Holmenkollen Women’s 50km Mass Start Freestyle – Preview

On Sunday, March 12, 2023, the women’s World Cup will witness the first individual 50km event. This event will take place as part of the Holmenkollen Ski Festival, held almost annually since 1892. The men’s World Cup has included this event since the first World Cup season in 1981/82.

Interestingly, only two longer individual events have been staged in the women’s World Cup. These include the 58km in the classic style in Rena-Lillehammer in March 2002 (won by Anita Moen) and the 70km in the classic style in Marcialonga in January 2004 (won by Gabriella Paruzzi).

Kerttu Niskanen, who enjoys a 67-point lead in the distance World Cup standings, will be one to watch out for. She recorded four podium finishes in individual World Cup distance events this season (all in classic style), including a win in Beitostølen on December 10. Niskanen has recorded 11 of her 13 podium finishes in World Cup distance events in the classic style. The exceptions were third place in the skiathlon in the World Cup Final in Falun on March 15, 2014, and in the 9km pursuit in the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme in January 2017.

Jessica Diggins, who has won the most individual World Cup freestyle distance events among active female cross-country skiers, with Ingvild Flugstad Østberg following closely with eight wins, will be another one to watch out for. Since December 2020, women representing the United States have won seven of the 19 World Cup distance freestyle events, more than women from any other country. Sweden (6) and Norway (5) follow.

Heidi Weng, who has finished on the podium of an individual World Cup distance event 75 times, but only nine of those were victories, will be hoping to improve on her record. Her last win was the 10km freestyle in Val di Fiemme on January 4, 2022, the final stage of the Tour de Ski. Tiril Udnes Weng has the most top-10 finishes in individual women’s World Cup distance events this season. Niskanen and Diggins follow closely with ten top-10 distance finishes this World Cup campaign.

None of the active Norwegian female cross-country skiers have ever won an individual World Cup distance event on Norwegian snow. The last female Norwegian cross-country skier to win an individual World Cup distance event on Norwegian snow was Therese Johaug in the 30km classic style in Oslo on March 5, 2022. That event counts as the predecessor of this year’s 50km event.

Earlier today, the Swedish Ski Association informed that Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson had mild cold symptoms and will not start tomorrow. 

Andersson has been in excellent form this season, winning each of the last three women’s individual distance events in the World Cup. She became the first Swedish woman to win three successive individual World Cup distance events. 

Karlsson, conversely, has claimed more podium finishes in individual World Cup distance events this season than any other woman, winning two freestyle distance events this season: 20km pursuits in Ruka on November 27 and in Oberstdorf on January 4 (Tour de Ski). Both Swedish skiers would be strong contenders, but now they are out of the history books for this historic race.

Final Thoughts

The women’s 50km freestyle event at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival promises to be a thrilling race, with top skiers from around the World competing for the title. With strong contenders like Kerttu Niskanen, Jessica Diggins, and Heidi Weng, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. The event will be significant in women’s World Cup history as the first 50km event.

Holmenkollen, Norway, is the place for this weekend’s cross-country skiing World Cup. The event began on Saturday, March 11, with a 50km race in freestyle technique for the men, and on Sunday, March 12, the World Cup weekend ends with a mass start race in freestyle technique over the same distance for the women. 

Sunday, March 12: 50km Mass Start F (Find more details here)

• 10:15 CET: 50km Mass Start F, Women

Women’s Start List

See below the complete program with facts, start lists, and results for the World Cup in Holmenkollen.

FACTS Holmenkollen World Cup Season 2022/2023

• When: Saturday, March 11 to Sunday, March 12
• Who: Elite national skiers
• Where: Holmenkollen, Norway
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Holmenkollen, Norway

PROGRAM

Saturday, March 11: 50km Mass Start F (Find more details here)

• 10:30 CET: 50km Mass Start F, Men

Sunday, March 12: 50km Mass Start F (Find more details here)

• 10:15 CET: 50km Mass Start F, Women

New this season is the same race distances for women and men in all World Cup events, as the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) decided in May. Several other changes have also been introduced to the World Cup.

Read More: Cross-Country Skiing Changes And World Cup Calendar For The 2022/2023 Season

Also Read: New Distances At The Cross-Country Skiing World Cup