In just a few days I am staging up for another gravel season, and I am eager to get started.
I’ve also got some big news: my wife Hanna and I are expecting a baby. The due date is in July, and I couldn’t be more excited to become a father. While I know life is about to change in a big way, I’m equally motivated to find the right balance between being there for my family and continuing to compete at the highest level in gravel.
Due to the circumstances, I haven’t traveled to a warmer climate this winter and have instead stayed home in Oslo. Yes, it’s been harsh, and yes, I’ve missed my usual weeks in Spain. At the same time, I think the training plan mapped out together with 101percent Training has been really solid. We’ve done a lot of gym work, heat training, and regular longer rides outdoors. The volume hasn’t been crazy, but the quality of the sessions has been very good.
I mentioned heat training—yes, I’ve jumped on the trend of riding indoors layered up in winter clothes, trying to push my core temperature above 38°C. The goal is to improve oxygen transport through increased blood volume and sweat rate. It’s still hard to say whether it’s made a measurable difference, but I’ve been feeling stronger this winter than I can remember at this point in previous seasons.
I’ve also done more core work and gym sessions, which I believe will carry over to the bike—helping me produce more power and force.
As I’m writing this, I’m on my way to Belgium for my first race of the season: a UCI World Series race in Turnhout. I did the race last year and placed a quiet 50th. I’m often a slow starter to the season, so I need a few races to get going—that’s the goal now: build those race legs and, of course, improve on last year.
Next up, I’m hosting my annual DNF GRVL, a 100-mile adventure ride that’s always a great time. Less than a week later, my wife and I head to California, where I’ll race the Sea Otter Gravel race, which I won back in 2023. The race has grown since then and is now part of the Life Time GP, attracting many of the biggest names in gravel from the U.S. and beyond.
In April, we kick off the 101percent Cup—my local crit series that I both host and race.
May starts with Traka 360 as a big goal and wraps up with Unbound 200—my dream race—which will be my fifth time lining up.
Then summer comes, with Unionsrittet as a key event on my calendar, before we expect a few weeks of baby cries and compromised sleep. They say it’s all worth it—and I can’t wait!
In the fall, my main focus will be the UCI races I’m able to attend, with the big goal of qualifying for and racing the Gravel World Championships (Men Elite) in Australia in October.
STAY UPDATED: Schedule 2026 (will be updated during the season)
Along the way, I’ll race several gravel events in Norway, including Nesfjellet Gravelduro. We’re also working on some exciting things for Norwegian gravel—you’ll hear more about that soon.
As you may know, I’m the head of Green Cycling Norway, where we’re bringing cycling into schools. We’ve already started, and together with six other elite riders from different disciplines, we’ll reach more than 7,000 kids this year through around 200 school visits.
So both on and off the bike, the cycling season has officially arrived—and I love it.
And do you remember my Arctic Everesting? I mentioned plans to do an Everesting in Greenland. We really tried to make it happen, but due to the political situation, we’ve had to postpone it until next winter.