Here’s the Low-Down
Harald Østberg Amundsen (NOR) is headed to Falun to wrap up a full season of solid effort, week after week. The 25-year-old has been wearing the yellow World Cup leader bib since the opening weekend in November. After the Tour de Ski stage race in January, he had a comfortable buffer to the rest of the field. Barring disaster, after the final in Falun, Amundsen will officially collect the big crystal ball.
Additionally, Edvin Anger has a lot of good memories in Falun. This is where he posted his first World Cup victory - on home turf, only miles from the family farm where he grew up and still lives. That was in the relay at the 2023 Falun World Cup, his rookie season with the Swedish national team. Since then, the 22-year-old has collected three additional World Cup podiums including two individual podium finishes. Anger also leads the overall U23 World Cup by a handsome margin. With friends and family cheering him on, Anger is no doubt a home turf favorite.
Related coverage: Who is Edvin Anger? https://madshus.com/en-no/blog/p/who-is-edvin-anger-
Photo by: Nordic Focus
This year, however, another rising Swedish star might just post his first World Cup podium in Falun: reigning junior world champion Alvar Myhlbach. The 17-year-old won the 10-kilometer classic race at the 2024 FIS junior world championships by a landslide, and also helped Sweden to gold in the relay at the same championships. Then he moved on to bag his first Ski Classics long-distance podium. Myhlbach also hails from a small town near Falun and will certainly have his fans around for cheering and support.
Related coverage: “I will be back for the World Championships in 2025. Then I’ll win!” https://madshus.com/en-no/blog/p/i-will-be-back-for-the-world-championships-in-2025-then-i-ll-win-
Both are eager to show off and prove their recent success in front of the home crowd, and in competition with the entire established World Cup elite. Only one skier can win the race. It will be intense.
Photo by: Nordic Focus
Check out the schedule for the 2024 World Cup final in Falun (SWE) – All times are CET
Friday, March 15th
12:15 pm: Sprint Classic, Qualifiers, men and women
2:45 pm: Sprint Classic, Finals, men and women
Saturday, March 16th
11 am: 10K Classic, interval start, women
2 pm: 10K Classic, interval start, men
Sunday, March 17th
11 am: 20K Free, mass start, women
2:15 pm: 20K Free, mass start, men
Photo by: Nordic Focus