Klaebo claims first 10km world title to make it triple gold in Trondheim

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) made it three gold medals in three events at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim, Norway as he won the Men's 10km Interval Start Classic in another display of dominance.

In heavy snowfall, the 28-year-old Trondheim local beat his teammate Erik Valnes by 8.8 seconds to claim his first world title in the event as Harald Oestberg Amundsen completed another all-Norwegian podium.

"It was hard. The conditions were really tough but I think that they've done a really good job with the tracks," Klaebo said.

The overall World Cup leader had come into the home championships with three individual gold medals to his name, all won in the Sprint. Less than a week later, he has doubled his total tally and at six world titles, he passes Bjoern Dahlie (NOR) to take the second place in the individual Cross-Country medal standings, one world title short of leader Petter Northug (NOR), at seven.

It is the second World Championships gold medal in a distance race for Saturday's Skiathlon winner Klaebo, whose last 10km triumph was in December 2023.

The rain that had made the tracks icy and fast in the first days of competition had turned into snow, to the joy of fans around the Granaasen course, who added several snowmen to the already big crowds.

For the skiers, however, the snow meant slower tracks and a challenge for the wax technicians, who needed to make sure that the skis could both push and glide.

"I felt like I was struggling in the last part," Klaebo said.

"I heard that I was in the lead with one second and I was three seconds behind, it was back and forth throughout the whole last lap. Then at the end, I was able to push really, really hard and managed to get a gap that was enough for winning the race."

Johannes Klaebo's victory was significant as it further cements his status as one of the greatest cross-country skiers in the sport's history.

The Trondheim 2025 Cross-Country action continues on Wednesday with the Team Sprint Classic.

Click here for full results from the Men's 10km Interval Start Classic and here to see the schedule.