This Norwegian Pro Team has a successful and long history, and now one of the most popular cross-country skiers of all time, Martin Johnsrud Sundby, joins the gang.
Sundby, of course, has merits that do not pale in comparison to anyone as he is a five-time Olympic medalist, two gold, a nine-time World Championship medalist, four gold, and a six-time World Cup Champion title holder, three in overall and three in distance. Additonally, he won Birkebeinerrennet in 2017.
Chris Andre Jespersen had his glory day on the tracks of La Diagonela in 2020 when he finally won a Pro Tour stage. Last season, he finished only two races, of which Jizerska Padesatka’s 46th place was his best result.
Torleif Syrstad is an experienced Vasaloppet skier with his two consecutive third places in 2019 and 2020. His greatest performance in Season XI was the last race, Årefjällsloppet, where he had seven fellow skiers ahead of him at the finish.
The twin sisters, Astrid and Silje Øyre Slind, are strong point chasers, and Astrid has overcome her troubles, and her superior performance in the 55-kilometer roller-ski race at Toppidrettsveka in Norway proved that she is back with a vengeance. She has gotten 21 podium places in the Pro Tour so far, of which five were stage wins. Her sister Silje seems to be in good shape as well since she won Totenrullen, a roller-ski Challengers event, this summer, and she finished 4th at Marcialonga in 2018 and collected several World Cup points over the years.
The team directors Bernard Rønning and Tore Bjørseth Berdal, a Marcialonga and Vasaloppet winner, say in unison that this merged team aims high in Season XII.
“As a team our ambition is to fight for the win in the overall team competition, as well as the yellow bib for both men and women at the end of the season. Our main focus has always been and will also, this year, be to succeed in the three big classics.”
Pro Team director: Bernhard Rønning/Tore Bjørseth Berdal
Country: Norway
Ranking: 5.
Athletes: http://www.vismaskiclassics.com/pro-skiing/pro-teams/team-koteng-eidissen/
Martin Johnsrud Sundby NOR M 26.09.1984
Chris Andre Jespersen NOR M 18.10.1983
Torleif Syrstad NOR M 11.04.1994
Astrid Øyre Slind NOR M 09.02.1988
Silje Øyre Slind NOR M 09.02.1988