For Ane Appelkvist Stenseth – left off the Norwegian national team – it’s now or never: she is chasing her first and last Olympics. When winter is over, a completely different chapter awaits.

“I was nervous today. It’s the toughest race of the whole season, and it’s important for what comes next,” says the 30-year-old from Grong after the sprint at the season opener in Beitostølen on Friday afternoon.

In the prologue, she was clearly the fastest. In the final, she finished third, behind Kristine Stavås Skistad and Hedda Bakkemo. That may be enough to earn a spot for next weekend’s World Cup opener.

“It’s good to be done with the first race, and I got a lot of good answers. It’s important to deliver right from the start to be on the Olympic train when it leaves,” says Ane Appelkvist Stenseth to Langrenn.com, adding:

“I’ve never been to the Olympics before, so it would be incredibly cool to go. Now it’s back to Europe and Italy, and I think it could be a real celebration.”

Also Read: Skistad storms to classic sprint win at Beitostølen

Now or never

The Norwegian sprint specialist is among the fastest in the world in the classic technique, and the upcoming Olympic season features a classic sprint. It will be eight more years before the Olympic sprint returns to its classic form.

“By then I definitely won’t be racing,” she says.

Appelkvist Stenseth was dropped from the elite national team last year and is now in her second season as a private athlete. After this season, everything points to her retirement. And she is getting married.

Read More: Coach proposed – Said yes on New Year’s Eve

What does your plan look like from here?

“Well, that’s up to (national team coach) Sjur Ole Svarstad. But plan A is Ruka and Trondheim after this. So, these are three very important weekends right from the start for classic sprinters in terms of Olympic selection.”

And the national team coach liked what he saw.

“It was a good application for Ruka,” Svarstad says.

In the fight for places on the Norwegian Olympic team, recent top-level results are what matter. The first step toward the Olympics is therefore securing a spot for the World Cup opener in Ruka next weekend, which also features a classic sprint.

Much more freedom

Even though Appelkvist Stenseth is now competing privately for the second season and no longer has access to Norwegian national team resources, she doesn’t lack support or training partners.

“A lot is the same as before, when I was on the team, but I have much more freedom to be at home and more time for training, eating, and sleeping. I enjoy having the freedom to structure my own days,” she says.

Her coaching setup includes her fiancé Jørgen Ulvang – nephew of Vegard Ulvang and Pro Team Director at Team Engcon – as well as former national team coach Stig Rune Kveen. She also doesn’t miss having access to Olympiatoppen’s support.

“My partner is a physiotherapist and good at strength training, so I feel like I have a lot of what I need in one person,” she says.

World-class training partners

Appelkvist Stenseth trains regularly with Swedish sprint star Maja Dahlqvist, who moved to Trondheim ahead of the 2025 World Championships, and with national team sprinter Julie Myhre.

This year, she also began training systematically with the long-distance skiers on her fiancé’s Ski Classics Pro Team. Team Engcon took the yellow bib and swept the entire overall podium on the men’s side last winter, plus the yellow and green bibs on the women’s side. In May, Swedish star Ebba Andersson also signed with the team.

“It’s gratifying to train with them. They’re a group of extremely strong athletes. Getting that type of training has given me a lot of valuable input,” she says.

Even though she specializes in sprint, she believes long-distance training is highly relevant and transferable.

“It pushes me in new ways, both physically and mentally. A sprint day is long, so doing long sessions with various sprints and intervals along the way is very relevant,” she says, adding:

“Doing four sprint heats is nothing compared to skiing six and a half hours with that group. It’s great for both the head and the body.”

The road to the Olympics

Over the three race days at Beitostølen, it will be decided which Norwegian athletes go to the World Cup opener in Ruka from November 28 to 30 – the first step on the road to the 2026 Olympics.

Then follow three World Cup races in Trondheim from December 5 to 7, again with a classic sprint on the program.

After that, only one classic sprint remains before the Olympic selection in January, during the Tour de Ski.

The 2026 Olympics will be held in Milan/Cortina from February 6 to 22.

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