FIS | Andersen makes the most of Norway absentees with 10km victory in Les Rousses

Iver Tildheim Andersen (NOR) took advantage of an understrength Norway team to win the 10km Freestyle in Les Rousses, France, marking his second victory in his FIS Cross Country World Cup career.

A former world junior champion, Andersen has only participated in 22 races across four seasons of World Cup skiing, highlighting the intense competition within the Norwegian men's team. His other two podium finishes have also occurred in 10km skate races, demonstrating a consistent performance in this distance.

With prominent competitors like Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Harald Oestberg Amundsen, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget absent from the race, Andersen took the opportunity to assert his place in contention for the Norwegian team ahead of the world championships in Trondheim scheduled for February and March.

Racing in perfect conditions near the France-Switzerland border, the Les Rousses course features a challenging initial climb that poses a test of stamina and strategy right from the start.

Andersen was cautious at the start, tracking pace setter Ben Ogden (USA), known for his fast starts, and finished the first lap only 1.9 seconds behind.

“My approach at the start was not to go too fast up the first hill, and I immediately felt I managed that,” he mentioned after the race. “The aim was just full gas to the finish.”

As the race progressed, Andersen's pace improved remarkably. By midway through the race, he had extended his lead over Ogden to 4.5 seconds. By the end of the second lap, the gap widened to 6.3 seconds. Eventually, Andersen crossed the finish line with a time that put him 9.1 seconds ahead of Ogden, with Paal Golberg (NOR) finishing just 5.2 seconds behind in third position.

Simen Hegstad Krueger (NOR), a strong contender due to his recent win in the Tour de Ski, placed fourth, trailing Andersen by 18.3 seconds.

In his post-race comments, Andersen expressed his pride, stating, "It feels amazing. So far, it has been an okay season, but I am very happy. I’m satisfied that I have at least given myself a chance to go to the world championships."

Looking forward, Andersen plans to participate in the 20km race on Sunday, where he aims to prove himself further despite doubting his strengths in the classic distance.

Ben Ogden celebrated his own achievement in securing just his second World Cup podium, expressing, "I’m pretty psyched with that. If you're not having fun, what the hell are you doing? You've got to race your fastest when you're enjoying it, and that's definitely the vibe of the American team."

The FIS Cross Country World Cup continues in Les Rousses with upcoming Sprint Classic races for both men and women.