Nyenget Tops International Podium in Davos 20 k Classic

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World Cup Nordic skiing can seem like it’s become fairly predictable: the Swedish team dominates the Women’s Sprints, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) is unbeatable in the Men’s Sprints, and Therese Johaug (NOR) routinely crushes the Women’s distance field. The only events offering even an inkling of suspense in regard to the eventual winners are Men’s distance races. Each week on the World Cup schedule, at least one distance race is staged: Klaebo always hopes to contend, but his own teammates routinely put his feet to the fire. Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR) is defending World Cup Overall champion, and he’s begun this year very much the same way he began last year. Simen Hegstad Krueger (NOR) is a World Champion and Olympic Champion—he’s always dangerous. And there are a bunch of Norwegian youngsters vying impatiently for their spot on the podium: the top guys can’t hold off those young bucks forever. Among non-Norwegians, only the brilliant Finnish Classic specialist, Iivo Niskanen, is typically positioned to interrupt the Norwegian team.

In Davos, the world’s best Nordic skiers found themselves facing a unique and definable challenge: altitude. The elevation of the top step of the Davos’ Town Hall is 5,118 feet (roughly the same as Denver, Colorado). Even well trained athletes will find themselves out of breath at the top of the flight of stairs in Davos. It’s not enormously high elevation, but it’s more than enough to affect the results of a daunting race like the 20 k Classic. Nordic skiers find that it’s far more difficult to recover at altitude, far more likely that an athlete may stray into oxygen debt (and the accompanying flood of lactate) at altitude. If a skier makes such a mistake, their race is likely over; however, if athletes don’t push that envelope, their chances of victory are pretty low. It’s a risky business, this racing at altitude. Davos is where those bets get made, and where the deck that seems so familiar in the game can find itself getting re-shuffled.

Today in Davos, Niskanen found himself upended by a hard-charging Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (NOR). Just behind them in third was a frothing and resplendent Hugo Lapalus (FRA).

“It was a fight,” Nyenget said in post-race interviews. “But I managed to stay at the same pace during the whole race, I think. So I’m really happy about the performance.”

Among Americans, Gus Schmacher finished 19th, Zanden McMullen 30th, Ben Ogden 40th, Zak Ketterson 42nd, Hunter Wonders 50th, Michael Earnhart 58th. Canadian finishers included Antoine Cyr 32nd, Xavier McKeever 53rd, Olivier Leveille 56th.

“My fatigue isn’t too bad,” said Schumacher. “Skipping the Team Sprint was good for me. I know some people who did that are feeling pretty beat up today. We’ve got a good break, and should set us up well for the Tour.”

“I’d say I’m definitely tired from all the races in period 1,” shared McMullen, “But I’m excited for some rest and training at altitude before the Tour.”

Men’s 20 k Classic Interval Start

Courses in Davos change more often than many on the World Cup circuit, and Sunday’s 20 k was no exception. New this year, racers would race across three seven kilometer laps harkening back to an earlier age of ski racing when spectators caught fleeting glimpses of racers striding through the tress. Additional old-fashioned challenges faced the racers: temperatures approached the freezing point; at start time the Classic tracks were slowly covering with freshly falling snow. Wax techs would’ve been busy in the morning’s pre-race hours, though the falling snow would cease midway through the race. Then the challenge became the re-appearance of a bright sun, and subsequent stark shadows crossing the course: glide affected, kick affected.

Klaebo was the 54th starter, taking to the trails just two minutes behind Amundsen, his closest rival in the chase in the World Cup overall standings. Klaebo would receive a fair amount of information during his race, but his three-race weekend may have drained him. Klaebo never looked sharp, though on this long and difficult day he was not the only one.

Niskanen started behind Nyenget and received all available information about the Norwegian’s progress. Nevertheless, Niskanen found himself powerless to overcome Nyenget who topped mid-race time checks and carried those margins on to victory.

Niskanen swerved across the finish line, already headed to a fist-bump with  Nyenget in the leader’s chair. Niskanen paused not at all in the finishing area, suggesting his disappointment at surrendering the win to a rival.

Hugo Lapalus showed great heart throughout the day, his tempo always crisp, his technique always light on his way to third place.

Following his victory a week ago in the 10 k Freestyle in Lillehammer, Nyenget is establishing himself as a skier who can truly challenge for significant World Cup wins. His victory last year in the Holmenkollen 50 k Classic hinted at his great potential in distance racing. His winning performance here at the end of Period 1 only serves to confirm that potential. It was a sweet victory for Nyenget who also took over the lead in the World Cup distance standings.

“I really hope to do as much distances in the World Championships as possible,” Nyenget said. “So this was a really good day to get a good result.”

Norway may have continued to be the dominant force in distance skiing, but Norway’s five finishers in the top ten also were forced to make room for a wonderful eighth place finish for Ireland’s Thomas Maloney Westgaard. The deck is being re-shuffled, indeed.

Finishing fifth, Klaebo did manage to win a round in the season-long fight with Amundsen who finished in sixth. Their rivalry appears likely to continue when the World Cup returns on December 27.

Many members of the Stifel US Ski Team will remain in Davos over the upcoming holiday for a bit of well-earned rest and a re-start to their mid-season training.

“I think I haven’t quite been racing to my full fitness level yet and have some things to figure out performance wise before the next period,” said McMullen. “Christmas time will be the perfect opportunity to dial things in before the Tour with mostly distance training to absorb these last few race weekends.”

“We were a little up and down through the Period,” said Schumacher. “Maybe having some off days with some skis that made it look maybe a little rougher than it was . . . In general, it wasn’t too bad, and we did have great ski days, too. We’re definitely looking forward to some more racing in a couple weeks.”

Men’s 20 k Classic Interval Start RESULTS