Klæbo Secures Commanding Victory at Beitostølen

Klæbo Secures Commanding Victory at Beitostølen

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (28) and Ane Appelkvist Stenseth (29) both won with formidable performances at the sprint event in Beitostølen. The major excitement came during the men's semi-final.

After winning the prologue, Klæbo expressed his determination to simply reach the final. However, he clearly displayed his superiority throughout the day, defeating Erik Valnes by a significant margin in the final. "I felt I was at my best in the final," Klæbo commented afterward.

Ane Appelkvist Stenseth, showing remarkable skill right from the start, took the lead during the season opening at Beitostølen. The 29-year-old, who had lost her national team position prior to the season, dominated the competition and won decisively. "This is amazing skiing. She outclasses her competitors," noted commentator Jann Post.

It was a dramatic turn in the men's first semi-final where Klæbo was in control but faced a chaotic finish. Aleksander Holmboe tripped just meters from the finish line, taking down fellow competitor Amund August Korsæth, who left the area with an injured shoulder after medical assistance.

Holmboe, embarrassed by the fall, expressed remorse, stating, "It’s a combination of a lot of lactic acid and a lot of will. It's embarrassing and unfortunate."

The results show an exciting start to the cross-country skiing season, with Klæbo and Stenseth setting the standard for the races ahead.