Men’s Relay Race 4x10km – Preview

The men’s 4x10km relay race is scheduled to take place in Planica on March 3, 2023. Let’s examine the leading contenders for the competition.

Norway is the frontrunner for the race, having won the men’s 4x10km relay World Championship title 20 times, including all 11 championships this century. The last time Norway missed out on the world title in this event was in 1999 when Austria triumphed on home snow, just 0.2 seconds ahead of Norway. 

Norway has won a medal in 24 of the previous 25 World Championships men’s relays (from 1972 to 2021), with the sole exception being a fourth-place finish in 1989. Petter Northug holds the record for the most wins in the 4x10km relay at the World Championships with five wins. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo could join a select group of 12 cross-country skiers with three or more wins in this event. 

The team that won the gold medal in 2021, Pål Golberg, Hans Christer Holund, Iversen, and Klæbo, have all been selected to compete in the 2023 World Championships. However, earlier today, the quartet of Hans Christer Holund, Pål Golberg, Simen Hegstad Krüger, and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo were announced as tomorrow’s relay race participants. It’s worth noting that Klæbo was only two years old the last time Norway lost the men’s relay at the Nordic Ski World Championships in 1999.

Read More: Norwegian Men’s Team For The Relay Race At The World Championships 

France is also a strong competitor, winning bronze in the men’s 4x10km relay in 2021, finishing behind the Russian Ski Federation.

France (with three bronze medals) is the team that has earned the most medals in this event without winning gold or silver. In this event, they have secured bronze in three of the last four World Championships, failing to reach the podium only in 2017 in Lahti. In the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, France claimed bronze in this event, coming in second place behind Norway. Clément Parisse was the fastest among all participants.

Sweden has won nine world titles in the men’s 4x10km relay, but their most recent victory was in 1989. Calle Halfvarsson was born a few weeks after Sweden’s last victory in this event in February 1989. Only Norway (34) has won more world championships medals in the men’s relay than

Sweden (28 medals, including 9 gold, 7 silver, and 12 bronze). The Swedish team of Eric Rosjö, Johan Häggström, Edvin Anger, and Halfvarsson finished second on February 5 in the men’s relay at the World Cup event in Toblach (4×7.5km). This is the only men’s relay race held this season in the World Cup.

Finally, Italy won the men’s 4×7.5km World Cup event on their home ground in Toblach in February. Italy (with two silver and six bronze medals) earned the most medals in this event at the World Championships without winning gold, but they haven’t finished on the podium since 1999 (bronze). Finland’s last medal in the men’s relay at the World Championships was a bronze medal in 2009.

Planica, Slovenia, is the place for this winter season’s World Championships, with ten competitions in 12 days and the last race being the men’s cross-country skiing 50km mass start race on March 5, 2023.

March 3, Friday

• 12:30 Men’s Relay, 4x10km classic/freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

Men’s Start List

See below the complete program for the World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. *subject to changes

FACTS Planica World Championships Season 2022/2023

• When: Tuesday, February 21 to Sunday, March 5, 2023 
• Who: Elite national skiers
• Where: Planica, Slovenia
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Championships in Planica, Slovenia

Planica 2023 – Cross-Country Skiing Complete Program

February 21, Tuesday

• 20:23 Opening Ceremony, Planica Nordic Park Kranjska Gora

February 22, Wednesday

• 12:00 Women’s Qualification race, 5km freestyle
• 13:30 Men’s Qualification race, 10km freestyle

Start lists, details, and results you can find here

February 23, Thursday

• 12:00 Women/Men Sprint qualification, classic
• 14:30 Women/Men Sprint finals, classic

Start lists, details, and results you can find here

February 24, Friday

• 15:30 Men’s Skiathlon, 15/15km

Start list, details, and results you can find here

February 25, Saturday

• 14:00 Women’s Skiathlon, 7.5km/7.5km

Start list, details, and results you can find here

February 26, Sunday

• 11:30 Women/Men Team Sprint qualification, freestyle
• 13:30 Women/Men Team Sprint finals, freestyle

Start lists, details, and results you can find here

February 27, Monday 

• Day Off

February 28, Tuesday

• 12:30 Women’s Individual, 10km freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 1, Wednesday

• 12:30 Men’s Individual, 15km freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 2, Thursday 

• 12:30 Women’s Relay, 4x5km classic/freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 3, Friday

• 12:30 Men’s Relay, 4x10km classic/freestyle

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 4, Saturday

• 12:00 Women’s Mass Start, 30km classic

Start list, details, and results you can find here

March 5, Sunday

• 12:00 Men’s Mass Start, 50km classic
• After the competition – Medal and Closing Ceremony

Start list, details, and results you can find here

Experience the Nordic Ski World Championships and Vasaloppet Up Close – Get Your 50% Member Discount Now!

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get the most extensive coverage in the Nordics and internationally regarding everything that happens during the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Planica, provided by journalists who follow cross-country skiing closely.

Get all the details about Vasaloppet and the competitions before the big day on March 5 throughout Vasaloppet weeks.  

Click here to get the special offer with a 50% discount on the yearly membership.