Norway is fielding only three skiers for the distance events in Les Rousses. Competitors call it a disgrace, Norwegian athletes feel cheated out of an opportunity to showcase their skills at the top level, and experts label it a missed chance for the national team leadership to evaluate skiers ahead of the World Championships (WC).

The issue stems from Part 1 of the Norwegian National Championships (NM) being held simultaneously at Gåsbu, forcing national team athletes to prioritize NM. As a result, top stars like Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Harald Østberg Amundsen, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Heidi Weng, and Therese Johaug are absent.

French star Hugo Lapalus expressed disappointment, wishing he could have raced against the best on home soil.

Edvin Anger, the sprint winner in Les Rousses on Saturday, called it “crazy and incomprehensible.”

Austrian Mika Vermeulen, runner-up in the Tour de Ski, deemed it arrogant:

“It’s a disgrace. Norway has a responsibility as the biggest nation in cross-country skiing to support international events and organizers. They have hundreds of skiers to send—only sending three or four is unfair,” Vermeulen told VG.

Before the World Cup in Davos last December, Norway criticized Sweden for doing the same—fielding a depleted team with only three athletes for the distance races. Now, Norway is making the same decision.

“It’s Hard to Get It Right”

Astrid Øyre Slind, competing in Les Rousses for Team Aker Dæhlie instead of NM, described the situation as challenging:

“It’s hard to do the right thing. No matter what you do, someone will be dissatisfied,” she told VG.

Athletes Outraged

In addition to international criticism, the Norwegian skiing community is furious with the national team leadership.

Criticism includes the failure to fill all available spots and the seemingly arbitrary and unfair selection process.

Eirik Mysen, a 31-year-old from Team Bygdø who won bronze in the NM 10 km race at Gåsbu, expressed his frustration:

“They (the leadership) initially said only World Championship-selected skiers would go to Les Rousses, but now they’re doing the opposite by preselecting Pål Golberg and Iver Tildheim Andersen. Tildheim isn’t even a WC contender.”

He added:

“There are two open spots for both distance races! I would’ve paid 100,000 kroner to race, but they won’t let me.”

National Team Response

The national team defends its selection, referencing the season guidelines.

“The season guidelines state that World Championship-selected athletes will be considered, with exceptions possible. Since sprinters race Thursday, they can travel to Les Rousses Friday. Distance racers have the duathlon Saturday. We want to prioritize NM and will field full quotas in upcoming World Cups,” national team manager Ulf Morten Aune stated via text to Langrenn.com.

Support for Criticism

Mysen’s frustration is echoed by former national team skier Hans Christer Holund. On the Hans & Holund podcast, Holund highlighted several athletes, including Mysen, Henrik Dønnestad, and Mikael Gunnulfsen, who performed well in NM but weren’t sent to Les Rousses.

“Emil Iversen, for instance, should’ve been given a chance after his solid performance in Davos and NM. He’s proven himself a strong contender for the final WC spot in the 10 km classic.”

Iversen, who was dropped from the national team after the 2023 WC season, clocked the fifth-fastest time in the NM 10 km, beating all national team athletes, though he was disqualified for minor rule infractions.

World Championship Team Announcement

According to season guidelines, the Norwegian team for the Trondheim WC is expected to be announced on Tuesday, January 21.

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