Amundsen (NOR) makes statement with 10km win in Östersund
Dec 10, 2023·Cross-Country
Harald Oestberg Amundsen claimed his second individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup victory in Östersund, Sweden on Sunday, overcoming several heavyweight teammates to win the 10km Freestyle.
This looks like being a breakthrough season for the 25-year-old, who has doubled his tally of career podiums with three in as many weeks in 2023/24. His bronze in the 20km Mass Start in Ruka on the opening weekend was followed by silver in the 10km Freestyle in Gällivare, Sweden, last week, then gold here to complete the set.
On a challenging 3.33km course with sharp turns and two smaller climbs followed by a sharp ascent of 50 metres over a 1.5km-long section, Sweden would have had high hopes, with the host nation able to field four extra skiers to take their quota for the race to 12.
But it soon became clear that this was going to be a shootout between Norway’s big guns, with only Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, winner of the first 10km of the season in Ruka, missing through illness.
The winner of Saturday’s sprint, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo went out 40th in the interval-start format, and set the fastest time by 7.2 seconds after a trademark sprint finish. But it was never likely to be enough, with the cross-country king working his way back to full fitness over the longer distances after missing several early-season races because of Covid.
The consistent Didrik Toenseth, third in last season’s overall distance standings, took nearly 30 seconds out of his compatriot’s time, but with the course firming up as more competitors went out, the advantage was with those coming up behind him.
Amundsen went out 50th and was joined a lap later by double 2023 world champion Simen Hegstad Krueger. Two of the best skaters (freestyle skiers) and climbers on the circuit, they were able to work together and pull each other along.
With Amundsen for company, Krueger was ahead at every interval from the end of the first lap until the 8km mark but with Amundsen finishing first, the 30-year-old was unable to sustain his pace when skiing alone – and couldn’t match his younger team-mate’s sprint finish. Kruger eventually finished in 23 minutes, 44.2 seconds, 8.1 seconds behind Amundsen. Toenseth held off Iver Tildheim Andersen to claim bronze.
As he did last week in Gällivare, Andrew Musgrave (GBR) split six Norwegians, this time finishing one place ahead of Klaebo in sixth. Last week’s winner, Paal Golberg, was down in ninth.
Amundsen, who proved his big-race mentality by recovering from a fall to claim silver in the 15km in the World Championships in Planica earlier this year, was understandably delighted.
Amundsen’s victory’s makes it six different Norwegian winners in as many races this season, proving the extraordinary depth of their men’s team.
Click here for full results from Östersund.
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