From Jánošík to Gaustatoppen. Miloš Vojtek conquered Norseman!

Less than a year ago, we wrote about Miloš Vojtek after his victory at the Jánošík Slovak Xtreme Triathlon. It was his first long-distance triathlon and a result that opened the door to another major challenge – Norseman Xtreme Triathlon in Norway.

On 1 August 2026, he closed that chapter on top of Gaustatoppen. Miloš finished Norseman in 13:53:23, placed 79th overall and is listed as a BLACK finisher in the official results. A total of 7,956 athletes from 100 countries applied for the 2026 race, with around 250 athletes on the start line.

3.8 km swim 180 km bike 42.2 km run > 5,000 m elevation 13:53:23 79th BLACK

Norseman starts at 05:00 with a jump from the ferry into the Hardangerfjord. The 3.8 km swim is followed by a 180 km bike leg across Hardangervidda and a marathon whose final part climbs towards Gaustatoppen. The first 160 athletes at kilometre 37 of the run can continue to the summit and race for the black finisher shirt.

Ambition, the ferry and the Hardangerfjord

Miloš, after Jánošík last year you told us that the goal in Norway was to take part and finish, while keeping your real ambition to yourself. Now you can reveal it – did 13:53:23 match what you went to Norway hoping for?

The real ambition wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted to finish the race in around 11 hours, but unfortunately health problems complicated the preparation. So the result leaves a slightly bitter taste in my mouth, but I’m grateful for it.

Pre-race check before Norseman 2026 — Before the start – the final checks and athlete marking while it was still dark.

Let’s start at the very beginning. It’s five in the morning, you’re standing on the ferry in the Hardangerfjord and you’re about to jump into the water. What goes through your head at that moment?

I hope the water is warmer than yesterday when I went for a warm-up swim :)

The ferry in Eidfjord before the start of Norseman 2026 — The ferry in Eidfjord shortly before the early-morning Norseman start.

You completed the swim in 1:34:21. What were the conditions in the fjord like and how satisfied were you with that part of the race?

After jumping into the water, we swam roughly 400 metres to the start. The water was quite pleasant, but as we got closer to the end it started getting colder. I wasn’t completely satisfied, but I was glad to have it behind me.

Hardangerfjord during the swim leg of Norseman 2026 — Morning at the Hardangerfjord during the Norseman swim leg.

Norseman 2026 first transition by the Hardangerfjord — T1 by the fjord – straight from the water onto the 180 km bike leg.

The bike and the support team

You spent 6:28:16 on the bike. Norseman has more than 3,000 metres of climbing on the bike course alone. Did the ride go according to plan, or did you have to change your tactics during the race?

The bike went well. I felt strong, especially on the climbs.

Miloš Vojtek during the bike leg of Norseman 2026 — Miloš during the 180 km bike leg of Norseman 2026.

After Jánošík you told us how important the support crew was. At Norseman, having your own support crew is part of the race concept itself. How did the cooperation with the team work, and when did you need them most?

The cooperation with the team was, as always, top notch. Matej Matúš and Martin Fabry did a great job and thanks to them I managed to reach the finish. I felt their support most on the run, when I was having muscular problems.

Support during the run leg of Norseman 2026 — On the run, the support crew stays close to the athlete throughout the course.

The run, the BLACK cut and Gaustatoppen

After the bike came the marathon. The first roughly 25 kilometres are still relatively runnable, then the legendary Zombie Hill begins. When did you first think to yourself: this really is Norseman?

The first time was during the free fall into the water from the boat.

The first 160 athletes at kilometre 37 can continue to Gaustatoppen. Did you know roughly what position you were in during the run? Were you actively thinking about the black cut, or trying not to focus on the ranking?

I knew my position both through the support crew and because the organisers showed it at the bottom of the climb. Of course we wanted to get the black shirt.

When it became clear that you were going up to Gaustatoppen and the black shirt was within reach, did anything change in your head, or was there no energy left to think about it?

My head calmed down and from then on we were simply trying to get to the finish.

The final kilometres to Gaustatoppen are completed with a supporter. What do you remember most from that part?

I remember the views of the surrounding landscape and the fact that I was finally passing other competitors again.

Final climb towards Gaustatoppen at Norseman 2026 — The final kilometres towards Gaustatoppen are completed together with a supporter.

The finish. 13:53:23, 79th place and BLACK finisher. What was the first thing that went through your mind?

We’re at the finish, we did it – and especially through the pain I had been experiencing since kilometre 5 of the run.

Miloš Vojtek with Matej Matúš and Martin Fábry at Gaustatoppen after Norseman 2026 — Gaustatoppen after the race – Miloš Vojtek with supporters Matej Matúš and Martin Fábry.

Preparation, nutrition and the crisis on the run

When you compare Jánošík, which you won, with Norseman – which race was physically harder for you, and which was mentally harder?

Physically I would definitely say Jánošík, especially because of the run. Mentally definitely Norseman. The whole preparation was mentally demanding and my head wasn’t in the same place as it was for Jánošík. Also because my second son was born two weeks before the start.

What did you change compared with your preparation for Jánošík? Were there things in training that you specifically adapted for Norseman – long climbs, cold conditions, nutrition or training volume?

I mainly changed my run preparation. I added more flat running and tempo sessions.

Nutrition often decides an extreme triathlon. What did you eat and drink during almost fourteen hours, and did everything work according to plan?

I ate and drank the standard things – gels and isotonic drinks – and non-alcoholic beer to neutralise the taste. During the run, when I started having problems with the muscles in my abdomen and hamstrings, my stomach stopped accepting much, so I washed down mineral water, cola and a small piece of banana.

Was there a real crisis during those 13 hours and 53 minutes, or a moment when you began to doubt whether you would make it to Gaustatoppen?

Yes. At kilometre 5 of the run I started having problems with the muscles in my abdomen and hamstrings. Unfortunately the pace dropped there and it became about overcoming the pain and getting to the finish.

The black shirt and what comes next

What does the Norseman black finisher shirt mean to you today? Is it simply another result, or does it have a special place in your sporting collection?

It definitely has its place. It is a legendary race after all, but it carries a slightly bitter note and at the same time a sense of joy.

And the question we already asked you after Jánošík: what comes next? After Norseman, is there still something that can scare you or motivate you?

There will definitely be something next, but for now I plan to fully focus on my family, rebuild or rather coordinate my training, and who knows when – but I would like to do ICON, Swissman and Ascend. And if I could improve my time at Norseman, then of course I’d like to come fully prepared and with my head one hundred percent ready.

Conclusion

The results sheet shows 13:53:23, 79th place and a BLACK finish. Miloš’s answers also show the other side of Norseman: preparation complicated by health problems, muscular pain from kilometre five of the run and a mentally demanding period in which his second son was born just two weeks before the start.

Norseman is behind us, but the MAMA3 extreme-triathlon story continues. Under S.E.T. – Slovak Xtreme Triathlet, the next challenge is Jánošík 2026, where Matej Matúš will race for S.E.T.

MAMA3 Club on STRAVA S.E.T.