The world’s biggest bike ride starts on Saturday, July 5 and lasts for three weeks. The NM winner has no stated goal for the Tour de France, but hopes he can improve the 22nd place from 2022.
NM gold: Andreas Leknessund was cheerfully happy after winning his first NM gold in road cycling.
Photo: Arvid Holmlund
– It went well at that time and the shape is good, so I’m optimistic. The body worked well along the NM as well. The trail was suitably hard and I felt that I had the power when the shock was to be put in seven kilometers before the finish.
The audience cheered
Table of Contents
The crowd in the square saw the ride on the big screen and cheered as the leadership of the other riders increased.
Then on TV: The organizer had set up a big screen at Torvet in Hønefoss so the audience could watch the live broadcast on TV.
Photo: Arvid Holmlund
Leknessund, who is originally from Tromsø, helped to characterize the NM-Rittet father Start to the finish. He joined a group of six men early on who mostly had two minutes and 40 seconds in the main field.
– We were run in, but I still joined and took my part of the job in the field. It was important to keep the speed up to get hooked off the best sprinters.
In the hills seven kilometers, the 26-year-old put in the shock.
– I still had a lot to drive with and put in a long spurt. As we passed the railway station down the slopes for the last time, the lead was 15 seconds and I understood it would be gold. I have two NM titles and a royal trophy from before in temporary, but this was my first royal trophy on the road. Of course, it hangs high. It was great for me to run first over goals at Hønefoss square, says Andreas Leknessund, who has represented Ringerike cycling club since 2016.
But getting the Norwegian champion jersey means most to the rider.
-The royal trophy hangs high, but it is even more to win the NM jersey. I can drive it for a whole year, and I am also allowed to use it in the Tour de France, says Andreas Leknessund.
Autographs: Many people wanted the autograph for NM winner Andreas Leknessund from Ringerike cycling club.
Photo: Arvid Holmlund
After the awards ceremony, many young cycling enthusiasts wanted the autograph for the newly baked Norwegian champion, and the 26-year-old lined up and wrote so the ink sprayed.
Did not have the day
Torstein Træen (29) from Hønefoss and Kevin Messel (20) from Jevnaker was disappointed with his own efforts, for none of them reached the finish. The tree, running for Bahrain Bahrain Victorious, chose to stand before the last five rounds in the Hønefoss area, while Messel from Ringerike Cycling Club was taken out of the race after the first of the five rounds.
– I lay well until we came to Tyristrand. Then I drove down a dump and the chain jumped off. I managed to hook it again while sitting on the bike, but had to not tread and lose a lot of time, says Kevin Messel.
The 20-year-old was sick earlier this week and the NM ride was his first trip on the bike since Tuesday.
NO SUCCESS: Torstein Træen and Kevin Messel were to defend the local colors in the NM, but did not reach on this occasion.
Photo: Arvid Holmlund
– I had a fever and lacked effort. I had nothing to drive with after losing a lot of time because of the chain, says the Jevnaker boy.
Torstein Treen was directly dissatisfied with himself.
– I had rotten bones and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt so bad. This day is just to forget. I had ambitions for something completely different from doing an interview half an hour before the race was finished. Maybe it is the height stay of 2,360 meters in Spanish Sierra Nevada that played me a puss. After getting down into the lowlands after a height stay, the shape swings tremendously from good to lousy. I can safely say that this day comes under the lousy category, says Torstein Træen.
Satisfied Ritty Leader
Birger Hungerholdt and Ringerike cycling club had their 50th anniversary this year and got an all-time birthday celebration.
SATISFIED: Riding leader Birger Hungerholdt was brilliantly pleased with the entire NM event at Hønefoss.
Photo: Arvid Holmlund
– This was a hundred percent full flap with lots of audience and nice roads. In addition, we got a Norwegian champion representing Ringerike cycling club. Our own Johannes Kulset took NM gold in class U23. It is not every day that the organizer gets two masters. We have had great help from our gangs, and I can safely say that this championship tops the NM events from 2019 and 2020, which we both times took over at short notice, says Birger Hungerholdt.
Mie Bjørndal Ottestad won a superb victory in the women’s road rides.
Key Takeaways from the Norwegian National Cycling Championships
The Norwegian National Cycling championships (NM) concluded with several exciting performances and memorable moments. Here’s a fast overview of the key highlights:
| Category | Winner | Club/Team | Notable Achievement/Comment |
|—————–|—————————-|———————–|——————————————————————————————|
| men’s Road Race | Andreas Leknessund | N/A | Secured his first road cycling NM gold, dominating the final stretch. |
| Men’s U23 | Johannes Kulset | Ringerike cycling Club | Claimed gold, contributing to the club’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. |
| Women’s Road Race | Mie Bjørndal Ottestad | N/A | Achieved a superb victory, adding excitement to the Championships.|
| Event Organizer | Birger Hungerholdt | Ringerike Cycling Club | Successfully organized a memorable event, marking the club’s 50th anniversary. |
| Torstein Træen | N/A | N/A | Experienced a rough day of racing due to the altitude. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: where did the Norwegian National Cycling Championships (NM) take place?
A: The NM events were held in Hønefoss, Norway, showcasing the best of Norwegian cycling talent on challenging courses.
Q: Who won the Men’s Road Race at the NM?
A: Andreas Leknessund emerged victorious in the Men’s Road Race, securing his first road cycling NM gold.
Q: What challenges did the cyclists face during the race?
A: cyclists encountered varying terrains, including hills and high altitudes, contributing to the demanding nature of the competition. The weather also played a role and the shape swings tremendously from good to lousy, according to Torstein Træen.
Q: How did the Ringerike Cycling Club perform?
A: Ringerike Cycling Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with a stellar performance. Johannes Kulset from the club clinched the gold medal in the U23 category. The event was a hundred percent full flap with lots of audience and nice roads.
Q: What was the general atmosphere of the event?
A: The event was marked by eager crowds, notably in the square at Hønefoss.
Q: How did the altitude affect the cyclists’ performance?
A: The altitude stay of 2,360 meters in the Spanish Sierra Nevada played a puss for Torstein Træen.
Q: Why is this NM significant for Andreas Leknessund?
A: This was Leknessund’s first NM victory on the road, a significant milestone in his career. This victory is the result of his body’s great work along the NM.
