May 3, 2014 (Norway) – The Norwegian Cross-Country Committee has selected 25 athletes for three national Cross-Country teams. There are 11 athletes in the ladies’ team, eight in the men’s saquad and six athletes in the men’s sprint national group.

Norwegian Team © NordicFocus

A few skiers have changed their focus after last winter.  Pål Golberg is switching from sprint national team to the all-round squad, whereas  Finn Hågen Krogh is going the opposite way. Simen Østensen comes back to the all-round  team, also Chris Jespersen is back in the national team after several years out.

Martine Ek Hagen © NordicFocus

Simen Andreas Sveen and Didrik Tønseth are the new faces on the all-round team,  Sondre Turvoll Fossli makes his debut on the sprint team. Ladies’ team will be joined by Kathrine Harsem and Martine Ek Hagen who get a chance on the women’s elite team.

“We want to signal a direction towards the next Olympics. This is not a generation change, but we have a young athletes in different teams. Preparation for the next winter is going to be similar as before with less high altitude training,” head coach Vidar Løfshus explains.

Vibeke Skofterud, Oystein Pettersen, Petter Eliassen, Niklas Dyrhaug and Tord Asle Gjerdalen are going to leave the national system for the season 2014/2015.

National Teams

Ladies
– Celine Brun-Lie, Njård
– Marit Bjørgen, Rognes IL
– Maiken Caspersen Falla, Gjerdrum IL
– Martine Ek Hagen, IL BUL
– Kathrine Harsem, IL Varden
– Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, IL Heming
– Therese Johaug, IL Nansen
– Marthe Kristoffersen, IL Varden
– Kristin Størmer Steira, IL Forsøk
– Heidi Weng, IL BUL
– Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, Gjøvik Skiklubb

Coaches: Egil Kristiansen and Roar Hjelmset

Men – Allround  

– Pål Golberg, Gol IL
– Chris Jespersen, IL Korlevoll
– Eldar Rønning, Skogn IL
– Sjur Røthe, Voss IL
– Simen Andreas Sveen, Ring IL
– Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Røa IL
– Didrik Tønseth, Byåsen IL
– Simen Østensen, Fossum IF

Coaches: Trond Nystad og Steinar Mundal

Men – Sprint
– Eirik Brandsdal, Kjelsås IL
– Sondre Turvoll Fossli, Hokksund IL
– Anders Gløersen, Rustad IL
– Ola Vigen Hattestad, Ørje IL
– Finn Hågen Krogh, Tverrelvdal IL
– Tomas Northug, Strindheim IL

Coach: Arild Monsen

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