Norway launches Tour de Ski – 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.

– The health of athletes and support staff is our highest priority, says cross-country manager Espen Bjervig in the same press release.

– The risk involved in exposing a team to Covid-19 weighs more in the decision not to participate in the Ski Tour. The main focus of cross-country skiing this season is the World Championships in Oberstdorf, continues the cross-country ski manager, who is concerned about being as well prepared as possible for the championship with healthy athletes and support staff.

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.