This determines the fate of the Tour of Norway

The Committee of the World Cup of the International Ski Federation (FIS) will meet next Tuesday. There must be changes to the Tour de Ski program for Norway to participate in this year’s edition.

– We have a strong desire to reduce the number of destinations to go, confirms Espen Bjervig to Dagbladet.

But on Sunday night, there was hope for a solid scratch on the paint. Then Pierre Mignerey, FIS race director, came out and said that it is unrealistic to reduce the number of organizers.

– Basically, it is not relevant to change the program now. It would have had far too great consequences for the organizers, both nationally and locally, Mignerey tells NTB.

Dagbladet gave the information to Bjervig, but the cross country manager says Norway will wait.

– I have not seen that Pierre has spoken, but I will speak with him on Monday. In any case, we will await the meeting on Tuesday, Bjervig writes in an SMS to Dagbladet.

Risk on the road

According to plan, the Tour de Ski will start in the Swiss Val Müstair, before the tour continues to Toblach (Italy) and Val di Fiemme (Italy). In total, athletes will go through eight stages between 1-10. January.

It’s too much for Norway.

Bjervig doesn’t want to talk about a maximum number, but explains to Dagbladet that traveling is a major risk.

– Then we can no longer be in small groups. Then we get a confirmed infection after a bus trip and all of a sudden the whole team is out of action. Therefore, we want to be in a destination as long as possible.

Norway’s national team doctor Øystein Andersen has a great responsibility for the future. Your words weigh heavily when making the final decision.

– Do you have deadlines?

– We must constantly assess the situation as it is in Europe. The big question is the organization in terms of transfers. The most important thing is that we have a permanent dialogue. We try to have a professional orientation, at the same time that we have to look into the crystal sphere. That balancing act is demanding, Andersen admits to Dagbladet.

Professional requirements

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is also concerned that there are fewer travel days on the Tour de Ski.

– We’ll have to wait and see. My fingers crossed that the Tour de Ski will be and I’m excited about how FIS chooses to have it. We can only train well until they tell us, Klæbo tells Dagbladet.

The world champion has the support of Therese Johaug, who will not answer if she will go from today.

– We will see how the plan will be with the number of races and where they will be organized, he tells Dagbladet.

Johaug makes it clear that he will not go if there are eight races as planned today, five on the other hand may be more affordable. Now he hopes that FIS will listen to Norwegian input if they want to include all nations.

Heidi Weng is also not sure what it will be like:

– Right now I think it’s fine with eight ski slopes in three locations in such a short time. We’ll see, she says.

– I trust the evaluations made by the team. I want to go to the World Cup before a possible World Cup, but it is difficult to say if it will be as soon as the Tour de Ski, says Pål Golberg to Dagbladet.

Sjur Røthe says he is skeptical about travel, especially when it comes to staying in a crowded hotel or eating a buffet in a restaurant:

– But I want to go. I want to compete against the best in the world, says Røthe.

A lot of plans

Both Ole Morten Iversen and Eirik Myhr Nossum are aware that it is quite possible to make a good plan for the World Cup without the Tour de Ski.

The question now is more how to put the plan in all the uncertainty.

– Do you have to have a plan A, B and C?

– Yes, and D, E and F, says Myhr Nossum and smiles wisely.

Now everyone is waiting for what FIS decides on Tuesday. If they refuse to change the Tour program as announced on Sunday, it is very likely that there will be no tour in Norway.