The World Championships 2025 ends this Sunday in Trondheim, Norway, with the 50km mass start race in freestyle technique for women. Who will win gold?

Trondheim World Championships – 50km Freestyle for Women

The Swedish women have dominated totally in Trondheim. The final 50km is the last chance for Therese Johaug. Her comeback was from the beginning only about winning this final race.

But two Swedish stars can crush her dream: Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson are the names that can cross the Norwegian dreams. Unless Jonna Sundling shows up her form once again!

ABOUT THE RACE

After having raced 30km, the women are now taking on 50km. This will of course make it much harder for the women, especially with the tough weather conditions in Trondheim.

Therese Johaug has won the longest distance four times and the reason for her comeback was to win this distance. But the Swedish team have won all the gold medals on the women’s side in Trondheim. They are on a high note and Frida Karlsson has not won individual gold yet. She will for sure try hard here. But Johaug and Andersson are also gold favorites.

FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS 30KM

• 1989     Elena Välbe, Soviet Union
• 1991     Ljubov Egorova, Soviet Union
• 1993     Stefania Belmondo, Italy
• 1995     Elena Välbe, Russia
• 1997     Elena Välbe, Russia
• 1999     Larissa Lazutina, Russia
• 2001     Cancelled because of cold weather
• 2003     Olga Zavjalova, Russia
• 2005     Marit Bjørgen, Norway (mass start classic)
• 2007     Virpi Kuitunen, Finland (mass start classic)
• 2009     Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland (mass start free)
• 2011     Therese Johaug, Norway (mass start free)
• 2013     Marit Bjørgen, Norway (mass start classic)
• 2015     Therese Johaug, Norway (mass start classic)
• 2017     Marit Bjørgen, Norway (mass start free)
• 2019     Therese Johaug, Norway (mass start free)
• 2021     Therese Johaug, Norway (mass start classic)
• 2023     Ebba Andersson, Sweden (mass start classic)

FAVORITES

Frida Karlsson, Sweden

Still chasing her first individual gold here. She has had a couple of races without the best skis, but she has won the 50km in Holmenkollen after having beaten Johaug on the final kilometers. Frida is not satisfied by being in the shadow of Ebba and Therese.

Ebba Andersson, Sweden

Surprisingly following up the success from Planica 2023. Three gold medals and this can be here fourth in Trondheim. Two very narrow victories over Johaug have given her the confidence she needs. But Johaug was a little faster in the relay.

Therese Johaug, Norway

The 50km race is the reason for her comeback. But she has done a full program in Trondheim and the question is what this has costed. The absolute last chance of another gold medal for the woman who has won the longest WCH-distance four times, the first already at Holmenkollen back in 2011.

OUTSIDERS

Heidi Weng, Norway

Experienced, strong and good in uphills. Won the first leg of the relay, but Heidi Weng has never won an individual gold medal at the World Championships. Will for sure hang on for a long time, but to win she must find something she has never shown before.

Astrid Øyre Slind, Norway

Can she use the experience from Ski Classics? None of the other have the endurance experience as Astrid Øyre Slind. It would have been a better chance in classic technique, but Astrid will fight till the end.

Jonna Sundling, Sweden

If she wins the sprint, relay and 50km she will be the Klæbo of the women’s cross country. But maybe Jonna Sundling will find it hard to stay with the leaders over 50km. Difficult conditions can slow the speed during the race, and it can be Jonna’s hope of hanging on to the final.

Jessie Diggins, USA

Not a great World Championships for the World Cup leader. But she won silver in the sprint relay, and Diggins is a master at hanging on and getting the absolute last bit out of her body. She also has a good finish, so if she hangs in there it could be a success. Then she must do better than in the other races so far in Trondheim.

START LIST

The start list can be found HERE

The 2025 World Championships ends this Sunday in Trondheim, Norway. Here is the complete competition program, with the start list and start time for the 50km mass start race in freestyle technique for women.

Sunday, March 9 (More information HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

See below the complete program for the World Championships in Trondheim, Norway.

FACTS 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships

• When: Wednesday, February 26, to Sunday, March 9, 2025
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Trondheim, Norway
• What: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2025

Wednesday, February 26 (More information HERE)

• 13:30 CET: Qualification, 7.5km Classic, Women
• 15:30 CET: Qualification, 7.5km Classic, Men

Thursday, February 27 (More information HERE)

• 10:00 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Women
• 10:52 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Men
• 12:30 CET: Sprint Finals Freestyle, Women
• 12:30 CET: Sprint Finals Freestyle, Men

Saturday, March 1 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Men

Sunday, March 2 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Women

Tuesday, March 4 (More information HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 15:30 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic – Women

Wednesday, March 5 (More information HERE)

• 11:00 CET: Team Sprint Qualification Classic, Women
• 11:29 CET: Team Sprint Qualification Classic, Men
• 14:30 CET: Team Sprint Classic, Women
• 15:02 CET: Team Sprint Classic, Men

Thursday, March 6 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Men

Friday, March 7 (More information HERE)

• 13:15 CET: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Women

Saturday, March 8 (More information HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Men

Sunday, March 9 (More information HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

PROGRAM (traditional cross-country skiing program) 

Also Read: Cross-country skiing program for the Trondheim World Championships

The Nordic World Ski Championships is taking place in Trondheim, Norway, from February 26 to March 9, 2025. It promises to be the largest sporting event in Norway in 15 years, with more than 300.000 spectators expected to attend. 

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.