This is the only distance for men where Johannes Høsflot Klæbo might not be the biggest favorite. Rising-star Einar Hedegart is unbeaten over 10km freestyle technique this season, and the former biathlete has, in many people’s eyes, better cards than Klæbo. 

Friday, February 13: 10km Interval Start Freestyle Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval Start F, Men

The start lists can be found HERE

ABOUT FRIDAY’S RACE 

There have been different distances and formats through the years. In 1992, 1994, and 1998, there was a standalone 10km in the Olympics. After that, it returned to 15km; in the very early years, the distance was 18km. And there have been both standalone 15km, pursuit races, and now we’re back to 10km because of equal distances for men and women. 

The athletes start with 30-second intervals. There is seeding, so the best skiers start in the same group to get the same conditions. 

The quickest time on the 10km is the winner of the race. 

Men’s Olympic Champions — 10km (1992–1998) 

This event was contested as a standalone 10km race in 1992, 1994, and 1998: 

• 1992  Albertville: Vegard Ulvang, NOR  
• 1994  Lillehammer: Bjørn Dæhlie, NOR  
• 1998  Nagano: Bjørn Dæhlie, NOR  

Men’s Olympic Champions — 15km (Various Formats) 

The 15km race (or variants like pursuit formats) has a much longer history at the Olympics. Notable winners include: 

• 1924 Chamonix: 18km (precursor) Thorleif Haug, NOR  
• 1928 St. Moritz: 18km Johan Grøttumsbråten, NOR  
• 1932 Lake Placid: 18km Sven Utterström, SWE  
• 1948 St. Moritz: 18km Martin Lundström, SWE  
• 1952 Oslo: 15km Hallgeir Brenden, NOR  
• 1956 Cortina: 15km Hallgeir Brenden, NOR  
• 1960 Squaw Valley: 15km Haakon Brusveen, NOR  
• 1964 Innsbruck: 15km Eero Mäntyranta, FIN  
• 1968 Grenoble: 15km Harald Grønningen, NOR  
• 1972 Sapporo: 15km Sven-Åke Lundbäck, SWE  
• 1976 Innsbruck: 15km Nikolai Bashukov, Soviet Union
• 1980 Lake Placid: 15km Thomas Wassberg, SWE  
• 1984 Sarajevo: 15km Gunde Svan, SWE  
• 1988 Calgary: 15km Mikhail Devyatyarov, Soviet Union  
• 1992 Albertville: 15km pursuit start Bjørn Dæhlie, NOR  
• 1994 Lillehammer: 15km free pursuit Bjørn Dæhlie, NOR  
• 1998 Nagano: 15km classical Thomas Alsgaard, NOR  
• 2010 Vancouver: 15km free Dario Cologna, SUI  
• 2014 Sochi: 15km classic Dario Cologna, SUI  
• 2018 PyeongChang: 15km free Dario Cologna, SUI  
• 2022 Beijing: 15km classic Iivo Niskanen, FIN  

• Early Games used 18km, which was equivalent to today’s 15km.  
• Hallgeir Brenden (NOR) won back-to-back 15km events in 1952 and 1956.  
• Bjørn Dæhlie dominated the early pursuit editions in 1992 and 1994.  
• Thomas Alsgaard (NOR) won in 1998 before the standalone 15km format was standardized.  
• Dario Cologna (SUI) is the only man to win three consecutive Olympic 15km titles (2010, 2014, 2018).  
• Iivo Niskanen (FIN) won the 15km classic at Beijing 2022.  

Men’s 18, 15, and 10km — World Champions  

The 18 km was part of the World Championship program, mainly from 1925 to 1950 (with some interruptions), before being replaced by the 15 km event later.  

10km 

• 1991: Terje Langi, Norway 
• 1993: Sture Sivertsen, Norway 
• 1995: Vladimir Smirnov, Kazakhstan 
• 1997: Bjørn Dæhlie, Norway 
• 1999: Mika Myllylä, Finland 
• 2025: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norway 

18 or 15km (in 1929 and 1930 it was 17km) 

• 1925: Otakar Nemecky, Czechoslovakia 
• 1927: John Lindgren, Sweden 
• 1929: Veli Saarinen, Finland 
• 1930: Arne Rustadstuen, Norway 
• 1931: Johan Grøttumsbråten, Norway 
• 1933: Nils-Joel Englund, Sweden 
• 1934: Sulo Nurmela, Finland 
• 1935: Klaes Karppinen, Finland 
• 1937: Lars Bergendahl, Norway 
• 1938: Pauli Pitkänen, Finland 
• 1939: Jussi Kurikkala, Finland 
• 1950: Karl-Erik Åström, Sweden 

15km 

• 1954: Veikko Hakulinen, Finland 
• 1958: Veikko Hakulinen, Finland 
• 1962: Assar Rönnlund, Sweden 
• 1966: Gjermund Eggen, Norway 
• 1970: Lars-Göran Åslund, Sweden 
• 1978: Jozef Luzczek, Poland 
• 1982: Oddvar Brå, Norway 
• 1985: Kari Härkkönen, Finland 
• 1987: Marco Albarello, Italy 
• 1989: Harri Kirvesniemi, Finland 
• 1991: Bjørn Dæhlie, Norway 
• 1993-1993: Not held at the WCH 
• 2001: Per Elofsson, Sweden 
• 2003: Axel Teichmann, Germany 
• 2005: Pietro Piller Cottrer, Italy 
• 2007: Lars Berger, Norway 
• 2009: Andrus Veerplau, Estonia 
• 2011: Matti Heikkinen, Finland 
• 2013: Petter Northug jr, Norway 
• 2015: Johan Olsson, Sweden 
• 2017: Iivo Niskanen, Finland 
• 2019: Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Norway 
• 2021: Hans Christer Holund, Norway 
• 2023: Simen Hegstad Krüger, Norway 

FAVORITES 

Einar Hedegart, Norway 

Unbeaten on 10 km skating this Winter. It was close in Trondheim at the World Cup, but the former biathlete Hedegart has proved that he is the man to beat at this distance. He can only compete in skating; his classical skiing is not that good at all. This is his big chance for an individual gold medal in his first Olympics. Sensational 2nd when he got to start at Holmenkollen last Winter. And the week after, he was the Norwegian biathlon champion. Coming from the same place as Petter Northug Jr. 

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norway 

Must be feeling a little strange for Klæbo that the Norwegians are talking about Hedegart as a bigger favorite than himself. 10km skating used to be Klæbo’s best distance besides the sprint, and he is the most decorated in the field. It can be a great fight between the two giants from the Trøndelag region. 

Harald Østberg Amundsen, Norway 

10km skating is also a favorite of the former overall World Cup winner Amundsen. He got the chance at the WCH in Oberstdorf 2021 and took a medal with a fall during the race. There are seldom big differences here, and it’s absolutely not impossible that Harald Østberg Amundsen can beat both Hedegart and Klæbo.  

OUTSIDERS 

Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Norway 

There have been some near races for Løwstrøm Nyenget. But he was very impressive when he won the World Cup in Oberhof. But that was in classic. He is equally good at the two techniques and has prepared differently from most of his teammates. As a father, Løwstrøm Nyenget chose to stay home longer. 

William Poromaa, Sweden 

Silver medalist at the 50km in last year’s World Championships. This Winter has been a catastrophe for Poromaa, who dropped out of the World Cup early. But he won twice at the Swedish Cup just before the pre-camp to the Olympics, so maybe he is coming back in good shape.  

Mika Vermeulen, Austria 

The Austrian who is living in Norway has the speed to keep up with the best. The former Nordic combined skier has not shown form since his illness over Christmas and New Year. But he might have found it during the pre-camp. 

Gus Schumacher, USA 

It’s hard to forget Schumacher’s excellent win in front of the big crowds on home snow in Minneapolis. But the course is tougher here, and he needs to have a maximum day to fight for the medals or a top-6 finish. Normally, the Americans’ best hope.  

Savelii Korostelev, AIN 

Lack of experience, lack of teammates, and new territory. But the young Russian is very talented, and 10km skating is a better chance for him than 50km. He has beaten Alexander Bolshunov at home in Russia during their ban. He can be a surprise. 

You will find the start list HERE

Cross-country skiing schedule – Olympics 2026

Saturday, February 7: 20km Skiathlon C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Women

Sunday, February 8: 20km Skiathlon C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Men

Tuesday, February 10: Sprint C Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:15 CET: Sprint Quali C, Women
• 9:55 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 11:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Thursday, February 12: 10km Interval Start F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval F, Women

Friday, February 13: 10km Interval Start F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval F, Men

Saturday, February 14: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Women

Sunday, February 15: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Team Sprint Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Women
• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

Saturday, February 21: 50km Mass Start C Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Men

Sunday, February 22: 50km Mass Start C Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

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