Norway leaves Tour de Ski – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

But first. On Tuesday night the message came from the Norwegian Ski Association, as most people expected.

As the Tour de Ski runs through three different locations (Val Müstair in Switzerland, Toblach and Val di Fiemme in Italy), which involves crossing national borders, Norwegian cross-country skiers made it clear that one of the main events of this year is for Norwegian runners.

– The risk of infection in relation to the travel activity to and during the Ski Tour has not changed significantly from previous assessments, says the doctor responsible for cross-country skiing at the Norwegian Ski Association Øystein Andersen in the press release.

– Travel between countries in Europe during a pandemic still carries an unacceptably high risk of infection, it adds.

– Aim for the toilet in Oberstdorf

Due to the increased risk of infection that comes with traveling between destinations, the Ski Federation does not want to take risks. They think it would be wiser to gather everything in one place.

– Reduce risk by keeping the tour in a single destination. So we could implement this in a controllable way that could work, cross-country manager Espen Bjervig tells NRK.

He says that the Ski Federation has had a good dialogue with the FIS, but that they did not reach an agreement.

– We consider it too high a risk against our goals this season, says Bjervig and emphasizes as before that the World Cup in Oberstdorf is the big goal.

– I don’t understand what the Ski Federation thinks

But the argument of the Norwegian Ski Federation thus falls into bad ground with Vegard Ulvang. He is the head of the powerful cross-country ski committee of the FIS (International Ski Federation). The former meritorious cross-country skier says this when asked by NRK what he thinks about Norway’s argument for leaving the Tour de Ski:

It emphasizes above all that it respects both the contagion and quarantine arguments. But it responds to two things:

– I don’t understand what the Ski Federation means. Espen Bjervig says Norway could have participated if they had gone in one place. So I wonder why they are not in Davos, says Ulvang, noting that Norway will not travel to Switzerland or the World Cup next weekend. Where everything really happens in one place.

– Second, it has never been relevant to move the Tour de Ski. In FIS, it is the case that you assign an event to a nation, they prepare and make large investments. Italian authorities have also said yes to the event. It would be completely wrong to take it off now. We can’t do it because Norway thinks it’s a good fit.

– I don’t know what Espen is trying to say. Norway has never proposed to FIS to move it to a single destination. I don’t understand how they argue.

– Are they provoking you?

– Yes, I will do it. Because Norway has never proposed it. There is no topic to discuss. They create the impression that they would participate if only one nation competed. But then I ask; Why aren’t they in Davos?

The cross-country manager responds

Cross country coach Espen Bjervig received criticism from Ulvang on Tuesday night. He says from the outset that he is aware of the complexity of changing the World Cup calendar as the FIS system is structured.

– But we already registered in Ruka (opening of the World Cup in Finland a week and a half ago) that for us it was desirable to have the Ski Tour in only one destination. But I have respect for the fact that it is difficult to achieve.

That Ulvang criticizes that Norway can compete in a destination, but still not travel to Davos next weekend, Bjervig responds as follows.

– There is a significant difference in a weekend in Davos where some go to only one competition (one day for the sprint and one day for the distance) and a complete Ski Tour with several competitions being organized in one destination.

Financial implications for professionals

NRK has spoken with Sindre Bjørnestad Skar and Håvard Solås Taugbøl, who say they may end up below the poverty line if Norway abandons more careers.

More than half of your annual income is cash prizes and investment bonuses.

– We had a talk with the boys, the union delegates and the group of practitioners. We see that this goes beyond your personal income. Cash prizes, bonuses, etc. In consultation with them, we discuss whether there are solutions that can help them financially during the period before we return to the World Cup again, says Bjervig.

Bjervig admits that the Ski Federation does not have the financial resources to match the prize money that the FIS distributes at the Tour de Ski.

– But we can contribute in a way that makes everyday life a little easier until things become more normal again.