The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics delivered thrilling moments in cross-country skiing, with Norway dominating the medal tally by securing seven golds, largely thanks to superstar Johannes Hosflot Klaebo who claimed an unprecedented six individual and team victories. Amid the fierce competition at the Fabio Canal Cross Country and Biathlon Center in Tesero, Italy, several unexpected outcomes in lyjnye gонки events led to massive payouts for savvy bettors who wagered on underdogs. These races, held from February 7 to 22, featured classic and freestyle techniques across distances like skiathlons, sprints, relays, and grueling 50-kilometer mass starts, drawing global attention and sparking a betting frenzy.
In the midst of this excitement, one memorable story emerged when a fortunate punter turned a modest stake into a life-changing sum by backing an American breakthrough in men's sprint, reminiscent of the high-stakes thrills found at Spinobon amid the Olympic fervor.
Underdog Triumph in Mens Sprint Classic
On February 10, the men's sprint classic turned into a shocker when American Ben Ogden clinched silver, ending a 50-year medal drought for US men in cross-country skiing. Ogden, a 25-year-old from Vermont known for his gritty training in the Green Mountains, started as a longshot with odds around 80 to 1 for a podium finish. The race unfolded on a demanding 1.5-kilometer course with steep climbs and fast descents, where favorites like Klaebo powered through qualifiers.
Klaebo, the Norwegian phenom born in 1996, dominated heats and finals to take gold in 3:12.45, showcasing his explosive speed honed from years on the World Cup circuit. Yet Ogden's tactical positioning in the semifinal allowed him to surge past Sweden's William Poromaa in the final straight, securing second place by a mere 0.3 seconds. One bettor reportedly placed $200 on Ogden medaling, walking away with over $16,000 as the upset defied expectations of another Norwegian sweep.
French Surprise in Men's 20km Skiathlon
The men's 20km skiathlon on February 8 saw French skier Mathis Desloges, a 24-year-old from the Jura Mountains, grab silver in a field stacked with Scandinavian powerhouses. Desloges, who transitioned from biathlon to pure cross-country in 2023, entered with odds of 50 to 1 for any medal, given his inconsistent prior seasons. The event combined 10km classic followed by 10km freestyle, testing versatility on Teseros rolling terrain under crisp alpine conditions.
Klaebo again prevailed for gold in 46:11.0, breaking away in the freestyle leg with his signature double-poling efficiency. Desloges, however, stayed in the lead pack during the classic portion, then unleashed a fierce attack in the final kilometers to edge out Norway's Martin Loewstroem Nyenget for second by 2.7 seconds. A documented win involved a $500 bet on Desloges podium, yielding $25,000 and highlighting how his strategic wax changes and endurance training paid off against the odds.
Swiss Bronze Upset in Women's 50km Mass Start
February 22 brought the women's 50km mass start classic, a brutal endurance test where Swiss athlete Nadja Kaelin stunned with bronze. Kaelin, 25 from Engelberg, was pegged at 100 to 1 odds for a medal, overshadowed by Norwegian and Swedish favorites. The race, the Olympics longest for women, traversed 50 kilometers of classic tracks with elevation gains exceeding 1,000 meters, amid light snowfall that favored strong technicians.
Sweden's Ebba Andersson claimed gold in 2:18:45.6, pulling ahead in the final 10km after a relay mishap earlier in the Games motivated her redemption. Norway's Heidi Weng took silver, but Kaelin's late surge passed Finlands Kerttu Niskanen, finishing 12.4 seconds behind Weng. One notable payout saw a $100 wager on Kaelin medaling return $10,000, celebrating her breakthrough from World Cup top-10s to Olympic glory.
American Relay Resilience Yields Huge Returns
In the men's 4x7.5km relay on February 15, the United States team earned silver, another improbable feat with pre-race odds of 40 to 1. The squad, featuring Ogden, Gus Schumacher, Scott Patterson, and JC Schoonmaker, all in their mid-20s and hailing from Alaska and the Rockies, capitalized on a Norwegian lead to hold off France. The relay format alternated classic and freestyle legs, covering 30km total on Teseros looped course. Norway, anchored by Klaebo, won gold in 1:12:34.2, extending their dynasty. The Americans, starting strong with Schumacher's explosive first leg, maintained pace through transitions, finishing 18.7 seconds back. A bettor who staked $1,000 on US silver collected $40,000, reflecting the team's cohesive strategy and training at high-altitude camps.
Swedish Redemption in Womens 50km
Ebba Andersson's gold in the women's 50km mass start on February 22 was a slight upset, with odds of 15 to 1 amid Norway's expected dominance. Andersson, 28 from Solleftea, Sweden, had crashed in the relay days prior, costing her team gold, but channeled that into a commanding performance. The mass start saw 60 skiers battle over classic tracks, with Andersson breaking away at the 40km mark using superior glide. She finished in 2:18:45.6, ahead of Weng by 8.2 seconds, while Kaelin took bronze. One large win involved a $2,000 bet on Andersson victory, paying out $30,000 and capturing the drama of her comeback.