Perfect Laegreid Leads Norwegian 20 km Podium Sweep
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid’s clean shooting in this afternoon’s Oslo Holmenkollen Men’s 20 km Individual keyed his 49:31 victory, leading teammates Tarjei Boe and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen to a podium sweep in their home stadium. Like Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold in her earlier women’s 15 km victory, Laegreid seized the lead after cleaning the second prone stage, going to an uncontested win. Laegreid’s win was the second of the season, his second career victory in the legendary Holmenkollen Ski Stadium and his first 20 km victory since winning the 2021 IBU World Championships title at Pokljuka.
“Training here since I was 12 or 13”
Laegreid’s victory felt as easy as it looked. “Actually, it felt easy. I was like, ‘hmm, I shot 20-out-of-20, why didn’t I do this before in the season?’ I am really happy to do it today and also the physical part felt amazing. We had good skis and I felt really strong on the skis. I know these tracks. I was training here since I was 12 or 13 years old. I think it gives me extra energy for the race.”
Sharing the win with family and friends
Regarding the home crowd and the last loop, he added, “I lost quite a bit of time to Tarjei in the beginning of the last loop. I was like, ‘what, am I going to lose this lead with a minute (in hand)?’ Luckily I pulled myself together and I managed to keep him behind me. I have family, friends and lots of fans in the crowd here. It is amazing to deliver and share the win with them. It is a huge experience!”
Tarjei, missing his only shot in the last standing finished second, 28.5 seconds back. Christiansen, also with one penalty moved from fourth after the last standing to third, 1:05.6 back.
World Cup Individual Score to JT Boe
France’s Eric Perrot, with one penalty equaled his second-best result in fourth place, 1:06.4 back. Yellow/Red Bib Johannes Thingnes Boe, with two penalties, finished fifth, 1:14.9 back. JT scored enough points to win the World Cup Individual Score small crystal globe, his third in the discipline. Andrejs Rastorgujevs of Lativa, with one penalty finished sixth, 1:44 back.
Tarjei in Front
Conditions remained cloudy, just above freezing with light winds for the men’s start. Tarjei opened with a slow but clean first prone; Laegreid and Christiansen followed with the same result.
The 35-year-old Norwegian went to 10-for-10 in the first standing, Laegreid and Perrot matched as did Christiansen in fourth. The elder Boe added five more perfect second prone shots, but Laegreid took over the top spot.
BMW IBU World Cup 7 Oslo Holmenkollen Men's 20 km Individual
55-second Lead
Tarjei missed his only shot in the last standing as Laegreid cleaned stage four taking a 55-second lead. Christiansen missed once, leaving fourth, eight seconds behind Perrot.
Laegreid skied steadily to victory, ahead of Tarjei. Christiansen, pushed the last loop, moving to third for a podium sweep.
Photos: IBU/Dmytro Yevenko, Christian Manzoni
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