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KLÆBO NUMBER TWO: Erik Valnes had a perfect sprint run during the opening of the World Cup in Finland in November, winning ahead of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva / Lehtikuva
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (24) can get angry.
After 24 consecutive sprint victories, Klæbo was beaten during the World Cup opener in Ruka, when he was stabbed by Erik Valnes in the race.
The 24-year-old from Trondheim is a well-behaved man. After the race, he gave Valnes a lot of praise. But his teammates and national sprint team coach Arild Monsen saw second place make Klæbo curse.
– Hats off to Erik. But it woke up something in me. I hate losing cross-country skiing. It’s about not losing a ski race, Klæbo tells VG.
Lost and lost, you came in second!
– That’s the way it was, Klæbo answers and adds that being number two is a good achievement.
This is the riot that enraged Klæbo:
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But still. It is far from victory. And in a test run during the national team meeting in Skeikampen in mid-December, Klæbo showed no mercy. Arild Monsen says Valnes didn’t stand a chance.
– Erik hadn’t even gotten up and he smelled like Johannes, says Monsen and laughs a little.
– How was Klæbo really after second place in Ruka?
– I was angry and cursed after that incident. He’s been inside, Monsen replies.
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24 STRONG GAINS: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the sprint in the WC event in Oberstdorf in January, when Erik Valnes (left) was second and Pål Golberg third. Photo: Heiko Junge
The day Klæbo leaves, he will sit back and think about his brilliant sprint winning streak, which also includes Olympic and World Cup gold in sprint and team sprint.
– Now I think mainly about counterattacking, says Klæbo and laughs.
Valnes believes that victory gives hope. It is possible to beat Klæbo in the sprint. At the same time, he fears the worst of Klæbo in the future.
– It may have made things worse, says Valnes and laughs a little.
He saw that Klæbo was infinitely dissatisfied after second place.
– He kept the mask well afterwards. I saw that he was working on himself, because he wasn’t particularly happy, says Valnes.
– Incredibly strong
Valnes thinks it’s more impressive to have such a winning streak in the sprint.
– In the sprint, there are many coincidences. It takes so little to be unlucky, because it is so dense. The most impressive thing is that he rarely has bad luck. Johannes is incredibly strong, says Valnes.
Klæbo was so ruthless two days after Valnes’ sprint loss:
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The next sprint is January 8th during the Norwegian Cup race in Lygna. The following weekend, there is an NM sprint in Granåsen. Valnes admits that he has wondered if it is possible to beat Klæbo.
– Johannes is the guiding star. We are good friends. We have matched and it has happened that I have beaten him in training. The big question of whether it is possible to beat him in competition has now been removed. The victory gives motivation and confidence before the World Cup. I have a stronger position in the field, says Valnes.
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IN COLLECTION: In mid-December, the national speed team met in Skeikampen. Photo: Geir Olsen
The national team coach saw something new in Klæbo after second place. Monsen believes it will drive a 24-year-old even sharper.
Even John can’t win it all. For me, Johannes is a great inspiration in the team. He gives and takes. It is so structured that it extends to others. He’s innovative and a good teammate, says Monsen.
Klæbo defended himself during the opening of the World Cup and vant minitouren total. Simultaneous surpassed Petter Northug in number of World Cup victories. Northug is 38. Klæbo is 39, at the age of 24.
Thursday 25th February is the World Cup sprint in Oberstdorf. Klæbo is the defending champion.
