Madshus racers shine on multiple arenas, collecting no less than 20 podiums including eight first place finishes in four countries and four national championship titles, and securing their spots on the teams to the various World Championships.
At the IBU World Cup, Vebjørn Sørum (NOR) kicks off the fun cruising into first place in the men’s 20-kilometer individual competition in Ruhpolding (GER) on Wednesday. The 25-year-old not only bags his first-ever World Cup victory; he also scores a ticket to the 2025 IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide (SUI) in February.
On Thursday, Emilien Jacquelin anchors France to first place in the men’s relay, while Johannes Kühn helps Germany to third place.
Following suit, Ragnhild Femsteinevik anchors Norway to second place in the women’s relay on Friday in her comeback at the World Cup level. This is Norway’s best relay result for the season, and Femsteinevik earns a spot on the team to the World Championships. Paula Botet helps France to third place.
Finally, on Sunday, Sturla Holm Lægreid is second in the mass start, bagging his ninth World Cup podium for the season and a ticket to Lenzerheide.
In addition to Sørum, Femsteinevik and Lægreid, Endre Strømsheim is named to the 2025 World Championship team.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
At the IBU Cup in Brezno-Osrblie (SVK), Sivert Bakken (NOR) continues his comeback to the top level. On Wednesday, he claims his first international victory in two years winning the short individual. Then he takes third place in the sprint on Thursday and signs off with a second victory anchoring Norway to first place in the single mixed relay.
Bakken is now headed to the European Championships, which take place in Italy January 29 to February 2, along with fellow Madshus racers Johan-Olav Botn and Vetle Rype Paulsen.
On the women’s side, Anastaiya Merkushyna (UKR) claims her two first podiums in two years. On Wednesday, she pulls into third place in the short individual and on Saturday, she helps Ukraine to third place in the single mixed relay.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
At the FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Les Rousses (FRA) hauls into third place in the 10-kilometer skate race and claims his first podium for the season.
At the Norwegian National Championships in Gåsbu, comeback kid Henrik Dønnestad dominates the 10- kilometer classic race on Wednesday and takes home the gold medal. The 28-year-old, who had a rough start to the season, beats the entire national team elite by more than half a minute. In the women’s race, Hedda Østberg Amundsen takes silver.
In the sprint on Thursday, Madshus racers make up half of the final heat: Helene Marie Fossesholm shows off again and hauls into second place, two-tenths of a second ahead of Elena Rise Johnsen and Johannes Hauge Harviken in third and fourth place, respectively.
On Saturday, Harald Østberg Amundsen wins the 20-kilometer skiathlon after chasing down the U23 World Champion in a finish-line battle so close it requires several photo reviews to call.
Finally, on Sunday, Harviken caps off her week with a bronze medal in the relay at Gåsbu.
Additionally, multiple World Champion and Paralympic medalist Vilde Nilsen cleans up. The 24-year-old wins both the distance race and the sprint.
Following the nationals, Helene Marie Fossesholm and Harald Østberg Amundsen are now named to the Norwegian team to the 2025 World Championships, which take place in Trondheim on February 26 to March 9. Elena Rise Johnson is fighting for the last spot on the team, which will be determined after the World Cup in Engadin (SUI) on January 24 to 26.
Photo by: Inge Scheve