Håvard Solås Taugböl and Ansgar Evensen Selected for Norway’s World Championships Team

The Norwegian Ski Federation has bolstered its Trondheim World Championships team by selecting two male cross-country skiers, Håvard Solås Taugböl and Ansgar Evensen. Norway has five spots available for the men’s sprint race – a decision partly influenced by Johannes Hösflot Kläbo’s championship win at the previous World Championships.

Taugböl, who competed in the Engadin free technique sprint, finished in fifth place, thereby impressing the selectors. He had also placed sixth in the Norwegian Championships earlier in January. Evensen, on the other hand, delivered a solid performance in the Engadin race by finishing 16th overall, which ranked him as the third best Norwegian in that event.

According to team leader Ulf Morten Aunen, the selections were made based on the athletes’ recent performances. “We were in a situation where we didn’t have all the answers from the World Championships, so we had to include our performance in Engadin,” Aunen told NRK. He also indicated that it is not yet decided which skiers will actually race and who will serve as substitutes, but he expects to have clearer answers after the upcoming World Cup events.

With these decisions, Norway’s men’s team for cross-country skiing is now set. For example, Iver Tildheim Andersen – who won the 10-kilometer free technique race in Les Rousses and placed second in the 20-kilometer free technique race in Engadin – did not make the final team. The women’s team is still in the process of finalizing one additional selection.