Team Madshus charged into 2024 in a spectacular way. In case you missed some of the action, we’ll catch you up on both Cross-Country and Biathlon: 1 triple podium, 3 double podiums, the Tour de Ski overall win and much more!
2024 TOUR DE SKI Cool and collected beyond his age, Harald Østberg Amundsen (NOR) dominated the 2024 Tour de Ski in the pleasantly understated way that has become his trademark: Bold on the course and collected in the media mixed zone - letting his body do the talking.
The 25-year-old came into the 2024 Tour de Ski, the second in his career, as one of the favorites for the overall victory in the seven-stage race.
He moved into the golden leader bib on day two in Toblach (ITA) after winning the first distance event stage on the last day of 2023. And he only lent out the leader bib once during the rest of the Tour: After crashing out in the quarterfinals in the sprint on stage 4 in Davos (SUI). However, he quickly reclaimed it, winning the 20-kilometer pursuit the next day.
Going into the last race day up the alpine run Alpe Cermis in Val Di Fiemme (ITA), Amundsen led the overall Tour de Ski by more than a minute and a half. At the top of the Final Climb, he had won the brutal stage race by 1:19. Then he cried.
“It’s insane. This means so much. It means everything. I didn’t even dare to dream about it,” Amundsen told reporters at the finish line.
At the same time, the rising star admitted that the last nine days had been challenging.
“It’s been a tough week. I’m not used to being the star. I’ve tried to enjoy it, but it’s taxing both mentally and physically, so I’ve worked a lot with my mental coach throughout the tour,” he explained.
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But there was a lot more to the 2024 Tour de Ski: On the first day of the Tour, Ben Ogden (USA) claimed his first-ever World Cup podium with third place in the opening sprint race in Toblach (ITA). The next day, the 23-year-old followed up with a top-10 finish in the 10-kilometer classic race.
Then, in the next sprint race, Edvin Anger (SWE) hauled into second place, and bagged his first-ever individual World Cup podium.
For the 21-year-old Tour de Ski rookie, who had his international breakthrough last season, that first podium was a major milestone and his overall goal for the 2024 season.
“It feels huge. Both my family and my girlfriend came down here to watch me race. And it means a lot to me just to be able to stand on the podium with the best skiers in the world, especially after a rough start to the season. It’s really a big deal,” Anger said after the sprint in Davos on Wednesday night.
Also, Anger was third overall in the points competition, and is now leading the overall U23 World Cup by more than 100 points.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
Photo by: Nordic Focus
Additionally, Tour de Ski-rookie Henrik Dønnestad (NOR), hauled into second place in the 20-kilometer pursuit in Davos, his best-ever result in a World Cup and his second World Cup podium.
The 27-year-old extra, who was called in to the Norwegian team only the day before the Tour started, had a rocky start to his Tour de Ski, but then entered the last two stages in second place overall. At the top of the Final Climb, Dønnestad was seventh overall and more than fulfilled his goal of a top-10 in the overall standings.
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On the women’s side, Krista Pärmäkoski (FIN), who had a challenging start to her season, bagged two top-10 finishes and was seventh in the overall Tour de Ski.
Finally, sprint specialist Mathilde Myhrvold (NOR) posted her first World Cup final of the season at the Tour de Ski sprint in Davos, was eighth in the opening stage in Toblach and helped Norway to win the nations competition in the 2024 Tour de Ski.
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BIATHLON While the cross-country skiers were busy with the Tour de Ski, Madshus biathletes kicked off 2024 in a no less spectacular fashion both at the World Cup and the IBU-Cup.
On the very first World Cup race day of 2024, the Team Madshus boys went to work.
On Friday, they literally owned the podium: Benedikt Doll (GER) won the sprint on home turf in Oberhof, while Sturla Holm Lægreid (NOR) was second. Endre Strømsheim (NOR) was third and bagged his very first World Cup podium.
That first podium certainly fueled “beast mode” for Strømsheim: On Saturday he snatched his maiden World Cup victory in spectacular fashion, while Lægreid hauled into second place.
Finally, on Sunday, the two Norwegians raced the opening legs for Norway in the relay in Oberhof, but obviously skied too fast: When Lægreid came in to the exchange, his teammate was not yet there and far from ready. Nevertheless, Norway pulled off the victory, while Doll and Roman Rees helped Germany to second place.
Honorable mention also to Johan-Olav Botn in his World Cup debut. Despite a bit of trouble at the range, the 24-year-old was the fastest skier on the course.
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At the IBU-Cup, Madshus racers didn’t waste any time either. Vebjørn Sørum (NOR) collected his first victory of the season winning the 15-kilometer short normal competition at the IBU-Cup in Val Martell (ITA) on Thursday. He followed up with fifth place in the sprint on Saturday, and capped off the first weekend of 2024 with another podium: Second place in the pursuit.
On the women’s side, Team Madshus rookie Maya Cloetens (BEL) earned her first-ever international podium at the senior level pulling into second place in the IBU-Cup sprint on Saturday. On Sunday, the 22-year-old capped off her first race week with a strong sixth place in the pursuit.
Let winter roll on!
Photo by: Nordic Focus