Everyone thought he was going to Northug’s squad, but the man who crushed Klæbo at the Norwegian Championships 50km has chosen a different Ski Classics Pro Team.

He became the talk of the sport when he outskied Johannes Høsflot Klæbo at the Norwegian Championships 50km in Lillehammer two years ago.

Also Read: Sverdrup Augdal wins the 50km race at the Norwegian Championships

Now Eirik Sverdrup Augdal has signed with the Pro Team of brothers Jørgen and Anders Aukland, Team Ragde Charge.

“He is a class skier with an incredible engine and has multiple victories in both traditional cross-country skiing and Ski Classics,” Jørgen Aukland tells Langrenn.com.

He also reveals that they had not expected to be able to land the sought-after 30-year-old from Ringkollen.

“Eirik was someone we had envisioned as a perfect fit for us, but we thought he had been taken by Petter Northug’s team, Team Burger King (Northug). So, we were surprised when he reached out ten or twelve days ago,” says Aukland.

From there, things moved quickly.

“He could probably have earned more at other teams. But we put together an offer he said yes to,” says Aukland.

Seeking development

Aukland finds that seriousness and the opportunity to continue developing as a skier within a team with a solid setup and a secure environment were decisive factors for Augdal in the negotiations.

“Eirik has performed very well in traditional cross-country skiing, came to long-distance racing a few years ago, and did very well last season with multiple victories. He was now in a position where he was looking for opportunities to develop further, in a team where those opportunities are created,” says Aukland.

“He will get that here. Everyone on the team has victories and podium finishes in Ski Classics, so the level will be high across all camps and training sessions.”

Key athlete for the team

Augdal joins the Norwegian Pro Team after two seasons with Swedish Team Eksjöhus, where he held a captain’s role.

Read More: Team Eksjöhus to shut down after five years in Ski Classics

At Team Ragde Charge, he will be one of six men in the coming season, complementing the rest of the squad with his engine and ability to finish brutally in the toughest races.

“He is perhaps not the strongest in a pure mass sprint, but that does not happen so often anymore. More often, it is smaller groups that come to the finish after a hard race. Then you need capacity. Now we have it,” says Aukland.

What role is Augdal intended to fill at Ragde?

“Eirik is a bit like Johan (Hoel) – someone who can win both the Yellow bib and major individual races, but also perform well in the vast majority of races. Now we have a trio with the two of them and Thomas Ødegaarden, who are no longer racing against each other, but together, so they can play aggressively against other teams.”

Out to avenge a disastrous season

Aukland’s ambitions for next season are crystal clear. They intend to hit back after the worst season in the team’s history.

“It was a disaster. We simply have to acknowledge that. This winter, we have not been able to deliver. We have had two victories, and that is the worst season we have had since we started Team Xtrapersonell, which was more than 15 years ago,” team manager Jørgen Aukland tells Langrenn.com.

“This winter, we were only four men, with one of them injured. That left us very vulnerable. Now we have six strong skiers, a mix of skiers who are powerful on the flat, have climbing capacity, and finishing ability for different types of races.”

This is Team Ragde Charge Season XVIII (2026-2027)

With Eirik Augdal in place, the Team Ragde Charge roster for the Ski Classics Season XVIII (2026-2027) is complete.

Ski Classics Legend Andreas Nygaard, former sprint World Champion Håvard Solås Taugbøl, Mikael Gunnulfsen, and 2024 overall winner Johan Hoel all continue from last season’s squad.

Earlier this spring, Aukland signed Thomas Ødegaarden, one of the world’s best climbers, also from Team Eksjöhus.

The Pro Team has also invested in a wax trailer and brought in one of the world’s best wax technicians.

“Now we are ready to hit back properly,” says Jørgen Aukland.

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