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GOING DOWN THE WORLD CUP: Frida Karlsson and Therese Johaug, and the rest of the Swedish and Norwegian teams leave the World Cups before the New Year. Photo: KIMMO BRANDT / COMPIC
Norway has already said no to participating in the cross-country World Cup for the remainder of 2020. Now Sweden is also abandoning the races at Davos and Dresden.
The Swedish Ski Federation explains the decision regarding skiers’ health in a press release.
On Monday, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (24) decided for the first time to leave the World Cup for the remainder of 2020. Emil Iversen (29) did the same, who is also in charge of the Tour de Ski.
On Tuesday, it became so widely known that the Norwegian Ski Association decided not to send athletes to the cross-country World Cup until the New Year. The same can happen with the Ski Tour in the new year.
Before Christmas, there are World Cup races in Davos, Switzerland, on December 12 and 13 and in German Dresden the following weekend.
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– That we have now decided to abstain from the next races of the World Cup has been a difficult decision, but it is made with the health of the riders in mind.
– We know the decision creates disappointment for the runners, but also for the television audience, says Sweden’s cross-country coach Daniel Fåhraeus.
Swedish physician Per “Pliggen” Andersson says:
– If it goes wrong, the disease can have potentially serious consequences for the infected person. None of us are willing to take that risk, he says according to the press release, which indicates that Sweden has not yet settled on the Tour de Ski, which starts on January 1.
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Vegard Ulvang, executive director of cross-country skiing at the International Ski Federation (FIS), told VG on Monday that he agrees that tough decisions can be made during the winter while the pandemic lasts.
– It is a strange year, and it will surely affect us. But the evaluation that was made after Ruka, where it was discussed with the coaches and others involved, is positive, Ulvang said.
Cross-country skiers are naturally concerned about being healthy for this winter’s World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Oberstdorf from February 23 to March 7, 2021.
