– A difficult decision – VG

– It’s a shame it had to be like that, but I am one hundred percent behind the assessments made by the ski association, says Therese Johaug to VG.

Johaug has three combined wins on the tour.

Norway wanted a solution in which the entire Ski Tour was organized in the same place, to avoid travel and hotel entrances and exits. But on Monday, the FIS decided that the tour would go as planned with eight races in eleven days in three destinations: Val Müstair in Switzerland and Toblach and Val di Fiemme in Italy.

– The risk of infection in relation to the travel activity to and during the Ski Tour has not changed significantly from previous assessments. Traveling between countries in Europe during a pandemic still carries an unacceptably high risk of infection, says medical officer Øystein Andersen of the Norwegian Cross Country Ski Association in a press release.

Sweden’s best male runner, Calle Halfvarsson, thinks it’s incredibly boring.

– This season is turning into total darkness, sadly, Halfvarsson tells Aftonbladet.

– A difficult decision

Cross country coach Espen Bjervig says it has been a tough choice.

– It is a decision that was discussed top to bottom with the leaders, the cross country committee and the athletes. It is a difficult decision. The Ski Tour is a great event and one of the most important of a season, but it is also a season with a World Cup. Taking care of the health of athletes and prioritizing the World Cup weighed more. Then we downgraded the Tour de Ski to have healthy athletes and support staff for the World Cup, Bjervig tells VG.

– What reactions have you had?

– I experience that there is understanding, but also a disappointment that we did not come to participate. To this day, we are among the best cross-country nations in the world. Organizers and competitors want to join us. It’s understandable, says Bjervig and continues:

– We are fortunate to be in a position to make these decisions. Not everyone is. We have an orderly economy and partners that support us in the elections of value and the team as a whole has the priority that the World Cup is the most important, without there being much noise internally in the ranks of this election.

– Have you looked for other alternatives, where you could, for example, make it possible for individual riders to choose even if they wanted to go?

– No, it is the Norwegian Ski Association that reports and we are responsible for those we have on the trip. I can’t prioritize the health of who we should care for and the health of whom we should not care, says Bjervig.

Sweden seeks solutions

Sweden is not swayed by Norway’s decision. The Swedes’ cross country manager Anders Byström thinks it is easier for those with softer quarantine rules. They will wait to see if the spread of the infection slows down before making a decision.

– We must respect the assessments that Norway has made, but it is a great pity. They have strict quarantine rules in Norway, there is probably a reason. We are looking for solutions for ourselves and we do not have the same rules as Norway so there is a difference, Byström tells Aftonbladet.

Norwegian leaders and practitioners expected the entire tour to take place in one location, a maximum of two. Now there will be trips between three different destinations.

Norwegian riders have won the Tour de Ski in total for the past seven years. Therese Johaug has the most wins with three.

Norway has won the tour four out of 15 times for men. Martin Johnsrud Sundby has two wins, while Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Petter Northug have one each.

Vegard Ulvang, head of the cross-country committee for the International Ski Federation, told VG that they should make the most of it no matter who starts.

– The organizers have arranged everything and have worked hard. Health authorities have done an impressive job, Ulvang said Monday.

Therese Johaug won the last overall:

Already after third place in the mini tour in Ruka last weekend, Emil Iversen said that he would leave the Tour de Ski, no matter what conclusion the ski association reached.

– Loses energy. Now we have a golden opportunity to try another path to the championship. Johannes and I have only trained the last six months and we were in good shape at Ruka so it works out well for us. Perhaps there is a chance to be even more equipped to take the World Cup medals. Therefore, it is not worth taking the risk as is the situation now, Iversen told NRK then.

P.S! Tour de Ski king is Dario Cologna with four combined wins, while Justyna Kowalczyk has had four in a row since 2010.