Klæbo won his first five miles

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo tried to circle Aleksandr Bolshunov in the race, but the two collided and the Russian’s cane smoked. Bolshunov looked for the right to prevent Klæbo from passing.

Klæbo crossed the finish line first, ahead of Emil Iversen and a desperate Aleksandr Bolshunov.

– For a dramatic ending. Here, the jury will have to work before we can declare a winner, says Torgeir Bjørn, cross-country commentator for NRK.

After both Klæbo and Bolshunov had explained to the jury, everyone on the cross country eagerly awaited the decision.

After being on the jury, Klæbo told Norway’s press manager Gro Eide that he couldn’t bear going through the mixed zone if he was ruled out. Instead, he wanted to go directly to the hotel.

A few minutes later, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo disappeared from the stadium without speaking to anyone. Immediately afterwards came the message that Klæbo had been ruled out of the race. Norway immediately chose to protest the decision, but the jury rejected the appeal after about 20 minutes.

– That was sad. He has traveled five miles in his life. But, for once, make a risky decision. Sorry for Klæbo. He did everything right in 49.9 kilometers, says Bjørn.

Norway can still appeal the jury’s decision. In that case, it will go to another commission. This may mean that it may take a long time before the final winner of this competition is chosen.

– The jury’s decision can be appealed to an appeals commission. Then they have 72 hours to make a final decision, explains Bjørn.

File a protest

The Russians, through their coach Markus Cramer, declared after the race to NRK that they had lodged a protest against Klæbo.

Bolshunov has also confirmed to Russian television that regardless of the outcome of the protest, he will appeal the medal ceremony after the race, where he would have been awarded silver or bronze.

To NRK, the Russian tells through an interpreter that the breaking of the bar meant that he could not fight for the gold.

– Contact with Klæbo was the only reason I lost today. At the finish line, I fully understand it, but I had a chance to beat Klæbo.

– So you think you should be disqualified?

– I dont know. That is the jury’s decision. But I think I was in a naughty place.

NRK expert Torgeir Bjørn immediately thought that it was not a given that Klæbo was allowed to keep his gold.

– He breaks pole with his own knee, but it is Klæbo who starts the situation. Klæbo is lucky if he can keep the gold, Bjørn said.

Russia already has a strained relationship with the FIS after the Russian relay team was ruled out in Lahti in January. Finn Joni Mäki then made a similar maneuver and an angry Bolshunov reacted by driving towards Mäki after the finish line. So the Russians felt doomed.

– They are upset with the international federation. They feel treated unfairly and that probably doesn’t improve the relationship, says Fredrik Aukland.

The jury decides

Before the WC, the technical delegate on the jury, Marte Aagesen Trondsen (43) said the following to NRK:

– I have competed at the junior level in Norway, with perfectly good results. And then I tried to compete as a senior and got into the same over-ignition trap as many others, and found that there might not be such a high probability of becoming a world champion, so I started studying instead. So now I have a steady job, three kids, a husband and a dog, and I’m here on vacation as a housewife, she says and laughs.

Sometimes it gets quiet, even for cross country judges.

– Yes, sometimes. But I feel like I’ve done quite well so far, then we’ll see, after the World Cup, how it goes.

He is now assessing the situation together with the FIS race director, Pierre Mignerey. Together, they continually evaluate all situations. If they do not agree, another member of the jury is brought in to express their opinion. Russia also has a member of the jury, Slava Vedenin.

I couldn’t have done anything different

After the race, Bolshunov was crushed and leaned over the billboards and cried. Klæbo was out with Bolshunov and spoke to him, but the Russian was inconsolable.

Klæbo also thinks it was sad that five miles were decided entirely this way.

– I think it’s really strange to see Bolshunov. That’s what can make it a bitter ending, says Klæbo.

However, upon arrival, Klæbo realized that he had been informed that, at least temporarily, he had been declared the winner.

– I feel like I’m getting closer to the side, he’s trying to get me out. I feel like this is how it happens, it has a lot of room on the left side. It’s incredibly boring with an ending like that. I have been informed that I have won, Klæbo tells NRK.

Klæbo says he has a fantastic feeling of having won the race and hopes it will be a quick clarification on the protest.

– It feels absolutely amazing. I want a proper confirmation. There may be protests, but I think many will be needed. I go up the page very fast and I have nowhere else to go. I think that should be enough. Finally, it’s over that I’m just a sprinter, and that’s the most important thing, says a satisfied Klæbo.

– It is the dream of a child to stand with gold in 50 km. He had wonderful skis. There was chaos for 3-4 rounds, and then it opened wide. But I’m really empty of words, continues the Trøndelag resident.

Iversen happy with silver

Emil Iversen also asked Bolshunov with a stick. This means that it is Emil Iversen who is the winner of these five miles after Klæbo was ruled out. Before the decision was made, you wouldn’t hear of potential gold.

– I have taken silver. I’m not thinking about that. I take silver and it tastes like gold. It’s great to win a medal. There are many who expect a lot, and today silver is as good as gold. I’m very happy, Iversen said right after the race.

Once again in this championship, a men’s race became Aleksandr Bolshunov against Norway. Last time at the infamous Burgstal, there were four Norwegians against the only Russian in the battle for victory.

The ski change created drama

Only after 31.25 kilometers did five miles burn. The favorites chose different strategies and brought them to life.

While Niskanen, Golberg, Burman and Klæbo were among those who chose to go in and change skis, Bolshunov flew head-on. There, Iversen, Holund, Krüger, Chervotkin and five others chose to follow.

– I think it affects them that Bolshunov gets off before changing skis, said Torgeir Bjørn.

On new skis, Niskanen, along with Klæbo and Golberg, quickly took the lead and on the more than a kilometer long climb, Niskanen accelerated. With about a kilometer and a half remaining, the Finn’s first real attempt to escape came.

The speed became so stiff that Golberg, Musgrave, Krüger and Cologna were among those who had to go down. Only six men were left in the battle of victory.

At the next ski change Emil Iversen, Hans Christer Holund and Bolshunov had to change skis and were given 15 seconds to the top three, consisting of Jens Burman, Iivo Niskanen and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

Bolshunov used force to bring them in, and instead it was Iversen who sped up when they arrived. Bolshunov struggled to keep up.

– These are signs of weakness. Iversen leaves, and then he can’t join!

Passing the 43.75 kilometers, there were three Norwegians first, but Bolshunov, Burman and Niskanen still held on.

From there it became a nervous drama. It was so slow that Simen Hegstad Krüger and Andrew Musgrave took the lead again, just a couple of kilometers after being 40 seconds behind.

– It is absolutely perfect for Klæbo, what is happening here now, thinks Post.