Iversen counterattacks Pellegrino after Tour criticism: – Should shut up and be happy

Iversen has noticed himself on one particular outing by Italian sprint star Federico Pellegrino.

The 29-year-old begins by telling NRK that the athletes and leaders of the Norwegian Ski Association have stood their ground and agreed to leave two World Cup weekends in Davos and Dresden, and the Tour de Ski, to prioritize the health and minimize the risk of infection.

– Just shut up

Without the big worries, Iversen himself has left behind a solid month of training in his hometown Meråker, with almost no coronaries, in Trøndelag.

Along the same lines, he “reassures” those who miss Norwegian athletes at the World Cup circus by saying that he and the Norwegian athletes will be back in January.

– Then the others will prefer to take the opportunity to get some places on the podium. There won’t be many when we return.

– Pellegrino has had two wins, he will just shut up and be happy with the two wins he got. It’s not certain that there will be anything else after the Tour de Ski, says Iversen.

Air passenger metaphor

Iversen’s salvo of power comes a few weeks after Norway received criticism from various teams after saying no to the Tour de Ski. Among them Vegard Ulvang.

But Iversen obviously remembers better than Pellegrino told italpress, reproduced on Dagbladet, that the risk of racing in, say, Davos in mid-December can be just as risky as going skiing at high speeds.

Then the Italian, who incidentally won the races at Davos and Dresden in December, tested this metaphor around Norway’s decision:

– It is like sitting in a turbulent plane, where the pilot jumps out of the plane in a parachute together with the athletes in “business class”, while the other athletes must stay and try to save the plane. I find it disrespectful, said Pellegrino.

Iversen says he doesn’t care if the Norwegian Ski Federation receives criticism. However, he believes that it is strange, above all, a small lack of respect since 2020 has shown that there are athletes who struggle with the consequences of being infected by the virus.

– You have to respect the way people think about this, because it is a serious disease that has affected everyone this year.

Think competitors should thank Norway

Trønderen believes that cross-country skiing is no longer the most important thing, but that it is easier to focus on being well equipped for the WC in Oberstdorf in February and March 2021.

– I think the World Cup and the Ski Tour will continue on their way, even though we are finished. And we’ll be back in January and add to the excitement. They should thank Espen Bjervig (Norwegian cross country coach) for complaining about him.

– Only Bolshunov can regret it, he had probably beaten all of us Norwegians. Otherwise everyone else goes up a few places in the results charts without us Norwegians. So they get more money, more podiums, more honor and glory. So enjoy it while you can, says Iversen and smiles.

Will compete against the best

Pellegrino is now preparing for the Tour de Ski start in the Swiss Val Müstair on Friday and has not responded to questions from NRK after Iversen’s match.

However, the sports director of the Italian federation, Marco Selle, has been presented with the Norwegian’s opinion.

– Iversen should also respect other opinions. Pellegrino said what he felt at the time, but deep down there is respect for Norway’s decision.

– It’s a shame that the Norwegians are not on the Tour and we know that it is easier for everyone to score points and win then. But Pellegrino said what he said because he wants to compete against the best athletes in the world, says Selle.