The Fjord Looked Calm, but the Clock Told Another Story

Conditions in Eidfjord appeared close to ideal for the opening 3.8 km swim of the 2026 Norseman Xtreme Triathlon. The water temperature was measured at 14.7°C yesterday, and athletes were greeted by calm waters as they jumped from the ferry from 04:40.

But while the surface looked peaceful, the swim times suggested the fjord had other plans. A head current likely contributed to slower-than-expected swim times

Kristian Grue emerged first from the water, leading a strong men's field that included Riley Brown in second and Juuso Manninen in third. Alistair Brownlee exited the water in sixth place, approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds behind Grue.

As Alistair Brownlee puts on his jacket, he is passed by Grue.

By the time the athletes reached Dyranut, 35 kilometres into the bike leg, Brownlee had worked his way to the front. The Brit held a slim five-second advantage over Grue, while Manninen maintained his position among the leading contenders.

Three hours into the race, Brownlee and Grue have established themselves as the men to watch. The pair now hold a lead of close to ten minutes over their nearest challengers as the race continues across Hardangervidda.

The women's race, meanwhile, remains wide open.

Dutch athlete Ilona Eversdijk was first out of the water, followed by Maisa Tuliniemi and Estée Chiara Larivière. Unlike the men's race, no clear breakaway has emerged. Eight women are currently separated by less than eight minutes, setting up what could become one of the most closely contested battles of the day.

Athletes arriving at Dyranut have been met by typical mountain conditions, with temperatures around 3°C. A tailwind provide some assistance on the bike course, but with many hours of racing still ahead, conditions can change quickly.