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GOOD VOTE: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the sprint ahead of Pål Golberg (back) in Ruka in November. Sprint national team coach Arild Monsen was one of the first to congratulate. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB SCANPIX
Sprint national coach Arild Monsen is ready to wish the world’s best bottom sprinter the national sprint team in a few weeks.
After a year in the full team, the 23-year-old wants to return to the national sprint team. This was reported by Klæbo in a press release just before Easter.
“Getting the best sprinter in the world back on the team is rewarding,” says Monsen, and is quick to add that the team’s withdrawal has yet to come.
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But Monsen has presented his retirement recommendation to the cross-country manager Espen Bjervig, who will pass it on to the cross-country committee.
– It will be a good boost for the entire sprint team, Monsen tells VG.
Almost unbeatable
Klæbo was number two in the World Cup last season, of course, he won the Sprint Cup.
It was absolutely excellent at Drammen in March:
When the national sprint coach handed over his attitude to Bjervig, Klæbo’s name was not on the block.
– But he entered that list at Easter, says Monsen.
– You got surprised?
– yes He wasn’t going to spend time getting it back. But it is very nice, says Monsen.
– Did you see this coming during the season?
“No, I didn’t see it coming,” replies Monsen.
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A week ago, Klæbo reported this in a press release:
– It is very important to have fun, and that things do not get too serious. It must be brilliant. Also, the way he is trained on the national sprint team suits me better. Here’s a little more speed.
The 23-year-old took the Olympic gold in sprint, team sprint and relay in 2018, copied the medal capture during the Seefeld World Cup last year. He has been unbeatable in sprints for almost two seasons.
– You have made a decision about which way to go. I let him make that decision. John’s reviews have been sent to us, so we have to keep working when things become official, Monsen says.
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Brandsdal adds: – I have been terrified to this day.
Hard times
The national sprint team coach has worked well with Klæbo and grandfather coach Kåre Høsflot for many years.
– If John comes to the sprint team, I will have a meeting with them. I want to work closely with John and Grandpa. I have something to contribute, they probably have it too, so we got together to rethink the best course that also does it better from a distance, “says Monsen.
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– What do you think Klæbo would rather train on your team than on the team of general coach Eirik Myhr Nossum?
– It’s not about that. This is the result of a process after an evaluation that John and Grandpa have had. First they contacted Eirik, then Eirik contacted me, Monsen responds.
In mid-February during the Ski Tour 2020, Klæbo was tired of skiing:
During these crowning times, all collections are even exposed to summer. Renn chief Pierre Mignerey of the International Ski Federation (FIS) told VG last week that he is excluding a normal world cup season due to the virus.
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Monsen is in Molde and probably has runners on the new national sprint team in Oslo, Trondheim and Lillehammer. He thinks the situation is special and demanding.
– We are lucky to have finished the season more or less. It is seven months to start the season. In terms of training, this is manageable for us. Think of summer sports, they have the slap.
– I’m excited for November and the start of the season, but there is nothing we can do but cross our fingers and hope that the world will return to completely different things from sports. Our problems are small compared to global challenges, says Monsen.
