Amundsen

Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR) earned his first FIS world cup cross-country victory at Les Rousses, France. · Scott Patterson (USA) led the American contingent ...

. . “It was a really important race for me,” he said. Ultimately, Amundsen finished in 21:26.5 for his first career World Cup win. Klaebo’s countryman, Amundsen, continued to lead his teammates through the later check points. Krueger started conservatively, some 11 seconds behind Amundsen at the first check point. Additionally, 10 k is not a typical men’s distance, raced this season in a nod to distance-equity that has been instituted between men’s and women’s fields. It appeared, then, as though he would pick and choose his World Cup starts in order to secure the Sprint crown, while prioritizing his preparation for the World Championships (which most competitors hold in higher regard than the World Cup). As it is, he now seems determined to pursue every win, and to chase points in any event in which Paal Golberg—his Norwegian teammate and closest rival in the race for the overall World Cup—is entered. Fresh snow and overcast skies greeted competitors in Les Rousses, a resort community in the Jura Alps north of Geneva. Frenchman, Jules LaPierre, had a spectacular day racing in his home country, further interrupting the usual Norwegian strangle-hold on the top placings and finishing a very impressive fifth, just 25 seconds behind race winner, Amundsen. [This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. It seems that any Norwegian can win on any given day .