Erling Kristiansen

After the end of World War II Erling Kristiansen became one of the best cyclists in Norway, winning more than a dozen titles. Kristiansen won his first national titles in 1946 with victory in both the individual and team time trials, repeating this every year until 1949. During this time he also won the Norwegian road race title in 1947 and 1949, resulting in him being awarded with the King’s Cup for the best overall sportsman in the country. Kristiansen did the individual and team time trial double for three consecutive years from 1950 to 1952, followed by another individual road race title in 1953. He won his final national title in 1954, winning yet another individual time trial.

Kristiansen represented Norway at two World Championships and two Olympics. At the 1948 London Games he failed to finish in the road race but did better four years later in Helsinki when he came 25th. He also had success at the Tyrifjorden Rundt one-day race in his home country, winning the inaugural race in 1949, before claiming back-to-back wins in 1953 and 1954. After retiring Kristiansen served on the board of the Norwegian Cycling Federation where he later became the organisation’s chairman. His uncle Gustav was also a cyclist who competed at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.