After a duel similar to Hanna Oeberg and Julia Simon earlier, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid won this afternoon’s Oslo Holmenkollen Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit in a dramatic photo finish over France’s Eric Perrot, who finished in the same 30:31.4. Laegreid led much of the last loop until Perrot battled back in the final 100 meters until almost even, and Laegreid outstretched his rival at the line. The clean shooting winner upped his consecutive victory total to seven including relays and consecutive podiums up to thirteen. The win also vaulted Laegreid to second in the World Cup Total Score behind the Perrot who sealed that title yesterday.

“He was like a flea at my back”

The 2025 World Cup Total Score winner described his strategy leading to the win. “I thought Eric seemed very tired in loop 3 and 4, so I thought I could decide the race in the beginning of loop 5. But he was at my back like a flea and I had to, oh grab some more energy and try to decide it in the big hill, but he was still behind me. I just gave it all in the sprint. I am not that good in the sprint, but today I believed and I am.”

“Legends…incredible to perform at this level”

This pursuit win was the Norwegian’s fifth consecutive individual win, putting him in the elite company of Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, Martin Fourcade, and Johannes Thingnes Boe. “Those are some legends! It is incredible just to be able to perform at this level time after time. Really no words to describe it. It’s a really big thing now after my not easy winter experience before.”

Perrot Adds Pursuit Globe

Perrot, who matched Laegreid on the range, added another Crystal Globe to his collection, securing the Pursuit Score title, to go along with the World Cup Total Score and the Individual and Mass Start Score Globes this season. Perrot’s teammate Emilien Jacquelin, with two penalties, finished third, 23.2 seconds back.

Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma, with three penalties finished fourth, 1:25.3 back, Norwegians Johan-Olav Smoerdal Botn and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen finished fifth and sixth, with one and three penalties, 1;34.1 and 2:18.2 back, respectively.

Even Through Prone

The partly cloudy skies and light winds continued for the final men’s pursuit of the season. Laegreid and Perrot cleaned the first prone leaving together, with the also-clean Jacquelin 5 seconds back and Ponsiluoma 16 seconds off the lead. The Yellow/Red Bib and Laegreid repeated in the second prone; Jacquelin fell 22 seconds back after a penalty.

Laegreid Wins in Photo-finish

Perrot shot extremely fast and clean in the first standing; Laegreid needed 5 additional seconds to match. Laegreid battled back to Perrot’s shoulder before the final standing stage that copied the previous one; both cleaned setting up the last loop duel. The pair fought hard. Laegreid held a half ski length lead as they entered the stadium, holding the margin into the final 100 meters. Both sprinted, stretching as Laegreid won in a photo-finish.

Photos: IBU/Nordnes, Yevenko, Nordic Focus