By Teemu Virtanen

Team Koteng, the pro team that managed to get a triple victory in Vasaloppet, has fortified their ranks by getting three new recruitments. Andrew Musgrave, 29, from the UK is racing with the team’s yellow suit, and he is a familiar face in the World Cup circuit and at the World Championships in Seefeld where he managed to be in the top 10 in three events; 50 km freestyle 8^th, 15 classic 8^th and skiathlon 7^th.

In addition to Musgrave, Team Koteng is giving a chance for two young athletes, Erik Valnes and Tiril Udnes Weng, to try their wings on the hardest long distance course in the pro tour. Both of these skiers are 22 years old and they have performed really well in the youth and adult competitions this winter.

Valnes won the sprint competition at the U23 World Championships in Lahti in January, and this weekend he finished 7^th in the 50 km National Championships in Norway. Weng also participated in the Junior World Championships earlier this season and finished 2^nd in the sprint competition and 3^rd in the 10 km freestyle race. She has also performed well in some of the World Cup sprint competitions and in Falun she was 20^th in the 10 km freestyle World Cup race.

Team Koteng’s Chris Andre Jespersen was 2^nd in the last year’s Reistadløpet, and he is among the male favorites this year as well. In the women’s race, last year’s winner Masako Ishida and Astird Øyre Slind, 3^rd in 2018, are also strong candidates for the podium this Saturday.