Falun World Cup – Men’s 10km Classic – Preview

The men’s 10km classic style race in Falun on Friday, March 17, 2023, is expected to be a closely contested event with several strong contenders in the mix. 

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is the man to beat, having already won a record-breaking 15 of the 26 individual men’s events in the 2022/23 World Cup season. He holds the record for the most wins in a single season, breaking Martin Johnsrud Sundby’s previous record of 14 wins set in the 2015/16 season. Klæbo also holds the record for the most podium finishes in men’s individual World Cup events, with 85 to his name.

If Klæbo can win this race, he will become the first man to win three 10km classic World Cup events in a single season. This season only marks the second time there have been at least three 10km classic World Cup events, with the first being in the 1996/97 season, where three different winners emerged.

The last time a non-Norwegian won a men’s distance event in the World Cup was Iivo Niskanen’s victory in the 15km classic style race in Lahti on February 27, 2022 (Iivo is not starting at tomorrow’s race). Norwegian men have won each of the last 17 distance events in the men’s World Cup, including all of 2022/23. This is an unprecedented run, with no other country having won more than 11 consecutive distance events in the men’s World Cup, a feat achieved by Norway in 1991-1992.

Aside from Klæbo, other strong contenders in the race include Pål Golberg, who has recorded seven podium finishes in individual World Cup distance events this season, winning three and finishing second in four. He is only one podium finish away from securing the overall distance standings. Hans Christer Holund (not starting tomorrow) and Klæbo are his closest challengers, trailing him by 115 and 127 points, respectively. 

The last Norwegian man to win the crystal globe for the overall distance standings was Martin Johnsrud Sundby in the 2016/17 season.

Simen Hegstad Krüger has won three individual distance World Cup events this season, the same number as Klæbo and Golberg. He won all three previous distance events he started in, which include both World Cup and world championship races. The last man to achieve more distance World Cup podium finishes in a season without winning any was Didrik Tønseth in 2018/19. Pål-Gunnar Mikkelsplass holds the record, having finished on the podium six times in 1988/89 without winning.

Other notable participants in the race include Didrik Tønseth, who won the previous individual distance World Cup event in Falun on March 12, 2022. Calle Halfvarsson will also be looking to make history as the first Swedish cross-country skier to win a men’s individual World Cup distance event on Swedish snow since Marcus Hellner won the 15km Freestyle in Gällivare in November 2010. Halfvarsson finished second in last season’s 15km freestyle World Cup event in Falun. His last individual World Cup win dates back to December 2016, when he won the 10km freestyle event in the 3-Days Tour.

Friday, March 17: 10km Individual Classic (Find more details here)

• 12:00 CET: 10km Individual C, Women
• 13:45 CET: 10km Individual C, Men 

START LIST MEN

See below the complete program with facts, start lists, and results for the World Cup in Falun.

FACTS Falun World Cup Season 2022/2023

• When: Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 19
• Who: Elite national skiers
• Where: Falun, Sweden
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Falun, Sweden

PROGRAM

Friday, March 17: 10km Individual Classic (Find more details here)

• 12:00 CET: 10km Individual C, Women
• 13:45 CET: 10km Individual C, Men 

Saturday, March 18: Sprint Freestyle (Find more details here)

• 10:50 CET: Sprint Quali F, Men
• 10:50 CET: Sprint Quali F, Women 
• 13:20 CET: Sprint Final F, Men
• 13:20 CET: Sprint Final F, Women

Sunday, March 19: 4x5km Mixed Relay C/F (Find more details here)

• 11:15 CET: 4x5km Relay C/F, Mixed Team 

New this season is the same race distances for women and men in all World Cup events, as the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) decided in May. Several other changes have also been introduced to the World Cup.

Read More: Cross-Country Skiing Changes And World Cup Calendar For The 2022/2023 Season

Also Read: New Distances At The Cross-Country Skiing World Cup