Evensen wins in Drammen after Klaebo crashes, Kollerud makes podium on World Cup debut

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) again grabbed the cross-country skiing headlines on Thursday but for once it was not because he finished on top of the podium.

The sport’s undisputed GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) was expected to dominate the World Cup Sprint Classic on the street course where he has won five times before. Instead he was left with a sore head after crashing out in the first men’s semi-final following a clash with Ben Ogden (USA), the man who finished second to Klaebo in the men’s sprint at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Coming round a fast right-hand corner on a deceptively difficult Drammen course that was made even more tricky as the snow melted in damp conditions, Olympic silver medallist Ogden caught the front of Norwegian Aron Aakre Rysstad’s skis, causing the American to fall across the front of Klaebo, who is normally so good at staying out of trouble.

The home crowd fell into stunned silence as Klaebo’s head bounced off the snow, but applauded when he got to his feet soon after and walked carefully off the course assisted by medical staff.

Alvar Myhlback (SWE), whose double-poling prowess might have also put him in contention for a podium place, also fell, leaving Anton Grahn (SWE) and Jiri TUZ (CZE) a clear run to the final.

Tuz took full advantage. The 21-year-old claimed second place in the final after an exciting finish in which five of the six racers were in contention for a medal. Grahn (SWE), just three weeks older than the Czech racer, was the odd man out after falling at the final corner.

Jules Chappaz (FRA), who normally favours a sprint finish, instead went out hard, choosing to stay out of trouble. Kollerud (SWE) from Drammen, first World Cup ever, made an early break for it followed by Grahn, compatriot Amundsen.

Ansgar Evensen (NOR, pictured), a relative veteran at 25, eventually took the first victory of his World Cup career after three previous individual podiums, finishing 0.31s ahead of Tuz – who edged out Kristian Kollerud (NOR), another 21-year-old, by three hundredths of a second – to take his first World Cup podium.

The Drammen-born Kollerud, in his very first World Cup outing, did not seem to mind one bit about finishing third after making most of the running in the final. He celebrated with his home crowd as if he had won Olympic gold, while the man who did, Klaebo, was left nursing his wounds.

The race’s heavyweights, Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR) and Jules Chappaz (FRA) had to settle for fourth and fifth respectively.

“I felt like I had a good position up the first hill but I wish that I had been a bit better positioned. When Anton (Grahn) fell on the last corner, I felt like I had every opportunity, so I took it from fifth place to first.

“I had to change boots to my combi boots because I felt so off-balance in the quarter-final but that’s how it is – you have to stay on your feet to win and unfortunately for Johannes, (the course) was not stable today. I hope he’s ok.”

Klaebo is still the runaway leader in the Overall World Cup standings.

For the full World Cup standings, click here.

The 2025/26 FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup season continues in Oslo on Saturday with the return of the iconic Holmenkollen 50km for men and women.