Biathlon vs cross-country: admissions and irritation

Biathlete Simon Kirkeeide voiced a taboo in Norwegian skiing after finishing the men’s 10 km freestyle at Beitostølen—without a rifle—and waiting in the leader’s chair. Asked about the “beef” between biathletes and cross‑country skiers, he said many pure cross‑country athletes claim biathletes can’t really ski, despite Johannes Thingnes Bø arguably being the best skier, period, for the last 15 years. His blunt answer ignited debate.

The article describes how expectations of a routine cross‑country win were upended when Einar Hedegart—reigning Norwegian biathlon mass‑start champion—crushed the field in the 10 km skate. What was supposed to help decide pre‑Christmas World Cup selections instead turned into a statement that elite biathletes can match, or surpass, Norway’s cross‑country specialists on skis. Hedegart is now set to challenge the elite at the World Cup opener in Ruka.

With Russia still absent and few foreign men threatening Norway’s dominance—aside from Swedish prodigy Alvar Myhlback, who focuses on long‑distance events like Vasaloppet—the sport’s tension is coming from within. NRK frames biathletes as a “Trojan horse,” provoking and motivating the national team. Andreas Fjorden Ree’s runner‑up finish underscored the discomfort among specialists: Hedegart is an irritating outsider reminding them of a recurring claim—if top biathletes ditch the rifle, they might be the world’s best skaters.

The article revisits history: Ole Einar Bjørndalen proved it was possible by winning a World Cup cross‑country race and nearly showcasing it at the 30 km in Salt Lake City 2002 before Johann Mühlegg’s later‑disqualified, doped performance ruined the contest. Later, Lars Berger won cross‑country world titles and Ronny Hafsås won Beitostølen and two World Cups. Cross‑country largely dismissed those as exceptions—until now.

Even NRK expert Pål Golberg balked at conceding the full implication, insisting Johannes Thingnes Bø would not have beaten Hedegart on this day. Meanwhile, the piece argues that head coach Eirik Myhr Nossum may struggle to downplay Hedegart’s Olympic prospects; demanding “some World Cup wins” as a prerequisite could soon sound like internal messaging only. The article concludes that Hedegart is a clear medal candidate in the 10 km and a strong relay option for Italy 2026—and leaves open the tantalizing question: was Johannes Thingnes Bø actually the best cross‑country skier of the last 15 years?