The World Championships 2025 continues this Saturday in Trondheim, Norway, with the 20km skiathlon for men. Who will win gold?

Trondheim World Championships – 20km Skiathlon

The Norwegian men have dominated the World Cup this Winter. When the skiathlon was contested in Lillehammer in December 2024, there were more or less only red suits from the Norwegians in the fight for top places.

This can be the situation also in Trondheim. It’s actually very likely it will be like that.

About the 20km Skiathlon

Skiathlon has been raced in different formats throughout the history of the World Championships. Initially, it was organized over two days, with an individual race on the first day and a pursuit start on the second day. Since 2003 it has been a skiathlon in one race with changing skis halfway, but then as 30km.

Today they are racing 20km when women and men have the same distances and a mass tart. The first 10km are in classic technique, after that, the athletes go into the changing zone where their skating skis and skating poles are ready in their boxes. After that, they will be doing 10km skating.

The first skier crossing the finish line is the winner. And that’s often a specialist in skating because it is the last part of the race. But from time to time, we also see the strongest classic skiers able to go away and open a gap that they can hold all the way to the finish.

It’s important to be quick also when you change your skis. If you get problems with your bindings, the skis are gliding away or similar incidents you will quickly lose valuable seconds, and you can lose contact with the group you were in before entering the changing zone.

FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS (different distances)

30KM

• 1926     Matti Raivio, Finland
• 1954     Vladimir Kuzin, Sovjetunion
• 1958     Kalevi Hämäläinen, Finland
• 1962     Eero Mäntyranta, Finland
• 1966     Eero Mäntyranta, Finland
• 1970     Vjatjeslav Vedenin, Sovjetunion
• 1974     Thomas Wassberg, Sweden
• 1978     Sergej Saveljev, Sovjetunion
• 1982     Thomas Eriksson, Sweden
• 1985     Gunde Svan, Sweden
• 1987     Thomas Wassberg, Sweden
• 1989     Vladimir Smirnov, Sovjetunion
• 1991     Gunde Svan, Sweden
• 1993     Bjørn Dæhlie, Norway
• 1997     Alexei Prokurorov, Russia
• 1999     Mika Myllylä, Finland
• 2001     Andrus Veerpalu, Estonia
• 2003     Thomas Alsgaard, Norway

30KM SKIATHLON (15km classic + 15km freestyle)

• 2003     Per Elofsson, Sweden (10km+10km)
• 2005     Vincent Vittoz, France
• 2007     Axel Teichmann, Germany
• 2009     Petter Northug Jr, Norway
• 2011     Petter Northug Jr, Norway
• 2013     Dario Cologna, Switzerland
• 2015     Maxim Vylegzhanin, Russia
• 2017     Sergei Ustiugov, Russia
• 2019     Sjur Røthe, Norway
• 2021     Alexander Bolshunov, Russia
• 2023     Simen Hegstad Krüger, Norway

PURSUIT START (10km classic and 15km freestyle, 15km pursuit)

• 1993     Bjørn Dæhlie, Norway
• 1995     Vladimir Smirnov, Kazakstan
• 1997     Bjørn Dæhlie, Norway
• 1999     Thomas Alsgaard, Norway
• 2001     Per Elofson, Sweden (10+10km)

FAVORITES

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norway

With his sprint, Klæbo must be the top favorite when the championships are held in his own training tracks. But he let the others go in the skiathlon in Lillehammer in December. It showed that it is possible to drop Klæbo. But if he is there in the final, he is nearly impossible to beat.

Harald Østberg Amundsen, Norway

Won the event in Lillehammer in December after a photo finish. He has made a lot of improvement in the classic technique. So, what looked impossible a few years ago is no more than possible. Last year’s World Cup winner is a clear gold candidate here. May as big as he is over 50km, thanks to his strong finish.

Simen Hegstad Krüger, Norway

The reigning champion in the skiathlon. He left all the others behind in Planica 2023, something he also did at the Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018. Krüger doesn’t have the sprint like Klæbo or Amundsen. But he may be the best technical skier in skating and the though courses in Trondheim can make it possible to get a gap and win again. Krüger is lacking an international win this season.

OUTSIDERS

Jan Thomas Jenssen, Norway

He is probably only getting this chance at the Worlds. But the local skier Jenssen has proved that he is one of the best in skiathlons. Was second in Lillehammer after a photo finish versus Amundsen. He had to show himself in the qualifications, and he delivered. The man who is always throwing up after the finish has a special way of giving everything and to find a sprint after 20km.

Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Norway

Another hard one to beat for the foreigners. Nyenget tried to split the field on the classic part in Lillehammer, but he didn’t manage. The tracks in Trondheim may be even harder and the skier from outside Oslo might damage the field before the changing of skis. He is strong in both styles, good in a sprint, but normally not as quick as Klæbo, Amundsen and Jenssen.

William Poromaa, Sweden

Not many foreigners will dominate this race in front of the Norwegian audience. William Poromaa took a bronze medal at the 50km in Planica 2023. If he finds top shape he can be there again. But he will probably have some Norwegian ahead in the finish.

Hugo Lapalus, France

One of several strong French contenders. But they are very much playing away from home against the Norwegian stars here. It will not be easy to get in the mix for the medals.

Mika Vermeulen, Austria

The Austrian living in Norway has showed himself this winter and he has proved that it is possible to follow the Norwegians. He can be in the leading group for a long time, but a medal feels like a surprise if he should make it.

STARTLIST

The start list can be found HERE

The 2025 World Championships continues this Saturday in Trondheim, Norway. Here is the complete competition program, with the start list and start time for the 20km skiathlon.

Saturday, March 1 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Men
• 12:30 CET: Sprint Finals Freestyle, Men

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

Thursday, March 6 (More information HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Men

Friday, March 7 (More information HERE)

• 14:00 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.