A star is born: Hedegart stuns Norway’s stars for first World Cup win in Trondheim 10 km

Near-perfect conditions greeted the field in Trondheim, where home favorite Johannes Høsflot Klæbo had previously dominated. Despite his stellar 2024/25 form, 10 km had been a rare World Cup gap for Klæbo, with victories last season shared by Iivo Niskanen and several Norwegians including Harald Østberg Amundsen, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Simen Hegstad Krüger, and Iver Tildheim Andersen.

Pre-race expectations centered on Nyenget, winner of this season’s other 10 km (classic) in Ruka, Finland. But it was teammate Andreas Fjorden Ree who set the early benchmark. Ree, still seeking a first World Cup podium, led through 2 km and halfway, while compatriot Einar Hedegart—already a podium finisher in the Ruka 20 km mass start—trailed by several seconds.

Hedegart began to close on lap two: 2.7 seconds back at 6.9 km and just 0.3 seconds at 9.2 km. Emptying the tank over the final stretch, he crossed the line to take the lead and collapsed in the finish area before settling into the leader’s chair. Ree couldn’t quite hold on and finished 0.4 seconds behind, nonetheless earning his first career World Cup podium.

Nyenget completed the podium 10.1 seconds behind Hedegart, with veteran Emil Iversen just off the podium after taking his first top-three in nearly five years in Saturday’s 20 km skiathlon. Klæbo placed seventh, his first race in Trondheim this year without a victory, but congratulated Hedegart on the breakthrough. Norway again packed the top positions, claiming seven of the top eight.

Hedegart now owns three podiums in four World Cup starts and said, “These stats are unbelievable… I’ll see you in the Olympics!” As the World Cup moves to Davos next weekend, Klæbo leads the overall standings on 387 points, ahead of Amundsen (314).