Thomas Ødegaarden, Team XPND Fuel, conquered his first podium at Ski Classics during Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge last weekend and is in the fight for being among the best Pro Tour athletes. 

When there were only 4 kilometers left to the finish line of the Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Thomas Ødegaarden started increasing the pace in an effort that would give him his first podium at the Ski Classics competition. Only Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, and Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team XPND Fuel, could follow him. 

When just a kilometer left, Thomas increased the pace again, but eventually, Emil Persson attacked and sprinted to the finish line.

Still, Ødegaarden’s impressive performance took him to second place on the podium. The Norwegian skier that races for Team XPND Fuel is now 3rd place at the Youth Competition, 5th at the Climb Competition, and 11th at the Champion Competition. And he is feeling good about his result.

“My feeling is absolutely good,” this is how Thomas starts our interview while also stating that he was not expecting this result and added: “I know I am in good shape now.”

Thomas feels that the race was a bit chaotic at the beginning, but eventually, everything calmed down, and the strongest skiers started to impose at the beginning of the climb. 

“Herman Paus was really strong at the start of the climb, and I knew I had to follow him. Then I set the pace, and only Emil and Tord could follow. Then Tord also dropped. Eventually, when the flat part came, Emil attacked, and I was too slow to hold him. But it was a super feeling when I knew I got my first podium.”

Also Read: Emil Persson and Astrid Øyre Slind Winners At Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge

This result came as a surprise for Thomas, mainly because the training season has been a challenging one for him. The Norwegian skier suffered from the Espstein-Barr virus throughout the summer, which made him train for as much as one hour in July. However, Thomas was able to compensate after the summer. 

“I trained very well from September to December,” said the Norwegian skier.

Thomas is also proud to be the first XPND Fuel team athlete to reach the podium, except for Tord Asle Gjerdalen. 

“I have a good relationship with my team. I have learned a lot from Tord. We work well together. We test a lot of skis and discuss how Tord, Klas, and I can get a good race. Since we are a small team, the athletes must do the job. But then when we succeed, like on Sunday, the feeling is even better when you know all the work before.”

The Skier Who Is Also A Salesman And A Boat Man

Thomas Ødegaarden works part-time as a salesman, which he really enjoys, especially because that gives him time to think about and train for skiing fast. But when skiing season is over, Thomas has a different hobby than most skiers: boating.

“I live by the ocean in Norway, so my hobby is boating. Enjoy the life in summer cruising around in the boat,” that’s how he describes his life.

At the beginning of Season XIV, Thomas Ødesgaarden had set the goal of reaching his first top 10 result. That goal was reached in La Venosta Criterium. Achieving a podium position was much more than he had envisioned. 

“It was pretty insane for me. But I also want a good performance at Marcialonga.”

The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Engadin La Diagonela, a 48km classic technique event in Switzerland on January 21.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 40km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 32km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 48km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.

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