Pre-competition facts Oslo
Mar 05, 2019·Cross-Country
Saturday, 9th March 2019
Pre-competition facts men’s 50km C
Alexander Bolshunov
Alexander Bolshunov is hoping to become the third athlete from Russia (incl. as Soviet Union) to win the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event after Alexander Legkov (2013) and Alexei Prokurorov (1993, 1998).
Bolshunov, 22 years and 68 days old on the day of this event, can become the youngest winner of the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event. Pietro Piller Cottrer, who was 22 years and 85 days old when he triumphed in 1997, currently holds the record.
Bolshunov has claimed six podium finishes in individual distance events this World Cup season, at least three more than any other athlete.
Bolshunov (3) can become the second athlete from Russia (incl. as Soviet Union) to claim more than three World Cup victories (all events, including Tour stages and overall Tour wins) in a single season after Sergey Ustiugov in 2016/17 (7).
Sjur Røthe
Sjur Røthe has won a season-high three men's distance events this World Cup campaign. Last term, Dario Cologna won a season-high four distance World Cup races.
Røthe, who won the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event in 2015, can become third athlete from Norway with two 50km World Cup victories in Oslo after Vegard Ulvang (1989, 1991) and Martin Johnsrud Sundby (2016, 2017).
Røthe's win in 2015 came in the freestyle. Røthe can now become the first ever athlete to win the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event in both the classic and freestyle.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby
Martin Johnsrud Sundby won the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event in 2016 and 2017 (both in the classic style) and can now become the first male athlete to win three 50km World Cup races in Oslo.
Sundby has finished on the podium in each of the last seven 50km World Cup events in Oslo. The last time Sundby failed to claim a top-three finish in the Holmenkollen event was in 2010 (did not finish).
Sundby's seven top-three finishes in the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event are at least four more than any other male athlete (8 athletes with 3).
Sundby has won 22 individual distance World Cup races and needs one more win to join Petter Northug (23) in fourth place on the all-time list among men.
Other contenders
Iivo Niskanen is hoping to become the third athlete from Finland to win the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event after Harri Kirvesniemi (2000) and Asko Autio (1983).
Hans Christer Holund claimed the world title in the 50km freestyle last week. Holund can become the second athlete to win both the 50km event at the world championships and the Holmenkollen 50km World Cup race in one single year after Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset in 2007. Holund can become the first to claim the double in the two different styles (classic and free).
Maurice Manificat can become the second athlete from France to reach the podium in a Holmenkollen 50km World Cup event after Vincent Vittoz in 2010 (3rd in freestyle).
Sunday 10th March 2019
Pre-competition facts ladies 30km C
Therese Johaug
Therese Johaug won the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup race in 2016 (classic style) and 2013 (freestyle) and can now become the fourth athlete with more than two 30km World Cup wins in Oslo after Marit Bjørgen (7), Larissa Lazutina (3) and Julija Tchepalova (3).
Johaug has finished on the podium in each of her last six Holmenkollen 30km World Cup appearances, since a fourth-place finish on her debut in 2008 (freestyle).
Johaug claimed the world title in the 30km freestyle last week. Johaug can become the second woman to win both the 30km event at the world championships and the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup race in one single year after Bjørgen in 2017 and 2005. In 2017, Bjørgen managed to claim the double in the two different styles (classic and free).
Johaug has won all seven individual distance World Cup races in which she participated this season.
Johaug is on 44 career individual distance World Cup victories, joint-second most all-time on the women's side along with Elena Välbe (44). Bjørgen has won a record 62 individual distance World Cup events.
Johaug has finished in the top-two in 17 of her last 18 individual distance World Cup appearances, with the only exception in that run a sixth-place finish in the 10km free in Canmore (Ski Tour Canada) on 11 March 2016.
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg is aiming for her second podium finish in the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup event after a second place in 2016 (classic style).
Only Therese Johaug (7) has won more individual distance World Cup races this season than Østberg (4).
Østberg could win five individual distance races in a single World Cup season for the first time in her career. Last season, she won a total of four distance races.
Østberg has yet to claim an individual distance World Cup victory on home snow.
Other contenders
Natalia Nepryaeva can become the fifth woman from Russia to win the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup event and the first since Julija Tchepalova in 2006 (freestyle).
Nepryaeva will be 23 years and 185 days old on the day of this event and can become the third youngest winner of the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup race after Tchepalova (22-087) in 1999 and Marjo Matikainen (23-045) in 1988.
Krista Pärmäkoski can become the third athlete from Finland to win the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup event after Matikainen in 1988 (classic) and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen in 2007 (classic).
Ebba Andersson is hoping to hand Sweden its second podium finish in a 30km World Cup race in Oslo. In 2008, Charlotte Kalla finished in second place in the 30km free.
Nepryaeva, Pärmäkoski and Andersson are all hoping to become the first non-Norwegian winner of the Holmenkollen 30km World Cup race since Valentina Shevchenko in 2008.
Norway has won each of the last 15 ladies' 30km races in the World Cup, Olympic Games and world championships combined (classic and freestyle) since Justyna Kowalczyk's victory in the 30km classic at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.
The last non-Norwegian winner of a ladies' 30km World Cup race was Petra Majdic in Trondheim on 14 March 2009 (classic style).
