Jorgen Nordhagen, the Norwegian, who just celebrated his 19th birthday on January 10th, is a truly unique athlete. Nordhagen demonstrates an incredible talent for sport, excelling in two disciplines: Cross-Country Skiing and Cycling.
Impressive results in Cross-Country Skiing and Cycling
In January 2023, he achieved an early 8th place at the Norwegian Cross-Country Ski Championships in the Elite category, a monumental achievement.
A few months later, surprisingly, he achieved victories in the main races of the under-19 cycling circuit, including the Eroica Juniores (where he won 2 of the 3 events) and the Course de la Paix Juniors. His exceptional potential led him to sign a contract with Visma-Lease a Bike.
Results come even without exclusive dedication
Nordhagen only dedicates 50% of his year to cycling, as he still competes in Cross-Country Skiing throughout the winter. However, the Norwegian prodigy is faced with the crucial decision to end his cross-country career in order to focus exclusively on cycling.
According to information from the Norwegian channel TV2, Nordhagen plans to end his cross-country skiing career after the World Championships, which will take place in early February.
Choose Cycling
“I chose my sport. It will be rewarding to participate in the races and know that I did my best to achieve my best in cycling”, says Nordhagen. He reveals that the opportunity to ride with Visma-Lease a Bike made him realize that his career in Cross-Country Skiing was coming to an end. “I wanted to deliver an outstanding performance on the world stage before calling it quits for good.”
Norwegian ski coach does not hide his disappointment
In the country where cross-country skiing is the dominant sport, Nordhagen’s departure is met with great disappointment. “We would all like to keep him with us, but in terms of salary, we don’t have the ability to compete,” explains Eirik Myhr Nossum, the national coach.