The 36-year-old from Raufoss is entering his final season as a fully committed long-distance skier in Ski Classics. That’s why he wants his team to sign skiers who can win something big.

There’s just one problem: he’s lacking a main sponsor who can put in money to make the dream come true.

Vetle Thyli has many years behind him as a strong competitor in Ski Classics. In recent years, he has had his own team, Team Kaffebryggeriet. But there have been no victories, and now this is his last chance. Many are wondering what will happen with Team Kaffebryggeriet in the 2026/2027 season.

“Kaffebryggeriet has been a fantastic partner all along, but we’ve had limited funds. The opportunities to become one of the best teams have been small,” Vetle tells oa.no.

Now he’s looking for a new main sponsor who can lift the team all the way to the top and compete for the most coveted places in races like Birken, Vasaloppet, and Marcialonga. Because even though Vetle himself hasn’t reached the podium, and Team Kaffebryggeriet would very much like to get there, both hope and motivation still remain.

“I won’t hide the fact that a lot of the motivation for this push is to get that podium finish for myself too,” the 36-year-old continues.

Many available on the market

Several top skiers have approached Vetle Thyli hoping to possibly secure a spot on the team next season. The big Pro Teams Ramudden and Eksjöhus have both folded, and there are still top skiers without a team.

“It’s kind of now or never, I feel. Personally, I’m thinking of going all in for one last season, and it would be so cool to be able to do that with an even better and bigger team.”

As with most other teams, the finances are the biggest knot to untangle.

“We already have several partial partners in place, but the team we now want to build needs a total budget of at least three million kroner. To make that happen, we need a big main partner. It’s probably a matter of finding someone who can put in 2 to 2.5 million kroner,” says Vetle Thyli.

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Never trained better

“I’ve never been able to train better from May 1 through August. My body is in really good shape. I’ve maybe never felt better than I do now,” Vetle said after winning the Eina triathlon on August 1.

Two weeks earlier, he was right at the top in the Valdres race as well, oa.no reports.

He has also dabbled a bit in triathlon, and if he can just get the finances in place, things should fall into place. But the skiers who don’t have a contract are starting to disappear. Most recently, during the Blink Festival, Magnus Vesterheim announced that he’s set for Petter Northug’s Team Burger King. Vasaloppet winner Torleif Syrstad is one skier who still doesn’t have a contract or hasn’t revealed which team he might join next season.

Wants to compete for wins

“Without the finances in place, we can’t start signing skiers, and understandably they’re starting to get impatient too. At the same time, I’m aware that a major backer who wants to be part of this wants something in return.”

“But if you land these skiers who are interested now, can you almost guarantee a Ski Classics triumph this winter? Yes, at least that we’ll be in the mix competing for wins,” says an optimistic and motivated Vetle Thyli.

Last season the team was called Team Kaffebryggeriet Driv, and these skiers were registered for the team: Fredrik Helgestad, Henrik Haugland Syverinsen, Håkon Holden, Vetle Thyli, Sandra Schützova, Ingrid Bergene Aabrekk, and Helene Ekrheim Haugen.

Thyli doesn’t say which of these skiers are set to return with the team next season. Schützova finished 14th overall, while Vetle Thyli himself finished in 36th place. That was two places ahead of Fredrik Helgestad. Team Kaffebryggeriet Driv finished 14th in the Pro Team competition.

Read More: Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII

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