible to use piste machines during the race.

- As an example, this could mean stopping the participants in the track for a number of seconds to let a piste machine drive in and draw new tracks. In the past, we have assessed that it is difficult to achieve, but now we see it as necessary to be able to give our participants better conditions, says Mäkinen.

Vasaloppet 2027 takes place on March 7.

- We will never be able to control the weather, but we can get better at meeting the conditions that are given. The goal is simple: More participants should experience the feeling of going under the goal portal in Mora, says Daniel Mäkinen.