Cross-country skiing: Norwegians focus on national championships
The Norwegian cross-country skiing championships are the subject of much debate. The presence of the best cross-country skiers is compulsory, despite the fact that they take place just a week and a half after the Tour de Ski and in parallel with the World Cup, which will be held in Les Rousses (Jura) from 17 to 19 January.
“All elite riders must first of all attend the national championships. Either one day, or several days. It’s important that the athletes are there anyway. It’s a day of celebration for Norwegian cross-country skiing and everyone wants to be there,” national team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum told TV2.
The Norwegian coach points out that very few riders have been given the definitive green light for the world championships, a position which suggests the importance of the weekend in Gåsbu (Norway).
The stars are also affected. This is particularly the case for Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo and Simen Hegstad Krueger. The latter is more interested in taking part in the World Cup in France, but is obliged to attend his national championship. For the recent winner of the Tour de Ski, the situation is still unclear. “We’ll see how my body feels. Choosing between one or the other is always a delicate exercise. I may have to accept the consequences,” he says.
Petter Northug Jr supports athletes’ personal freedom
Petter Northug Jr believes that riders such as Simen Hegstad Krueger, Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo, Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget should be able to decide for themselves. He points out that taking part in major events such as national championships with several hundred riders entails a significant risk of illness, in addition to the fatigue accumulated by travelling and competing.
“I think we’ll see some of the best leaving the national championships, and that’s very reasonable. From now on, it’s all about performance at the world championships. That’s the most important thing. There will be a second part of the national championship in which they can compete after the season,” says the man who hopes that the Federation will understand and respect the athletes’ decisions.
The full programme for the Norwegian Championships
- 15 January: 10km CT, senior women and men
- 16 January: Free sprint, senior women and men
- 18 January: 20 km skiathlon, senior women and men
- 19 January: women’s 3×5 km relay, men’s 3×10 km relay
