Huge Norwegian names may miss the Olympic cross‑country team — ex‑coach Tor Arne Hetland predicts a brutal selection

Former Norway men’s head coach Tor Arne Hetland (national team coach 2016–2018) believes the shape of Norway’s men’s Olympic cross‑country team is already coming into focus after two World Cup weekends.

According to Hetland, the leading six — in this order — are: - Johannes Høsflot Klæbo - Harald Østberg Amundsen - Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget - Erik Valnes - Oskar Opstad Vike - Einar Hedegart

All six have already stood on a World Cup podium this season, with multiple podiums for Klæbo, Amundsen, Hedegart and Nyenget. Norway is currently expected to name seven men for the Olympics in Val di Fiemme next February, with only four allowed to start each race.

Hetland says the seventh slot is a battle among Andreas Fjorden Ree, Simen Hegstad Krüger, Emil Iversen, Mattis Stenshagen, Lars Heggen, Jan Thomas Jenssen and Ansgar Evensen. Ree, Iversen and Evensen each have a World Cup podium this season. “It’s obvious some very, very good athletes will be bitterly disappointed,” Hetland says.

Selection criteria and Davos as a decider

The Norwegian Ski Association lists three selection pillars: results from the 2025–26 World Cup, results from 2024–25, and performances at previous major championships. Hetland expects the Olympic committee to announce Klæbo and Amundsen after the Davos World Cup. Davos features two Olympic‑relevant events: the freestyle team sprint (Friday) and a 10 km interval start (Sunday). Athletes absent from Davos will, in Hetland’s view, find it almost impossible to make the team.

Within his top six, Hetland sees a clear advantage for four versatile skiers: Klæbo, Amundsen, Nyenget and Valnes, who can contend in both techniques. He also backs the sprint‑focused Oskar Opstad Vike (21) and Einar Hedegart (24), who targets the 10 km freestyle interval start. Hedegart has raced only four World Cups but finished 2nd, 2nd and 1st in his last three starts; Hetland calls his Olympic spot “95% sure,” expecting confirmation in Davos. The tightest fight is for the classic sprint berth, where 20‑year‑old Lars Heggen’s breakthrough season is “exceptional.”

What about Krüger?

Because only four can start each Olympic race, versatility matters. Hetland would therefore pick just one specialist for the sprint (Opstad Vike) and one for the interval start (Hedegart). Based on his championship pedigree, Hetland would have given Simen Hegstad Krüger a Davos start, but the spot went to Iver Tildheim Andersen, who last season had one World Cup win and two second places. Krüger, 32, has medaled at five of six major championships he has raced and won two individual golds (plus relay gold) at the 2023 Planica Worlds. Hetland says illness has held Krüger back but believes he’d be on the podium when healthy. He also wants further proof from Andreas Fjorden Ree in Davos: “Ree is in top form, but everyone knows what Krüger can do.”

Dominance concerns

Norway’s depth has produced mixed feelings even at home: Norwegian men have taken 15 of the 18 men’s World Cup podiums so far. Hetland argues this dominance isn’t healthy for cross‑country skiing’s vitality and hopes challengers emerge. Among foreigners, he highlights Sweden’s Edvin Anger and Alvar Myhlback (the latter a sprint medal threat) and notes Finland’s Arsi Ruuskanen’s good start but says Iivo Niskanen remains Finland’s spearhead. He expects a “Klæbo show” in Val di Fiemme similar to Trondheim 2025, where Klæbo won six golds, and says Norway could sweep the men’s individual Olympic medals, even if one or two medals might slip abroad.