Norway's Klaebo wins opening race at Milan Cortina, grabbing sixth gold medal in skiathlon

TESERO, Italy (AP) — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo used a trademark burst of speed late in the race to pull away for a sixth Olympic gold by winning the men's skiathlon Sunday at the Milan Cortina Games.

His latest win puts the 29-year-old Norwegian just two gold medals away from equaling the Winter Olympic record, and he still has five more chances to add to his haul in Italy.

Klaebo was in the lead pack throughout and then shifted into another gear just before coming into the stadium for the final time, quickly leaving his four remaining rivals in his wake. He could cruise to the line after that to finish in a time of 46 minutes, 11 seconds, ahead of Mathis Desloges of France and Norwegian teammate Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, who were 2.0 seconds and 2.1 seconds behind.

Desloges escaped disqualification earlier in the race after skiing through the cones to cut a corner. Judges cleared him after reviewing the incident.

After leaving the rest of the pack behind, Klaebo eased up in the final meters and waved to the crowd and traveling Norway supporters before crossing the finish line at the Tesero cross-country stadium in northern Italy.

He carries the massive expectations of his cross-country mad home nation at these games after a clean sweep of all six events at last year's world championships.

“(There were) a lot of nerves before this race. And I really felt like I wanted to do well here," Klaebo said. "And my body feels good. We had good skis. And it was an amazing day.”

Klaebo won three golds at the 2018 Olympics and added two more four years ago in Beijing, but all five came in either sprint of relay events.

“It’s my first (gold) on distance race so it for sure means a lot,” he said. “I just wanted to try to stay in the pack and have some energy left for the last uphill.”

Three other Norwegians, Marit Bjoergen, Bjoern Daehlie (both cross-country skiing) and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (biathlon) share the Winter Olympic record of eight golds.

Race challengers Edvin Anger of Sweden and Norway's Harald Oestberg Amundsen suffered falls on the icy course.

Klaebo entered as the clear favorite in the 20 kilometer skiathlon, which splits the race between classic and freestyle techniques, with athletes switching skis midway. This year marks the first Olympic Games where both men and women race an equal 20 kilometer distance, with men reducing the distance from 30 kilometers. Sweden's Friday Karlsson won the women's race on Saturday. Nyenget made the podium despite taking a knock from Savelli Korostelev of Russia who finished fourth, 3.6 seconds behind the leader, and later apologized. “I didn’t see him. I was a little surprised about it. I’m so sorry,” said Korostelev, who is competing as an independent due to a team ban on Russia.

On a good day for France, outsider Hugo Lapalus place fifth, 4.3 seconds behind the winner. Nyenget, who led the pack at the front for much of the race, said he felt great to to recover from the collision. “It’s tough to latch back onto a group of the world’s best skiers. On the plus side, I felt really strong today,” he said. “I’m a little relieved to get a medal. The course was rock hard and a little icy," Nyenget said, adding that there wasn't much to do about his star teammate.

“He’s pretty good at skiing,” he said.

——

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, poses after winning the gold medal in the cross country skiing men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, poses after winning the gold medal in the cross country skiing men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, approaches the finish line to win the gold medal in the cross country skiing men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, and Harald Oestberg Amundsen, also of Norway, right, compete in the cross country skiing men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, and Harald Oestberg Amundsen, also of Norway, left, compete in during the cross country skiing men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, competes in the cross country skiing men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta is bracing to host World Cup fans from around the globe and has something for everyone to enjoy. Visitors should prepare for June and July temperatures averaging nearly 90 degrees, but the city known for its sports culture and Southern hospitality is ready to host one of the world’s largest sporting events.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, renamed Atlanta Stadium in accordance with FIFA regulations, will host eight matches, starting with group-stage matches in mid-June and ending with a semifinal match on July 15.

Piedmont Park is known as the “Central Park of the South." Located in midtown, the park boasts nearly 200 acres of green space, walking trails, recreational sport facilities and a lake with a fishing dock.

Ponce City Market is a must-visit for shopping and restaurants ranging from Italian to Michelin-recognized Indian street food. There are several options for fans looking to escape the heat, including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, College Football Hall of Fame, Center for Human and Civil Rights, the King Center and High Museum of Art.

The “404” is known for its lemon pepper wings, and in a sea of great options, The Local is a fan favorite. Wings sell out early at this dine-in only spot, so be sure to arrive around the 5 p.m. opening. It’s not a trip to the South without some good barbecue, either. Fox Bros Barbecue and Sweet Auburn are both within 20 minutes of the stadium — traffic permitting.

Centennial Olympic Park, constructed for the 1996 Olympic games, will host the FIFA Fan Festival from June 11 to July 19. The free event will feature live match broadcasts, concerts, local food vendors, interactive games and cultural programming.

Atlanta has a reputation for traffic — and with good reason. The city is also home to MARTA, the nation’s ninth-largest public transit system, which offers bus, rail and paratransit services. The SEC District Station drops passengers within a short walk of the stadium.

The Benz, as local fans know it, is no stranger to hosting soccer matches. Opened in 2017, it is the home of Atlanta United of MLS and the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. The stadium can accommodate up to 75,000 people with expanded seating for special events. The Benz has hosted several major sporting events, including Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - The Mercedes Benz stadium and Atlanta skyline is seen, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart,File)

FILE - A general view of Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik,File)

FILE - People play in the fountains shaped by the Olympic rings at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, July 22, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

FILE - General view of Mercedes-Benz Stadium before an MLS soccer match between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers Sunday, June 24, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga. (AP Photo/Brett Davis, File)

FILE - Georgia Aquarium visitors watch as participants in the Wounded Warrior Project swim in the background, May 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)