FasterSkier’s coverage of this week’s FIS World Championships stands as a proud tribute to American Skiing Icon Marty Hall, who (with his wife, Kathy Hall, and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award) has generously supported our coverage of international cross-country ski events. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, please contact info@fasterskier.com. We’ll miss you, Marty.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) won bronze in the Individual Sprint way back in 2017 in Lahti, Finland (where he also placed fourth in the Team Sprint). In each of the three FIS World Championships since then (2019, 2021, 2023), he’s won gold in both Sprint events as well as gold in the Team Relay (for a total of nine gold medals at World Championships). Combined with his silver and bronze medals at various championships, Klaebo enters Trondheim tied with Petter Northug (NOR) for most gold medals by a male skier in World Championship history and tied with the immortal Bjorn Daehlie NOR) for most total medals (12). With a win in the Sprint, Klaebo would distance himself from every other skier in history . . . but this isn’t even the medal Klaebo’s eventual immortality demands.
Imagine this sort of pressure: you’ve won Sprint, Team Sprint, and Relay for the last few World Championships and Olympics, so naturally you’re expected to win those again. Three more gold medals—the sort of haul that grants Nordic skiing immortality to any who could achieve it—yet that’s not nearly enough to satisfy your fans and countrymen. Klaebo is constantly reminded that he’s never won an individual Distance medal at World Championship or Olympic events (though he came breathtakingly close when he crossed the finish line first in the 2021 World Championships 50 k Mass Start, only to be disqualified for interfering with Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) in the final meters). Klaebo has won plenty of individual World Cup races—interval starts, skiathlons, mass starts, pursuits—but he’s never been able to deliver an individual distance win on the very biggest stages. Trondheim is his hometown; he’s determined to do better here, even to the point that an Individual Distance medal may be even more important to him than the Sprint, the Team Sprint, or the Relay. But, to be honest, failing to win any of those would be a bitter disappointment and would certainly supply the gold-hungry Norwegian media with ammunition to lob at him from yet another angle. The only way for Klaebo to win, is to win.
And win he did—showing the easiest speed, the greatest endurance, the most clever tactics, and the fastest skis. Klaebo drove up the final hill, rocketed down the other side, negotiated the final slush-filled turn, and cruised up the finishing straightaway ahead of an ecstatic Federico Pellegrino (ITA) and Lauri Vuorinen (FIN).
“It was a lot of nerves, that’s for sure,” Klaebo said. “I’m just glad we’re done with it now, to be honest. So, I’m really satisfied. Tussen Takk, Trondheim!”
All four Americans—Ben Ogden, Gus Schumacher, JC Schoonmaker, Jack Young—qualified for quarterfinal heats amid Trondheim’s deafening atmosphere that Ogden, described as crazy. “Norway knows how to throw a ski race, I’ll tell you that.” Ogden grinned. “I was nervous for this one, so I’m happy to be getting going. I’m gonna try and ski smart, ski hard, leave it all out there.”
Ogden and Schumacher raced a tactical quarterfinal (won by Northug), with Ogden managing to win the boot throw at the line for the final qualifying spot. Schumacher never managed to develop the speed necessary to contend in the heat. He’d finish 27th on the day.
JC Schoonmaker and Jack Young finished fourth and fifth in their quarterfinal. They’d finish the day in 15th and 18th, respectively.
Among Canadians, Pierre Grall-Johnson was 36th, Graham Ritchie 48th, Xavier McKeever 51st, and Sasha Masson 54th.
(Photo: NordicFocus)
Men’s Sprint
FasterSkier’s Devon Kershaw considered the Trondheim Sprint course in pre-race interviews, describing Klaebo’s chances of mastering it. “An athlete like Klaebo, for example, has every tool in the toolbox,” Kershaw said. “I don’t think it really matters; there’s no real crucial point. But, of course, this big right-hander into the finishing stretch is incredibly crucial. You have to carry a lot of speed and stay on your feet. It’s going to be an exciting competition.”
Joining Klaebo on the Norwegian Sprint team were Matz William-Jenssen, Even Northug, Haavard Solaas Taugboel, and Ansgar Evensen. Erik Valnes (NOR) finished second in the most recent World Cup Sprint and stands second in the season-long World Cup Sprint standings, but withdrew with a back injury prior to the start of competition in Trondheim. Everybody else was here, all the hungriest World Cup contenders—the French, the Swedes, the Germans, the Italians, the Finns, the Austrians, the Americans—but it definitely looked to be Norway’s finishing order to sort out. There were six spots available in the Sprint Final, five Norwegians entered, and only three medals to hand out. Something had to give.
As it turned out, what gave—at least a little bit—was Norway. Valnes’s withdrawal put Jenssen in the lineup, but Jenssen got tangled in his quarterfinal and was eliminated. Taugboel skied a lackluster quarterfinal without ever being a factor. Northug was able to advance through the quarterfinal, but only by making a Kamikaze dive into the final right-hand turn before the finishing straight.
Predictably, Klaebo cruised brilliantly through his quarterfinal heat, showing the savvy tactics and fast skis that have always epitomized his Sprint performances. Pellegrino had a difficult time weaving his way through his quarterfinal but showed his blazing speed in the finishing straightaway to win the heat and advance to the semifinals. Edvin Anger (SWE) entered the World Championships ranked third in World Cup Sprint standings, but he raced carelessly in the quarterfinals and only advanced to the semifinal as a lucky loser.
Semifinal
Semifinal 1 featured Pellegrino facing Klaebo, Northug, and Anger (who had only narrowly avoided elimination in the quarterfinals). Klaebo skied flawlessly, conserving energy as he cruised to a semifinal win ahead of Pellegrino. Jules Chappaz (FRA) claimed a lucky loser spot. Northug struggled to fifth while Anger—who never looked sharp—ended his day sixth in the semifinal.
Ogden moved toward the lead of Semifinal 2, where he was joined by Lucas Chanavat (FRA). Ogden opened up the pace on the significant uphill section, only to find his skis overtaken on the final downhill by Lauri Vuorinen (FIN) and Chanavat. An errant pole plant in the final straight dropped Ogden to sixth while Vuorinen and Chanavat advanced.
Men’s Sprint Final
It must have felt a bit strange to Klaebo, being the only Norwegian in the Sprint Final. If it bothered him at all, he didn’t show it. Choosing the far-left start position all day, Klaebo moved quickly to the front in order to control the early pace. Pellegrino matched his speed, with Chanavat following. The fatigue of the day seemed to take its toll on the racers, as what appeared to be a moderate pace still managed to stretch out the field. Klaebo coasted to the front on every downhill, followed by a stubbornly determined Pellegrino. They crested the final uphill in that order, using the subsequent downhill to repeatedly check the positioning of their pursuers. Klaebo crossed the finish, punching the air to celebrate his first gold of these championships. But it appeared that the greatest elation at the finish line belonged to Pellegrino, who seemed almost overcome by his silver medal effort. Vuorinen outsprinted Chappaz for third.
The ovation of the Norwegian crowd lasted long after the skiers had crossed the line . . . and there are still plenty of races yet to run.
“I’m out of words,” Klaebo said. “I mean, look at the spectators . . . it’s way different from what we are used to. This is how we do it in Trondheim . . . It’s amazing.”
Projecting toward the upcoming Skiathlon—and the possibility of ending his own World Championship distance-racing drought—Klaebo said, “Come back on Saturday. It’s gonna be fun.”
FIS World Championships Men’s Freestyle Sprint RESULTS
Men’s Sprint QUALIFYING
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Our ski boots on the ground coverage was provided by Nat Herz, Stuart Harden, and Aidan O’Connell.
This reporting costs money. Please support this coverage with a voluntary subscription (below) so FasterSkier can provide this level of access to the sport we all love year-round.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
John Teaford
John Teaford—the Managing Editor of FasterSkier — has been the coach of Olympians, World Champions, and World Record Holders in six sports: Nordic skiing, speedskating, road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking, triathlon. In his long career as a writer/filmmaker, he spent many seasons as Director of Warren Miller’s annual feature film, and Producer of adventure documentary films for Discovery, ESPN, Disney, National Geographic, and NBC Sports.
