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The Russian star is the example of what the Norwegian cross country coach does not want Norwegian runners to have to go through before the World Cup.
Earlier this week, it became clear that Norway will not send riders to this winter’s Tour de Ski in Switzerland and Italy.
The reason is the infection situation in Europe. The national team doctor has made it clear that the risk is too high and cross country coach Espen Bjervig has concluded that it is better if the Norwegian team prefers the World Cup in Oberstdorf in February.
It must have made some cross country nations very cursed, according to the FIS race director.
Also read: Norway surpassed the Tour de ski
But for the World Cup to be a success for Norway, the management of the Norwegian team is fully aware that it will be important to avoid diseases, especially covid-19.
The coronavirus is still perceived as highly unpredictable and the fear among healthcare professionals in the cross country setting is that the virus will settle in the lungs or hearts of athletes if they become infected.
There is also uncertainty about how the body will respond to exercise after a coronavirus infection.
Also read: Johaug has no doubts after seeing Bjørgen in training
You will avoid ending up in the same situation
Sergei Ustyugov, the Russian cross-country skier who has been one of the biggest competitors to Norwegian male runners in recent years, has infected himself with the coronavirus.
Two months later, he still cannot train normally. He writes it himself on his own Instagram account.
Bjervig points to the Ustjugov situation as something he doesn’t want Norwegian practitioners to experience.
– When we see how Ustjugov has been working for three months to get back, we understand that one case of infection can quickly ruin a World Cup season. So you choose to take the safest path to the bathroom, Bjervig tells Nettavisen.
Ustjugov has explained that he was infected when he was in a meeting of height in Val Senales, Italy, in October.
Also read: FIS requirements cost the jersey. The national team expects a bill of one million
Bjervig says the Norwegian camp only realized that the Russian was infected with the coronavirus only this week.
– I knew that Ustjugov was sick and I went to Ruka’s house. That he had had covid-19 I heard for the first time through the media and his Instagram account. Now there are a lot of athletes getting infected and coming back quickly, but it also shows that even for the Russian bear, as the media has described, this can bite quite hard, says Bjervig.
– And this is what you want to avoid by all means?
– Absolutely, says Bjervig.
Confident in the choice
Despite the criticism the Norwegian team has received following its decision to leave the tour, the cross-country manager is confident that he has made the right decision.
– I think now we made the right decision. We take care of our health and focus on hitting back at the World Cup, says Bjervig.
The Winter Tour will now be the first in history without the participation of Norway.
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The cross-country ski director now hopes that perhaps other nations can assert themselves and give it more flavor.
– It is clear that there is no desired situation. At the same time, it may mean that it is a German, Swiss or an athlete from another nation who may come a little higher on the list and who may provide some motivation. It would have been desirable to include the Norwegians in international ski races, but now we must do the best we can with national ski races and then come back strong in January, says Bjervig.
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