Foss could hardly believe his eyes as one after another cycled into weaker times and the possibilities for historic WC gold opened up.

– It feels like I’m dreaming. I do not expect. It’s really not real. My feet are great today, but this is more than I dreamed of. “I feel like I got it all today and I did my best,” Foss said in an interview that aired on TV 2 and continued:

– The track suits me, yes. There’s nowhere to rest, and you have to pedal around corners. I had excellent training and it was a very well executed race.

The Norwegian eventually finished 2.95 seconds ahead of Swiss Stefan Küng and 9.16 ahead of Remco Evenepoel, who took silver and bronze.

– It’s an important day for Norwegian cycling, commented Christian Paasche on TV 2.

After climbing onto the podium, listening to the national anthem and wearing the rainbow jersey for the first time, Foss made a brief summary with the rights holders:

– I do not know what happened. Can someone wake me up? I know I’m doing really good pace, but I don’t think it’s going to be gold. It’s really coco. It’s like a dream, it’s like you’re a passenger on a bus that’s just been driving, says Foss.

Historical gold

Foss is the first Norwegian to win a medal in tempo since the men’s race was added to the program in 1994.

Prior to historic WC gold, Norway’s best result in the men’s side was 13th place Andreas Leknessund from 2020. Solrunn Flatås has Norway’s best result regardless of gender, since he finished fourth in 2000.

The 25-year-old is the seventh Norwegian road cycling world champion. Along with Monica Valvik and Thor Hushovd senior gold medals, Kurt Asle Arvesen (1997 U23 road), Oskar Svendsen (2012 junior tempo), Sven Erik Bystrm (2014 U23 road) and Kristoffer Halvorsen (2016 U23 road) have won the WC. Hushovd also became the tempo world champion as a U23 driver in 1998.

Foss had a stated goal before the WC race that he wanted to be in the top five, but a top ten position was also agreed.

– If I finish in the top ten today, I will be very happy. “To be able to wear the WC jersey will be very special and I will try to enjoy it as much as possible,” said Foss after securing the gold.

Positively surprised

Sports manager Kurt Asle Arvesen told licensees before the start of WC he didn’t believe in a top five finish for Foss, but was surprised when he saw the Norwegian out on track.

– We shed tears when he drove over the finish line, because we thought he was driving really well. It sparkled at that speed. Maybe not completely submerged. This is truly iconic. Norwegian sporting history, Arvesen told TV 2.

At home on the couch in Vingrom, a very proud father and sister sit and watch Tobias scoop up WC gold on the TV screen.

– It’s not something you’d expect, but I texted him yesterday and said I have faith. I hope for the top five. The gold medal I didn’t think of, said Alf’s father Magne Foss.