A star is born: Hedegart beats Norway's best for first World Cup win

Einar Hedegart (NOR) spoiled Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo's homecoming party on Sunday but sparked some celebrations of his own, winning the 10km Interval Start Freestyle in Trondheim, Norway - just one month after announcing he was quitting biathlon to dedicate himself to cross-cross skiing full-time.

The 24-year-old, who served notice of his potential by claiming two FIS World Cup second places - one at the end of last season, another at the beginning of this one - blew away all of Norway's big stars with a second-lap burst to put himself bang in contention for a place on Norway's men's team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February.

With near-perfect conditions in Trondheim, the signs were ominous for the rest of the field before the race had even begun on Sunday. Klaebo had history as well as home-track experience and the crowd on his side. Not only did he complete a treble of victories, including the 10K, the last time a FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup event was held in Trondheim two years ago, he memorably won six out of six possible gold medals at the Nordic Skiing World Championships at this venue earlier this year.

But interestingly, despite 2024/25 being arguably his most dominant season, 10K was the only distance over which Klaebo failed to win a World Cup race. Instead they were shared among Iivo Niskanen (FIN, two wins) and a host of other Norwegians, including Harald Oestberg Amundsen (two), Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, Simen Hegstad Krueger and Iver Tildheim Andersen (one each).

His biggest competition in Trondheim seemed likely to come from Nyenget, winner of the only other 10K race this season, a Classic in Ruka, Finland last week.

But it was another Norwegian, Andreas Fjorden Ree, who set the early pace. In the face of stiff competition within his team, the 25-year-old has shown potential but never made it onto a World Cup podium.

The same can't be said for teammate Einar Hedegart, who claimed his second top-3 finish in the 20km Mass Start in Ruka last week.

The 24-year-old - who was the 28th starter out of the gate, well before the big names - was already 4.2 seconds behind Ree at the first checkpoint (2km) and that had increased to five seconds by the halfway mark (5km).

But while Ree began to fade on lap two, Hedegart moved through the gears. The deficit was down to 2.7s by the 6.9km mark. By the final checkpoint (9.2km), it was only 0.3s. Hedegart continued to empty the tank, and by the time he crossed the finish line, he had nothing left to give, collapsing to the snow before taking his place on the leader's chair.

By comparison, Ree continued to slow. He couldn't hang on, crossing the line 0.4s slower than Hedegart, who had become increasingly nervous in the leader's chair as he checked the split times on his phone via the FIS app. Ree was visibly furious, but quickly composed himself to congratulate his teammate on a first World Cup race victory. Ree had the consolation prize of a first World Cup podium.

"I can't believe it, I really didn't think this race was going to be a first place, I thought it would be a middling race," Hedegart said. "I was a little bit disappointed when I crossed the finish line and then it turns out to be my best race."

Hedegart now has three podiums in just four World Cup races.

"These stats are unbelievable," he admitted. "I just want to keep this going. I'll see you in the Olympics!"

Nyenget took third, 10.1s behind Hedegart and 1.3s ahead of veteran Emil Iversen (NOR) - who took his first podium for nearly five years in Saturday's 20km Skiathlon - followed by a host of other Norwegians. On Saturday, they took the top eight places. On Sunday, it was seven.

The last of these was Klaebo, who proved he is human after all by failing to win a race in Trondheim for the first time this year in his ninth start. He was 7.3s back and still in touch at the halfway stage, but even the greatest cross-country skier of all time was no match for Hedegart on the second lap.

After getting over his own disappointment Klaebo, too, found time to congratulate Hedegart.

As the World Cup heads to Davos, Switzerland next weekend, Klaebo leads the overall standings on 387 points, ahead of Amundsen (314).

For the full 2025/26 FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup schedule, click here

For the full results from Trondheim, click here