By Inge Scheve
Entering the meat of the race season, Madshus athletes are racking up points at all the major venues: biathlon, traditional cross-country skiing and long-distance racing.
At the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding (GER), Sturla Holm Lægreid skied the first leg in the relay on Thursday, setting Norway up for yet another team victory. Benedikt Doll helped Germany to second place on home turf. The World Cup now moves on to Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) where the next round will take place at the venue for the 2026 Olympics.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
At the IBU-Cup in Val Ridanna (ITA), Johan-Olav Botn (NOR) took home two new victories, winning the sprint on Thursday and helping Norway to first place in the mixed relay on Saturday. The 24-year-old rising star is also leading the overall IBU-Cup by more than 50 points despite missing a full round last week. Additionally, Vebjørn Sørum helped Norway to victory in the single mixed relay on Saturday.
Both are now gearing up for the European Championships in Bresno-Osrblie (SVK) on January 24-28.
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Photo by: Nordic Focus
While the FIS cross-country World Cup took a week off to give the athletes a break, Madshus racers went to work for a 3-day race weekend at the FIS Scandinavian Cup (contintental cup) in Otepää (EST).
Hedda Østberg Amundsen (NOR) made it to her first sprint final finishing sixth in the opening event, and took her second international podium for the season in the 20-kilometer classic race on Saturday.
Additionally, Eveliina Piippo (FIN) pulled in to a solid fourth place in the 10-kilometer skate race on Sunday. For the men, Lauri Lepistö (FIN) was fourth in the sprint on Friday, his best result to date this season.
The World Cup is back next weekend, featuring three races in Oberhof (GER) on January 19 to 21.
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Finally, the Ski Classics long-distance series returned after a 4-week holiday break. On the schedule was the 62-kilometer classic race 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon in Sexten (ITA).
Following the first of the marathon-length events of the season, Madshus racer Thomas Bing now leads the overall climbing competition, while Sondre Ramstad (NOR) is third in the overall sprint competition. Bing was also second in the Vasaloppet China on January 4.
The Ski Classics now moves on to Switzerland for the 55-kilometer Engadin La Diagonela on January 20, the last event prior to Marcialonga, the first of the 2024 “Grand Classics”.
Photo by: Nordic Focus