Olympic breakout star Einar Hedegart did not compete at last weekend’s World Cup round in Falun. He will also skip Lahti next weekend. Now the 24-year-old explains why.

Former biathlete Einar Hedegart has challenged the world elite in cross-country skiing ever since the World Cup in Holmenkollen last spring. He claimed both gold and bronze at the Olympics in Val di Fiemme and won Norwegian national gold in his signature event, the 10-kilometer freestyle.

After his Olympic success in Val di Fiemme, Hedegart had planned to stay in Italy to watch a few more Olympic events as a spectator. But that did not happen.

After winning gold in the team sprint alongside Klæbo despite illness, he returned home early.

Also Read: Won Olympic gold while sick – kept it from the team

Skipping the World Cup

The 24-year-old from Inderøy says he has been back in training since Sunday. But when the team selection for the World Cup in Falun was announced at the start of last week, Hedegart’s name was not included.

He will also skip the World Cup in Lahti and the Norwegian Cup at Skeikampen next weekend.

Instead, Hedegart is set to debut in an entirely new event. On Sunday, March 8, he will race his first-ever ski marathon.

“My next race will be the Engadin Ski Marathon as preparation for the 50km in Holmenkollen,” Hedegart told Trønder-Avisa.

The Swiss race covers 42 kilometers and is the world’s largest freestyle marathon. Last year, fellow biathlete Sverre Dahlen Aspenes finished second in the prestigious event.

Holmenkollen was a turning point

The 50km World Cup race in Holmenkollen takes place on March 14. The last time Einar Hedegart raced in a World Cup in Holmenkollen, he beat Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. He finished second in the 10-kilometer freestyle, only behind Harald Østberg Amundsen.

That second place in Holmenkollen last year was also Hedegart’s first World Cup podium. Just under a month later, he signed with the private cross-country team Team Anlegg Øst.

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