Gave up his Norwegian national team spot last year – on Saturday, he clinched a clear victory in a prestigious road race.

Håvard Solås Taugbøl won the team competition at Randsfjorden Rundt on Saturday afternoon, competing against over 700 participants. 

The former Norwegian national team star participated in the road race Randsfjorden Rundt with the Kåbbåi Racing Team, finishing among the top six riders in the 152-kilometer event. 

Last spring, Håvard Solås Taugbøl gave up his national team spot to join the Ski Classics Pro Team of brothers Jørgen and Anders Aukland. He made an impressive debut in his first season, securing his first long-distance victory in February (Holmenkollmarsjen, a Ski Classics Challengers event in the Season XVII – 2025/2026), along with four top-five finishes in the Pro Tour, and finishing sixth in Vasaloppet. 

Also Read: Pro Team athletes shine at Holmenkollmarsjen 2026

Clear victory

Taugbøl continues to impress in yet another sport. 

The five other riders who crossed the finish line alongside the cross-country skier at Randsfjorden Rundt were Martin Olsen, Jonas Amundsen, Joachim Strindin, Sindre Sagbakken, and Brage Aulstad. 

Taugbøl and his teammates completed the distance in three hours, 22 minutes, and 45 seconds. The next team, Team Gåping, finished in 3:28:23. 

He was not the only skier leaving Hadeland with a victory on Saturday.

Iver Tildheim Andersen, who was dropped from the national team in April, won the open class in the race. The ski star also made his debut in the Norwegian Cup for cycling last weekend, where he immediately reached the podium on his first attempt.

See Also: Complete results from Randsfjorden Rundt 2026

Completely changed training

When Taugbøl was recruited to Team Ragde Charge last spring, he accepted without hesitation. 

“I was excited to become part of Team Ragde Charge and to set new goals,” he told Langrenn.com.

At the same time, he acknowledges that much has changed compared to when he focused on the sprint World Cup and championships. 

How has the transition from the World Cup and narrow sprint focus to long distance running been? 

“There are many things that are different. I was a sprinter, and it is clear that there is a difference between walking 1.5 kilometers every weekend and skiing 90 kilometers. It is much longer, and completely different terrain. And now it is just double poling, so I have had to completely change my training. I have had many long staking sessions.” 

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