He has a world-class VO2max, has competed in six World Championships and three Olympics, and has delivered a string of robust World Cup finishes. But last spring, Imanol Rojo was dropped from the Spanish national team a year and a half before the 2025 World Championships. 

“It was like getting a punch in the face,” says Rojo to Langrenn.com. 

But instead of digging in, the 32-year-old started looking for alternatives. The solution was the Norwegian Pro Team, Team Coop Madshus.

Also Read: Team Coop Madshus – Pro Team presentation Season XV

“It’s been a difficult year for me because I was kicked out of the national team, and so I had to look for new opportunities to be able to continue my World Cup efforts. So, I’m extremely grateful that I’ve been given a place on this team,” says Rojo. 

“Getting into a Norwegian elite team is a dream come true and, at the same time, a big challenge. I have a lot to learn from the Norwegians, and it gives me extra motivation to work even harder. I’m super excited to quit my job and take new steps and hopefully go to the World Championships in Trondheim in 2025,” he says. 

Going double

Rojo plans to double his efforts and compete in both traditional cross-country skiing for Spain as well as long-distance skiing for the Norwegian Ski Classics Pro Team. 

His main goals for the coming season are the World Cup and Tour de Ski, but his ambition is to make the Spanish national team squad for the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim. In this context, Rojo sees long-distance skiing as an important arena for development and a way of taking new steps in traditional cross-country skiing. 

Based on the performance of 35-year-old Astrid Øyre Slind last winter, Rojo is confident that a double focus on both long-distance skiing and traditional cross-country skiing can help to raise him that extra notch. 

“My main goal for the season is the World Cup and Tour de Ski, but this season, I’m also going to try my hand at long-distance skiing in Ski Classics. I’m looking forward to the Birkebeinerrennet. It’s one of the most legendary ski races in the world,” says Rojo. 

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Easy to sign the Spaniard

Team Coop Madshus athlete and Pro Team Director Petter Soleng Skinstad is pleased to be able to help Rojo continue his elite efforts. 

“Helping Imanol continue his development in the World Cup, with the World Championships in Trondheim as a natural goal, while at the same time developing his pole position through long-distance skiing, made it easy to offer him a place on the team,” says his new teammate. 

World-class VO2max

Skinstad is in no doubt that the double investment will help to raise Rojo that extra notch that will secure his World Championships place in 2025. The 32-year-old has a VO2max in line with the world’s best but struggles in easy terrain. This is where his long-distance investment will be an important step towards fulfilling his World Championships dream. 

“Imanol is a capacity skier. He can fight with the best up the monster hill in the Tour de Ski and runs 3000 meters in very competitive times. So, it’s not capacity that he needs to work on. It’s getting better in easy terrain that’s needed to raise him the necessary notch and take new steps,” says Skinstad, and adds: 

“Long-distance skiing, in addition to the World Cup, will make him stronger and more robust and faster on easy terrain.”

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Strongly represented

The 32-year-old from Tolosa is only one of two Spaniards on the Norwegian Pro Team this season. In addition to Rojo, Team Coop Madshus has Marta Cester as one of two female athletes in the squad. 

The Spanish 28-year-old has won Spain’s biggest ski race, Marxa Beret in the Pyrenees several times, as well as participating in several races in Ski Classics, and is an important part of Team Coop Madshus’ efforts this winter. 

“Marta has been part of the team for several seasons now. She’s a skilled skier and did the Marcialonga for us this winter,” says Skinstad. 

For Rojo, it’s extra special. 

“Being able to be a teammate with your girlfriend is something that few people get to enjoy. Sharing the passion and commitment with her is like living in dreamland.” 

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Connection to Gjøvik

Skinstad says that Tolosa has strong ties to the skiing community in Norway, specifically Skinstad’s hometown of Gjøvik. 

“The fishhook manufacturer Mustad built a factory in Tolosa, and it was employees from Gjøvik at the Spanish factory who established the ski club in the town. They started running skiing courses for local skiers and started a skiing community there. So, in many ways, the circle has come full circle as Imanol now has teammates in Gjøvik and Toten,” says the enthusiastic member of Team Coop Madshus.