Didrik Tönseth is a highly profiled skier.

The Norwegian has two World Cup golds, one Olympic gold, all in relay, and several individual podium places in the World Cup.

This year's big goal was to go to the Olympics in Beijing, but that did not happen.

With a sixth place as the best during this year's VC season, he was left out of the Norwegian Olympic team.

Now Tönseth instead chooses to test the capacity in the long-distance world cup, which SVT broadcasts.

The Olympic and World Cup medalist joins the Swedish team Team Engcon, with Jerry Ahrlin - with several podium places in the Vasaloppet - at the helm.

- The plan is to go to La Diagonela this weekend and then Marcialonga January 30, and Jizerska February 13, Tönseth tells Langrenn.com.

The Norwegian admits that he did not train anything specific before the competitions in Visma Ski Classics.

- No, it has not been enough with stake training.

We will see how far you get with high oxygen uptake and courage.

After seeing two back races won on shiny skis lately, there is at least no alternative to riding with a mount, he tells Langrenn.com.

Tönseth announced already in the autumn that he would drive for Team Engcon, but was clear that the Olympics were the big goal.

In Team Engcon, he will be a teammate with, among others, Oskar Svensson, Jens Burman and Jenny Solin, who will compete for the team when they have the opportunity to ride the long-distance cup.

SVT Sport broadcasts La Diagonela on Saturday, the 55-kilometer race in classic technology in Engadin, Switzerland.

CLIP: Here Johansson Norgren wins La Venosta (January 15, 2022)

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Britta Johansson Norgren.

Photo: Visma Ski Classics / Magnus Östh