It’s hard to believe that we are already looking ahead towards the next set of winter sports world cups. Opening stages of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup begin late this November in Ruka, Finland, and finally, in March, we’ll see the Finals over in Beijing, China.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby
At this point, the early favorite as the overall winner is Sundby at 24/13 or +185 at GTBets, read their review. The Norwegian is at the top of the list for good reason. As a 2010 Winter Olympics team relay silver medalist and a Bronze Medalist in the 2014 Winter Olympics Skiathlon. In 2018, he got a Gold Medal for the 4x10K relay with Team Norway, so we have a true veteran and world champion who at 35-years-old, still has plenty left in the tank.
Sundby has been taking it easy on competitions so far this year. Although he did attend the Ski Tour, a rarity for him. And he scored a DNF. that said, his 74 career individual podiums and 18 team podiums cannot be argued with. This guys might just win one more overall World Cup.
Dario Cologna
Second, on the odds-boards is Dario Cologna. The Swiss skier has four Olympic Gold Medals, four World Cup victories overall, and a World Championships Gold Medal as well. At 2/1 odds, or +200 He’s worth a punt.
Dario Colgna’s last outing was the Ski Tour 2020 in which he placed 10th. Before that, he placed 7th at the Tour de Ski after a Did-Not-Finish result at the Nordic Open. IN 2019, he placed 12th in the World Cup Final, but he took the Bronze, and in the 15K Individual just two short years ago, he took the Bronze Medal in the overall standings.
Finn Haagen Krogh
Finn has competed in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup since 2011. Finn Krogh is 7/1 to win, and although he hasn’t placed in the World Cup Finals in two years and came in 70th back in 2017, the oddsmakers are giving him +700 to the in the overall standings. This is probably because if his performance in team events over the last few years. He came in first place in the 4×7.5k relay 4 years running and then third place last year. Prior to that, his team got the Gold in the 4X10K in 2011 and Silver in the 4×7.5K in 2013-14 and 2015. So, 8 years of relay and podiums. And the only thing consistent on the team is Finn Haagen Krogh. Each year different teammates have rotated in and out, but Krogh has been a constant fixture.
If you are nervous about taking him to win overall, you should feel comfortable taking a punt on him to podium in the 4X7.5.
All in all, I am going with the value. I think it could finally be Finn’s year to get the overall Gold. And there is plenty of value at +700. I will take that bet with a sidecar of Petter Northug to make a comeback at +300. Then I’ll hedge it all with a spot on Martin Sundby at +185. If he wins, I’ll only be down 15 dollars.