Norwegian big slam and it looked good in Canmore: Covered the podium and took six of the first eight places in the 20 kilometer race on Sunday evening. Strongest of all on the run was Pål Golberg. The 33-year-old took the win at the finish line, two tenths ahead of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
– It was a bit of a flashback from a year ago. It was very fun. I had a terrible day here on Friday, so I’ve been wondering if I’m just finished, but now I’m back, says Golberg to Viaplay after the victory.
– My plan is to be at the front. The last thing I want is for someone to go all out. Then I have no chance. Then I revealed that too, says Golberg about the strategy in the race.
Klæbo gives the competitor all the credit for the victory.
– Pål is a tough bastard in a race like this. The question is whether I have to go home and train steeplechase until next year, says Klæbo after second place.
Mattis Stenshagen secured the last podium place, but was only half a second from his first World Cup victory. The 27-year-old from Follebu, who has a free place for the World Cup as leader of the Scandinavian Cup, took with it his first podium in the World Cup. Three weeks ago, Stenshagen was one-tenth of a second off the podium in the World Cup in Oberhof. He was now one-tenth of a second ahead of World Cup leader Harald Østberg Amundsen.
One tenth of a second behind Amundsen followed Swedish William Poromaa in fifth place. Erik Valnes was sixth, Andrew Musgrave seventh and the winner of Friday’s 15 kilometer freestyle Simen Hegstad Krüger was eighth. In total, there were therefore six Norwegians among the first eight.
Top 3 men, 20km classic
1. Pål Golberg, Norway, 52.10.7
2. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norway, 52:10.9
3. Mattis Stenshagen, Norway, 52:11. 2
4. Harald Østberg Amundsen, Norway, 52:11.3
5. William Poromaa, Sweden, 52:11.4
The case is updated
Sunday’s race was the third of four races during the World Cup round in Canmore, Canada. The latest is Tuesday 13 February. Then there is a classic sprint on the program. The World Cup will then move on to Minneapolis in the USA, where two races will be held on the weekend of 17 and 18 February.
FACTS: Cross-country World Cup Canada and USA
Who: Exhausted elite runners. This is Norway’s squad
What: Cross-country World Cup
Where: Canmore, Canada, and Minneapolis, USA
The sea: The World Cup to North America in 2024
When: February 9 to 13 and February 17 to 18, 2024
Current affairs: The last time the World Cup was organized in North America was in 2019. Then it was Quebec in Canada that organized it. The last time there was a World Cup in Canmore in Canada was in 2016.
The United States has not hosted a cross-country World Cup since the Trial Olympics in Soldier Hollow, Utah in 2001. Before that, Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska hosted a World Cup round in 1983 and 1984 respectively, Biwabik, Minnesota hosted a World Cup round in 1986 and Salt Lake City, Utah in 1990.
TV: Broadcast on Viaplay/TV3
Also read:
American athletes tower over amputated Norwegian squad
Longer towards the ski association: – Miserable signal to send
Program Canmore, Canada
Friday 9 February
18:40: 15km freestyle joint start, women
20:45: 15km freestyle joint start, men
Start lists, details and results
Saturday 10 February
18:30: Sprint freestyle prologue, women and men
21:00: Sprint freestyle finals, women and men
Start lists, details and results
Sunday 11 February
18:00: 20km classic joint start, women
20:15: 20km classic joint start, men
Start lists, details and results
Tuesday 13 February
17:99: Sprint classic prologue, women and men
19:30: Sprint classic finals, women and men
Start lists, details and results
Program Minneapolis, USA
Saturday 17 February
17:00: Sprint freestyle prologue, women and men
19:30: Sprint freestyle finals, women and men
Start lists, details and results
Sunday 18 February
17:30: 10km freestyle individual start, men
19:45: 10km freestyle individual start, women
Start lists, details and results