Monday. 02.12.2024

The Nordic skiing world championships conclude later with the men's 50-kilometres cross-country marathon where Russia's Alexander Bolshunov and Iivo Niskanen of Finland are among those challenging superpower Norway.

The race is classic style and Niskanen won the last big race in this style at the 2018 Olympics, while the 2019 world title in a freestyle race went to Norway's Hans Christer Holund ahead of Bolshunov.

Holund will be fired up again having already won 15km and relay gold in Oberstdorf, and it is not out of the question that sprint, team sprint and relay winner Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo will want to prove his class in the longest distance as well.

The Norwegian strike force also includes Olympic skiathlon champion Simen Hegstad Kruger as well as relay winners Paal Golberg and Emil Iversen.

World Cup leader Bolshunov ended his major title drought in impressive fashion in the skiathlon where he beat five Norwegians but was beaten again by them in all other races. Having competed in all five previous races it is not clear if he has enough energy left in the tank.

Niskanen, Bolshunov and others to challenge Norway in worlds finale