Who Is The Man That Wants To Keep The Green Sprint Bib With Team Kaffebryggeriet?
“My main goal this season is to go for as many sprint points as possible. I will take over from Stian (Berg). We want to keep the bib in the team,” the newcomer to Team Kaffebryggeriet, Fredrik Helgestad, tells Langrenn.com.
The 24-year-old from Hamar, Norway, came from traditional cross-country skiing and decided to switch to long-distance skiing this year.
“There were several reasons for that choice. I wanted to try something new and change my training. That’s why I saw long-distance skiing as a cool opportunity, which I think will suit my characteristics,” says Helgestad.
Which characteristics are you referring to?
“I have quite good endurance and good speed. In addition, I am best at classic and double poling, so it is a good starting point for long-distance skiing.”
When Helgestad decided to focus on long-distance skiing, he had to find a team. Then Team Kaffebryggeriet became the solution:
“I live in Lillehammer, so I knew several of the guys in Team Kaffebryggeriet from before. I contacted Vetle Thyli. He knew about my qualities, and I was invited to join. I am incredibly grateful for that.”
Team Kaffebryggeriet’s Pro Team Director Vetle Thyli also points to three reasons why they gave Helgestad a chance on the team:
“He is a very good guy who fits well with the team. We have trained together quite a bit at Lillehammer, and I have seen that he has good potential as a double poler. At the same time, when Stian does not choose to fight for the green jersey, it is a natural transition to get Fredrik in there,” says Vetle Thyli.
Changing Roles
In an earlier interview, Stian Berg said that his goal is no longer the sprint bib.
“Overall victory is this year’s goal,” said Berg and continued:
“It is perhaps a bit early to believe that I will win overall this winter. But if you first participate and fight for the podium regularly, then you sign up for the fight for the yellow bib.”
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This season, one of the youngest athletes on the team will be responsible for keeping the sprint bib in the team.
“It’s just that we prioritize the skiers in the team a little differently now. Magnus Vesterheim, Vetle Thyli, and I are going for overall positions, and then we have a new man who takes care of the sprint points,” says Berg.
The Ski Classics season starts in Bad Gastein on December 10-11, and the Hamar skier is excited about his form.
“The start of the season has not been optimal, with two long periods of illness. But I am very excited about the form,” says Helgestad.
Also, teammate and Pro Team Director, Thyli agrees that it may take some time before Helgestad is in its top form, as there have been too many breaks due to illness.
“We see that Fredrik has had many good periods where he has shown that he can withstand a lot of volume and long sessions. At the same time, he has had a little too many periods of illness. There have been some unfortunate circumstances this year, but we see that he has great potential when he is fit,” says Thyli.
“I see this as a long-term project. With time, I hope to be able to establish myself at the top,” says Helgestad.
Also Read: Team Kaffebryggeriet Has Signed With A Former Top Athlete
Although long-distance skiing will be the focus this season, Helgestad will participate in the season premiere at Beitostølen next weekend. The plan is to start in the sprint and 10km classic.
“I probably can’t count on being in very good shape before Christmas, but we have seen before that several long-distance skiers have asserted themselves well at Beito.”
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After Beitostølen, Team Kaffebryggeriet travels to the altitude to prepare for the season start in Ski Classics.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)
- Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
- Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
- Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 40km
- Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
- Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 30km
- Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km
- Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
- Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
- Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
- Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
- Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
- Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
- Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km
More info about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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