By Inge Scheve
And then Harald Østberg Amundsen went to work. The 25-year-old Norwegian left the FIS Cross-Country World Cup opener in Ruka wearing the overall leader bib, and has held onto it ever since. Heading into the last regular World Cup before the Tour de Ski, he is securely in yellow.
As the overall winner of the 2023 Scandinavian Cup, Østberg Amundsen has enjoyed a guaranteed spot on the World Cup for the entire first period of the World Cup. His overall plan was to use this position to secure a spot on the Norwegian team to the 2024 Tour de Ski, and the World Cup team for the rest of the season.
He certainly hasn’t wasted a single opportunity: Østberg Amundsen has been on the podium three times in three weeks: He was third in the 20-kilometer mass start at the season opener in Ruka (FIN). He was second at the 10- kilometer skate race in Gällivare (SWE) last weekend. And this weekend, he earned his first World Cup victory of the season winning the 10-kilometer skate race in Östersund (SWE).
For Ben Ogden (USA), the World Cup in Östersund (SWE) is a mile marker: On Saturday, the 23-year-old American made it to the final for the first time at the World Cup level, and posted his best World Cup result to date.
“I am very proud of this weekend sprint. It was a huge goal of mine to get into the final this year, so it is really relieving and motivating to have that happen early in the season. Also, having a teammate and a great friend racing side by side all day was super cool,” Ogden says.
Story continues below
Photo by: Nordic Focus
At the IBU biathlon World Cup, Sturla Holm Lægreid (NOR) is back on a roll. After a rocky start to the season at the World Cup opener in Östersund (SWE), the 26-year-old left Hochfilzen (AUT) with a second place in the sprint on Friday and capped off his weekend by helping Norway to first place in the relay on Sunday.
Benedikt Doll, who posted a solid top-10 finish in the sprint on Friday helped Germany to third place in the relay.
On Sunday afternoon, 25-year-old national team rookie Marit Ishol Skogan helped set Norway up for victory in the women’s relay in Hochfilzen – her first ever World Cup podium!
Story continues below
Photo by: Nordic Focus
However, the World Cup is not the only party in town. At the IBU-Cup, Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn (NOR) has won every race this season. First, the 24-year-old biathlete cleaned up at the IBU-Cup season opener in Kontiolahti (FIN). This week, he swept all the three races in Idre (SWE).
Additionally, Jenny Enodd (NOR) secured her first podium for the season with a solid second place in the women's sprint on Friday, her first in two years, and only three seconds from first place. On Sunday, the 27-year-old clinched her first-ever victory at the international level.
Heading into the last round before Christmas, Botn leads the IBU-Cup by a landslide: He is 95 points ahead of the next racer. Enodds sits in third place overall prior to the races in Sjusjøen (NOR) this week.
Story continues below
Photo by: IBU
And finally, this weekend marked the start of Ski Classics Season XV. The long-distance series kicked off with a double-header in Bad Gastein (AUT), where Madshus racer Hedda Bångman (SWE) made a statement.
The 28-year-old was seventh in the first individual marathon event of the season, less than a minute out of the podium on the brutal 35-kilometer course in the Alps. Fun fact: Bångman, who skis for a Czech Pro Team, is combining her ski career with going to medical school full time.
The Ski Classics is now headed to Val Venosta (ITA) for a new double-header on December 16 and 17.
Photo by: Nordic Focus