Kicking Off The Season In Style

Inge ScheveSeptember 7, 2021

Madshus racers shine at the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival in Annecy (FRA) this weekend.

Biathlon prodigy Sturla Holm Lægreid (NOR) won the prestigious biathlon roller ski mass start event on Saturday, sharing the podium with Benedikt Doll (GER) in third place.

For Lægreid, the huge and enthusiastic crowd at the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival made the experience particularly exciting: The 24-year-old raced his first World Cup event in March 2020, and had his first World Cup season last winter, when all events were held without spectators due to the Covid situation.

“I’ve actually never skied a World Cup event with a live audience, so I don’t know how that would compare, but this was really awesome,” Lægreid said after his first victory of the season.

Additionally, Renaud Jay (FRA) won the cross-country roller ski sprint event on home turf in France.

After the races, all of them checked in with Madshus booth at the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival expo, chilling with the crowd, showing off the gear for the upcoming season and signing autographs.

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Sturla Holm Lægreid enjoyed meeting the fans after his race at the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival in Annecy (FRA) this weekend. Photo: Madshus
Signing autographs at the Martin Fourcade Nordic Festival in Annecy (FRA). Photo: Madshus

Also this weekend, rising Madshus cross-country talent Karoline Simpson-Larsen (NOR) won the Birkebeiner trail half marathon in Lillehammer (NOR), with former world champion and Olympian Kristin Størmer Steira (NOR) in second place.

Double podium: Rising star Karoline Simpson-Larsen (right) won the elite category at the Birkebeiner trail half marathon in Lillehammer on Saturday, while former world champion and Olympian Krsitin Størmer Steira was second. Photo: Inge Scheve/Madshus

Inge Scheve

Inge is FasterSkier's international reporter, born and bred in Norway. A cross-country ski racer and mountain runner, she also dabbles on two wheels in the offseason. If it's steep and long, she loves it. Follow her on Twitter: @IngeScheve.

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