Starting Thursday at the IBU Cup in Idre (SWE), Paula Botet (FRA) gets the show on the road, winning the women’s 7.5-kilometer sprint.
On Friday, Team Madshus bag three new podiums.
First, Harald Østberg Amundsen (NOR) claimed second place in the 10-kilometer classic at the World Cup opener in Ruka (FIN). The 26-year-old, who won the overall World Cup last season, pulled off what he considers his best classic race to date in the first event at the 2024-25 World Cup.
Then, at Gålå, where cross-country skiers were fighting for tickets to the World Cup on home turf in Lillehammer December 6-8. Helene Marie Fossesholm made a splashing return to racing after the serious knee injury she sustained in the beginning of September and potentially could have destroyed her entire season. However, the 23-year-old seems to be right on track, winning the 10-kilometer skate race.
“To be back at racing at this point, is a victory in itself, and it’s really fun to be skiing, and it’s even more fun to ski fast as well. This is what I love doing,” Fossesholm says after her victory.
16 seconds behind her, Madshus regional team racer Johanne Harviken snagged second place and her first podium of the season.
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Photo by: Ole Martin Storlien
On Saturday, the podium party continues: Madshus racers grab a half dozen podiums.
At the IBU biathlon World Cup opener in Kontiolahti (FIN), Vebjørn Sørum moved Norway from chasing third place to victory in the mixed relay with a statement. Leaving the range for the last time, he was 15 seconds behind France. But 20 meters from the finish line, Sørum passed fellow Madshus racer Emilen Jacquelin, and secured Norway’s first relay victory of the season.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
At the IBU-Cup in Idre (SWE), Johan-Olav Botn (NOR) posted his first podium for the season with 2nd place in the sprint. Paula Botet (FRA) hauled into second place, and her second podium.
On Saturday afternoon, Elena Rise Johnsen (NOR) claimed her first victory of the season, winning the skate sprint at the Norwegian Cup opener in Gålå - right in front of fellow Madshus racer Mathilde Myhrvold (NOR) in second place.
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Photo by: Stian Tromborg
Finally, on Sunday, Madshus racers sign off for the weekend with yet another seven podium finishes.
First off, Østberg Amundsen caps his season opener in Ruka with his first World Cup victory of the season. Cool as a cucumber and perfectly paced from start to finish, the 26-year-old won the 20-kilometer skate race by less than a second. He now heads to the next World Cup round wearing the yellow bib as the overall World Cup leader - again.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
An hour later, Botn hauled into his second straight podium in two days, with another second place at the IBU-Cup in Idre.
About the same time, fellow Madshus biathlete Emilien Jacquelin anchors France to their first relay victory of the season. He pulls in firmly ahead of Norway with Madshus racers Sturla Holm Lægreid and Endre Strømsheim on the first and third leg, respectively, in second place.
Finally, at the Norwegian cup opener in Gålå, Harviken bags her first victory this season. The 27-year-old won the 10-kilometer classic race, nine seconds ahead of Fossesholm in second place. With two podiums in two days, both of them will be racing at the World Cup in Lillehammer on December 6-8.
For the biathletes, the IBU World Cup continues in Kontiolahti until December 8, while the IBU Cup moves on to Geilo (NOR) December 4-7.
By Inge Scheve
Photo by: Nordic Focus