Einar Hedegart claims first World Cup win as Norway’s Olympic selection battle intensifies

Norway’s selection debate for February’s Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games sharpened on Sunday after a dramatic men’s 10 km freestyle World Cup in Granåsen.

Einar Hedegart, 24, who has paused his biathlon career to focus on cross-country, captured his first World Cup victory on the Olympic distance, edging teammate Andreas Fjorden Ree by just four-tenths of a second. Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget completed the podium.

The nail-biting finish drew excited reactions from Norwegian TV experts. “Oi, oi, oi,” exclaimed Pål Golberg as the time gaps flashed, while Fredrik Aukland said, “Just give this man an Olympic ticket. It might be a bit early, but I see no reason he shouldn’t race this distance at the Olympics,” referring to Hedegart.

Hedegart’s rise has been rapid: he won the 10 km freestyle at Norway’s season opener in Beitostølen, finished second in the 20 km at the World Cup opener in Ruka last weekend, and now has a World Cup win. In just four World Cup cross-country starts, he has recorded an eighth place, two seconds, and a victory.

Emil Iversen, 34, continued his resurgence after missing selection for Ruka, placing fourth on Sunday after taking third in Saturday’s mass start. Behind him were Harald Østberg Amundsen in fifth, Iver Tildheim Andersen sixth, and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo seventh.

With another World Cup weekend in Davos coming up—including team sprint, freestyle sprint, and another 10 km free—the battle for Norway’s limited Olympic spots is growing fiercer. The Granåsen result strengthens Hedegart’s case and keeps pressure high across a deep Norwegian men’s team.