By Lukas Pigott
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Despite having only one representative in the sprint final yesterday, the Norwegian men went into today’s race, a 10-kilometer interval-start skate, as the clear favorite. They… did not disappoint.
Despite winning last weekend in Trondheim, Einar Hedegart (Norway) had pressure to perform today, because of places on the Norwegian Olympic roster being limited to seven, possibly eight. [With the benefit of hindsight, slash today’s results now in hand, it does look like Norway will get a full eight quota spots for Milan–Cortina, though that was absolutely still up in the air going into today’s race. The American men are going to be limited to seven quota spots. The American women will get eight. —Ed.]
However, it was not going to be an easy copy of his win in Trondheim, as Hedegart was up against strong competition from his teammates in one of the most important qualification races for the Olympics.
One of the most exciting skiers to watch in this race, Saveliy Korostelev, a Russian man competing as a neutral athlete, was competing in his first World Cup distance race. Korostelev started out hot, setting the pace at the first checkpoint. He was, however, quickly surrounded by a pack of Norwegians (not literally, but on the checkpoint times list) and would end up fading, finishing the day in 25th place.
At the halfway point going into the second 5km lap, Hedagart, Harald Østberg Amundsen (Norway), and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Norway) were all within 3.5 seconds of each other. They were 10 seconds ahead of another five Norwegians separated by only five seconds.
Klæbo was clearly eager to take revenge for yesterday’s events, where he exited a sprint in the quarterfinals for the first time since his very first World Cup race back in February 2016. After not finishing amongst the four best Norwegians in this discipline last weekend, Amundsen similarly told Viaplay after the race that he felt he had to prove something today, and that could be seen out on the course.
Hedegart, however, was also a man on a mission. After the race he told Viaplay that things started really working for him on the second lap. “On the second lap I got extremely good splits and that’s exactly how I want to solve ski races,” he said. “I got a little tired after two kilometers of the second lap, but I was able to really mobilize from the top until the finish. I didn’t feel the altitude. That’s something I’m really happy about.”
It appeared that many of the others, however, did feel the altitude. As one can see from the graph below, no one was able to keep Hedegart’s pace from 5km till 7.2km, and only Klæbo, in fourth, was able to bring back a little time (eight-tenths of a second) after that.
Hedegart set the fastest time across the finish line. His time of 22:40.7 passed the test of time as no one who started after him was able to match it. Amundsen clocked in second place, 11.7 seconds behind, with Mattis Stenshagen producing possibly the greatest race of his career to secure third. 12 seconds is a significant margin of victory for racing at this level, in an event with winning times under 23 minutes.
“I think I’m maybe even more content with my second World Cup victory than my first,” Hedegart told Viaplay after the race. “This was a ten out of ten race. This is the way I want to win. I don’t want to win with 0.4 seconds. I want to crush the others.”
Like last weekend, today was, as Norwegian Head Coach Eirik Myhr Nossum called it, “a mini Olympics” for the Norwegian men fighting for a ticket to Milan–Cortina. Klæbo, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Emil Iversen, and Andreas Fjorden Ree all made it to the top eight today, but were split by a Brit (albeit a Trondheim-based Brit) finally showing some of the form that his prior performances show he is capable of.
“It’s at least a lot better than it has been the first weeks this year, because it’s been just insanely horrendous so far this season” Andrew Musgrave told Viaplay. “I’ve been struggling with a left leg that just falls asleep and I lose all feeling in it. I’ve had that a few years and had no feeling in it from the top down to the finish on the last lap today but the body generally; a little better.”
So you’re more optimistic going forward? At least less negative.
After multiple stellar performances from the Americans yesterday, with both Ben Ogden and Jack Young making it to the final, today was a tougher day. But that is not to say that there were not strong performances by the Americans as well.
John Steel Hagenbuch secured his first top-30 result of the season in 30th, 1:25.5 behind Hedegart.
“I’m not happy with how Period 1 went, but that isn’t to say that I’ve written off the rest of the season,” Steel Hagenbuch told Nordic Insights after the race. “I felt the best today that I’ve felt during Period 1, and I think this was my best race so far.”
He then revealed that a crash he had during Saturday’s training affected his race on Sunday. “It’s somewhat bittersweet to have my best feeling today,” Steel Hagenbuch said, “as I fell hard on the ‘Super G’ downhill during training yesterday and subluxed my right shoulder, which I’ve done a fair number of times. Every time I poled today hurt, and I can’t help but think that I could’ve been a bit faster… alas, that’s ski racing.”
When asked about what was next for him, he replied, “While it’s been fun being over here with our team and great group of guys during Period 1, I’m excited to go home, rest, and get back to full health heading into U.S. Nationals.”
After his big day out yesterday, Ben Ogden finished in 44th while Zanden McMullen finished in 46th. “I am generally happy about Period 1” Ogden told Nordic Insights. “I feel I have sprinted very well and am excited with how that is feeling. The distance skiing hasn’t clicked quite yet, I have had some glimmers of success but in general I feel I am leaving this period wanting more.”
On his plans going forward Ogden said, “I plan on racing the Tour after Christmas and then focusing entirely on recovery and Olympic prep. I am not sure how Oberhof and Goms will factor into that yet but I will likely race at least one of those weekends.”
Luke Jager (APU) came home in 74th, 2:29 down, while yesterday’s breakout star Jack Young finished in 92nd. JC Schoonmaker finished the day in 39th, just 1.1 seconds ahead of Kevin Bolger. Both men are more traditionally known as sprinters.
Bolger went through the halfway point in 68th place, but put together a strong second lap to move all the way up to 40th at the finish. After the race he wrote to Nordic Insights saying, “Racing today was fun — I haven’t been to altitude in a long time, but I usually respond okay. I was a bit conservative opening up the start today — and then was really able to apply the pressure. Just wish I would have put the hammer down a bit sooner cause my second lap was great and I really moved up.”
When asked about how his Period 1 had gone he said, “I think it was solid. I would say as a whole it’s been my best Period 1 of my career.” Bolger continued, “The results I wish were a bit higher, but time backs are right there! So it’s a lot of confidence. I’ve never raced this much either in Period 1 so load management has been good.”
He finished by saying, “I’m happy.” Bolger added, “Christmas break is next and I’m really looking forward to it — some good skiing and relaxing!”
World Cup racing now takes the next weekend off. Period 2, slash the 20th edition of the Tour de Ski, begins in Toblach on December 28 with a skate sprint. Five more races follow over the next week, culminating with the Alpe Cermis climb on January 4.
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