As the holiday season is upon us, it’s time for my annual recap. It feels like yesterday that I was preparing for this season, yet the past 12 months have given me so many great memories. Let’s take a throwback through the year, month by month.
After getting the dog, little Puma, I realized I had to be more strategic with my travel schedule. At the same time, I learned to make the most of the good days and get in the training. A training camp would have been comfortable, but not necessary. My wife and I also took a trip to our family cabin in the mountains for CX skiing.
Being in Norway gave me the chance to visit Sandefjord SK and have a talk about gravel. Always fun visiting Sandefjord.
While staying in Norway, I continued following a training block, almost like being at a training camp. The season was getting closer, so the rides included more intensity. It’s always hard to simulate race intensity, but riding with Andreas Ohldieck really helped me get high-quality sessions.
The month also had sad news, as my co-partner for Unionsrittet, Espen Vinje, passed away by cancer. Rest in peace my friend.
At the end of the month, we attended the wedding of Lars Tobias and Charlotte in Kristiansand — a fun weekend in the south of Norway.
I set my sails towards Texas, ready to kick off the season with Valley of the Tears. It was great to be back with my American friends. I was expecting warmer weather, but after the Friday gravel crit, the temperature dropped and it started snowing. Not exactly what I expected in Texas!
The main race started as planned, but halfway through the organizers pulled the plug and stopped the race, placing me in 18th.
READ MORE: Valley of Tears Gravel
The following weekend I was in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with Corey Ray. As we finished our pre-race ride in crazy winds, smoke started entering the city. Soon, we were told there was a wildfire in the area. We still prepared as usual and went to bed early, but woke up to the news that the race was cancelled.
Not knowing the full circumstances and feeling ready to race, Corey and I decided to ride the course if possible. We encountered heavy smoke and a few burning bushes, but as the wind had shifted and the wildfire was under control, about 90% of the course was rideable. No race, but a good workout. My thoughts go out to those who lost their homes in the wildfire.
I was home for just a few days before heading to Belgium for UCI Turnhout. My form was improving after the first races, but still not at its best, resulting in a 41st place in the Men Elite category.
READ MORE: UCI Turnhout
Finally, spring arrived in Norway too. On April 12th, I hosted my gravel adventure ride, DNF GRVL — a 100-miler on gravel, farm roads, forest roads, and trails. Vebjørn Rønning and Espen Helgesen wanted to test the pace, and the three of us set a new fastest time for the event.
April also marked the start of the 101percent Cup, a local crit race series that I organize and race. This year we had seven races throughout the season — a fun circuit and always great training.
Alongside my own racing career, I am the founder and CEO of Green Cycling Norway. It’s a small organization with seven coaches, a group of volunteers, 20 children’s bikes, and two trailers. We specialize in what we call Green Cycling Schools, organizing cycling activities at schools across Oslo, Akershus, Østfold, Vestfold, Buskerud, and Innlandet.
We started small six years ago, but now we’re up to 184 school visits a year, reaching around 7,000 kids. So when I’m not riding or traveling (or walking the dog), this is what I do — and how I make a living. A great way to share my passion and get more kids on bikes.
At the end of April, Hanna and I went to Barcelona to celebrate my wife’s birthday before heading to Girona, where I raced Traka 360 — one of Europe’s biggest gravel races. During the race, I made a breakaway of 15 riders, later reduced to four, leading the race through the first half of the 360 km. The final part was tougher, and I finished 27th on my beautiful brand-new Breed from my sponsor Felt.
CHECK OUT: Traka360 race recap
My next big goal was Unbound, but I recovered well from the 11-hour race in Catalonia and decided to race the UCI Ringerike GP the following weekend. My legs were good, but a puncture before the decisive part of the race ruined my chances.
After a couple more 101 Percent Crit races, I returned to Corey’s place in Dallas. Gravel Locos in Hico was next — a race I genuinely love. This year I felt strong and made the selection, until the race eventually blew apart. I ended up riding the second half with Tobias Kongstad, winner of Traka 360, catching up to Ivar Silk and Mads Würtz Schmidt. I lost the sprint for 11th and finished 12th.
READ MORE: Gravel Locos – in the wheel tracks of Billy the Kid
There wasn’t much time to recover from the heat in Hico before Alan Pocock and I took the seven-hour drive to Emporia, Kansas, for my fourth Unbound Gravel. Last year had been strong for me, finishing 22nd after being near the front early on.
This year, I rode aggressively at the start and led the race at the first time check. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the same legs as last year, and as the heat intensified, I started to struggle. I somehow made it to the finish, but the result wasn’t what I hoped for — 60th place.
CHECK OUT: The story from Unbound Gravel
Back in Europe, I joined Anders Salamonsen — a great guy I’ve coached for years — and we took the ferry to Denmark for UCI Gravel Blaavand. The course was completely flat, but strong winds made it a true selection race. I lost the front group early but kept pushing, and after chasing for 100 km, I made it back for the sprint for 7th. I didn’t have the kick and finished 13th.
COACHING: Do you want to reach your goals for 2026? Let me help you!
Road racing isn’t my main focus anymore, but when the Norwegian Road Nationals were held in Hønefoss, close to home, I had to race. I knew Uno-X would eventually blow the race apart, so making the early break felt like the only real chance. I fought hard but missed the first break, then committed fully to creating a second breakaway, chasing for 60 km in brutal headwinds. It wasn’t meant to be, but it gave me some great TV time on national television. As expected, in the end, Uno-X dominated the race, with only World Champion Tobias Foss (Ineos) breaking into the top 10.
July was about dialing back racing and focusing more on training after an intense spring. Hanna had vacation early in the month, and I spent weekdays working with cycling schools and weekends at her family’s cozy seaside cabin near Lillesand. Amazing gravel roads and a place I truly love.
On July 19th, I organized Unionsrittet — the first-ever Norwegian Gravel National Championship. We raced a 43 km loop around Askim three times in Texas-like heat. Organizing and racing your own event isn’t ideal for stress levels, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I didn’t have the legs to follow the top three and finished 4th — still smiling.
Later in July, Hanna and I traveled with two other couples to Tuscany. A perfect getaway. I rode Strade Bianche-style roads in the mornings and played tourist in the afternoons. We finished with two days in Rome — including an unforgettable ride back to our hotel after returning the rental car, mixing gravel along the river with city riding past historical landmarks like the Colosseum.
Time to pin on a number again. My next race was Gravel Grit’n Grind in Halmstad. Two days before the race, I hit my head on the edge of a rain gutter and likely suffered a mild concussion. I skipped Friday’s time trial and focused only on Saturday’s UCI Gravel race to qualify for Worlds.
The race was extremely fast. I missed some splits but kept chasing back. On the final climb, 10 km from the finish, I strained my back — something I’d never experienced in a race before. I couldn’t pedal at full power but managed to finish 24th, just inside the top 25%, earning my ticket to the World Championship in Limburg.
The following weekend, I traveled solo to Italy for UCI Monsterrando — flying in Thursday night, recon on Friday, racing Saturday, and flying home that night. Efficient.
My form there was solid, but the fast, crowded course made positioning difficult, and I missed a split early. As always in gravel, I kept pushing, joined a chasing group, and enjoyed an incredibly beautiful course. Still, it wasn’t selective enough to bridge gaps, and I finished 40th.
The last race of the month was Gravel Birken. Together with Green Cycling Norway, we hosted a cycling school in Rena the day before and helped with the children’s event in the evening, leaving limited prep time. I struggled in the early climbs, missed the front selection, but fought to the finish for 6th.
Nesfjellet Gravelduro — my third self-organized gravel event — might have the most fun course of them all. This year it was September 6th, and included gravelled singletrack, tough climbs, and riders of all levels. Vebjørn Rønning joined the race, and we pushed each other all the way. I managed to drop him on the second-to-last climb, but he kept coming back. I held on to win by just a few seconds, and we both set a new course record.
On September 21st, I lined up in Italy again for the European Gravel Championship. Our web designer, Kent Erik Harridsleff, joined as support — capturing photos and handing out bottles. Impressive multitasking! The course was hard, the heat intense, and the competition fierce. I rode my own pace and finished 24th.
Less than a week later, we were back in Catalonia for Ranxo Gravel. Hanna joined me, and we enjoyed three great days. The race starts with a brutal 5 km climb, and positioning is everything. I wasn’t well placed and had to pass riders on the climb. Over the top, I linked up with fellow Felt rider Chad Haga. We rode steady, caught more riders, and formed a strong chase group. I bonked with 20 km to go and focused purely on finishing. To my surprise, I finished 24th — a solid result, and with a bit more luck, top 20 was possible.
One final race — and a big one. On October 12th, I lined up for my fourth consecutive Gravel World Championship in Limburg. For the first time, Norway had a national team. The course was fast and narrow, and with WorldTour riders like Tom Pidcock, Matej Mohorič, Tim Wellens, and Florian Vermeersch, I knew it would be brutal
The start was chaotic, with crashes and riders cutting across fields. I didn’t take enough risks and ended up poorly positioned when the race split. I kept fighting, passed many riders, but finished 128th. Still, racing a World Championship is something special — a good way to end the season with great memories.
READ MORE: My story from the World Championship
After the season, I backed off training through late October and focused on Green Cycling Schools. In November, I returned to gym work, spinning, and longer weekend rides as weather allowed.
December has been unusually warm, allowing for many quality sessions outdoors. I also introduced heat training and continued gym work, now including drop sets.
This time of year is also about planning for 2026 — race calendars, sponsors, and logistics. With tighter budgets across the cycling industry, it’s been challenging, making me more grateful than ever for the brands supporting our Trailblazer mission.
I’m optimistic about 2026. Training has been going well, and I believe the plan with 101 Percent Training will make me even stronger. My main goals will be Unbound Gravel and the Gravel World Championship, mixed with races in both America and Europe, plus our Norwegian events.
At the end of February, I’m planning a new Arctic Everesting challenge in Greenland. The goal is to set a new Winter Everesting World Record and raise money for Mælkebøttecentret, supporting children experiencing neglect. Stay tuned — more details coming in early January.
The holiday season is also a time to express gratitude. Thank you to partners, support crew, volunteers, friends, family — and Christ. As a Christian, this time of year is a reminder of the One who came to bring light. Let’s keep spreading warmth and kindness into 2026.
Merry Christmas, y’all!