Norway
Since March 2022, Norway won 17 of the 18 individual distance classic
style events in the men’s World Cup, with Perttu Hyvärinen’s triumph in the
10km in Toblach (Tour de Ski) on New Year’s Eve as the exception.
Norwegian skiers have won each of the last eight individual World Cup
distance events on Norwegian snow, since Alexander Bolshunov won the
50km classic style in Oslo on 8 March 2020.
In last season’s 50km World Cup event (freestyle), in Oslo on 11 March
2023, 10 of the 12 Norwegian athletes that took part in the race finished in
the top 10. Simen Hegstad Krüger won ahead of Hans Christer Holund
and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget. Andrew Musgrave (11th) was the best nonNorwegian skier in that event.
Hegstad Krüger can become the fourth male cross-country skier to win a
50km event in both the freestyle and the classic style, after Gunde Svan,
Alexei Prokurov and Vladimir Smirnov.
Hegstad Krüger can become the sixth cross-country skier to win at least
three 50km+ World Cup events, after Svan (6, 1985-1990), Thomas
Wassberg (3, 1982-1987), Vegard Ulvang (3, 1989-1992), Prokurov (3,
1993-1998) and Smirnov (3, 1994-1996).
Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget won the 50km in the classic style the last time
it was on the World Cup agenda, in Oslo on 6 March 2022. Compatriots
Sjur Røthe (+0.6) and Didrik Tønseth (+3.5) completed the podium that
day.
Harald Østberg Amundsen comes into Oslo as the leader in the overall
World Cup standings and the distance standings. His only individual World
Cup win in the classic style was the 20km pursuit in Davos (Tour de Ski) on
4 January. Four of the remaining five World Cup events this season are in
the classic style.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has won 17 individual distance World Cup
events in the classic style, fourth-most all-time behind Bjørn Dæhlie (22),
Vladimir Smirnov (18) and Gunde Svan (18).
Klæbo won all seven classic style distance World Cup events he
participated in last season, but has won only two this season (14th-1st17th-2nd-1st): the 10km in Trondheim on 17 December and the 20km in
Lahti on 2 March.
Klæbo (1,958 points) is second in the overall World Cup standings, 236
points behind Amundsen (2,194) with five events left this season. Klæbo
(974) is third in the distance World Cup standings, behind Amundsen
(1,279) and Pål Golberg (1,114).
Pål Golberg recorded five of his seven individual World Cup distance
event wins in the classic style. Golberg triumphed in last month’s 20km
mass start in the classic style in Canmore on 11 February.
Golberg is the reigning world champion in this event, winning this event in
Planica on 5 March 2023.
Erik Valnes’ only two individual career World Cup wins in distance events
were achieved this season: the 15km classic style in Val di Fiemme (Tour
de Ski) on 6 January and the 20km classic style in Oberhof on 20 January. Other contenders
The four non-Norwegian men to have claimed an individual World Cup
victory this season are Lucas Chanavat (two freestyle sprints), Perttu
Hyvärinen (10km classic style), Jules Lapierre (10km freestyle) and Gus
Schumacher (10km freestyle).
Hyvärinen, Lapierre and Schumacher had not claimed an individual World
Cup victory prior to this season.
Andrew Musgrave is looking to become the first British cross-country skier
to win a World Cup event. He has recorded one WC podium finish in a
distance event in the classic style, a third place in the 10km in Beitostølen
on 10 December 2022. Musgrave (11th) was the highest ranked nonNorwegian skier in last season’s 50km event in Oslo on 11 March 2023.
William Poromaa finished third in this event at the world championship in
Planica on 5 March 2023, behind Golberg and Klæbo. His best result in an
individual World Cup distance event this season is a second place in the
15km classic style in Val di Fiemme on 6 January (Tour de Ski).
Maurice Manificat will race his last World Cup event this weekend, as he
announced his retirement last Wednesday. Manificat made his World Cup
debut in La Clusaz in December 2006. He recorded 36 podium finishes,
including 10 wins. His most recent win was the 15km freestyle in
Ulricehamn on 26 January 2019.
No French cross-country skier achieved as many World Cup podium finises
as Manificat (36). Vincent Vittoz (35) is second and the still active Lucas
Chanavat (24) and Richard Jouve (23) follow in third and fourth place
respectively.
