Forced to take action, just one month before the season starts.

Harald Østberg Amundsen is worried and downcast after this week’s test race in Holmenkollen. He finishes sixth there, but is far behind the day’s winner Lars Heggen and national team veteran Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, just one month before the season starts.

“It’s never fun getting pissed on,” the 28-year-old from Asker tells VG after the test race.

The 21-year-old from Harestua was one second ahead of Nyenget, and five seconds faster than Andreas Fjorden Ree in third place. Amundsen was almost two minutes further back.

“You get a bit fed up when you put in a lot of effort. And it’s a tough period right now. Then you have to think and come up with something smart,” says Amundsen, who is clearly disappointed.

See the results from the test race further down in the article.

Also Read: Norwegian cross-country skiing teams for season 2026/2027

Gets consolation

Amundsen gets consolation from the test race winner. Heggen points out that test races on roller skis are not the same as ski races on snow.

“You have to take it with a grain of salt,” he says, and adds:

“But you do get some kind of answer about where things stand, and then you have to form an opinion after that.”

Worried

At the same time, it is now exactly one month until the national season opener at Beitostølen. That is where it will be decided who gets to race the World Cup opener in Ruka the week after. Fresh World Cup results are what count when the national team management selects the squad for the World Championships in Falun in February.

National team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum is concerned.

“We had of course hoped that he would go even faster than this,” he says.

May be forced to hit the brakes

Amundsen won both the Tour de Ski and the overall World Cup two years ago. But the last two seasons have become increasingly difficult.

Last winter’s Olympics were no highlight. A fourth place, a sixth place and a 14th place were not what he had dreamed of. Some good results at the end of the World Cup lifted the season overall, and in [source sentence cuts off here]

Now the 2027 World Championships in Falun are the main goal for the coming season. But after the test race in Holmenkollen, the feeling is not the best.

“The system isn’t keeping up,” Amundsen sighs.

“So I’ll probably just have to hit the brakes.”

Fears years of pushing his body to the limit may have damaged his lungs

Earlier this year, Amundsen said that he fears years of pushing his body to the limit may have damaged his lungs. Following the season, Amundsen has gone through an extensive assessment with lung specialists to find out what the problem is and get better control of it.

Read More: “One of the worst periods of my career so far”

Top 3 test race Holmenkollen

1. Lars Heggen, National Team, 27:19
2. Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, National Team, 27:20
3. Andreas Fjorden Ree, National Team, 27:24
4. Amund Korsæth, Scandig Oslofjord, 27:33
5. Simen Hegstad Krüger, LYN Ski, 27:44
6. Harald Østberg Amundsen, National Team, 28:05

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