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STAR RUN RISKS: Tour de Ski is currently running without Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and the Norwegian riders. This may mean that Alexander Bolshunov (right) is also not participating. Photo: KIMMO BRANDT / COMPIC
Norway’s plan to drop out of the Tour de Ski could give the stage race a big boost. Russia now has doubts about their participation in the Tour.
This is what the coach of the Russian team, Markus Cramer, tells VG.
Norway, Sweden and Finland have said no to participating in all the World Cup cross-country races before Christmas. Norway has also announced that with the current status of the crown, they also do not plan to participate in the Tour de Ski in the new year. The background is the fear of the risk of infection during international competitions and cross-border travel.
Norway and Russia have completely dominated the Tour in recent years. But this year, the Tour de Ski can be chosen for the 10 best riders of recent years.
– At the moment we do not know what to do with the Ski Tour. The FIS should think about what they do, if the Tour de Ski should only be held in one country and, for example, if all competitions can take place in Val di Fiemme, Markus Cramer tells VG.
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Cramer says the decision of the Tour of Russia will be influenced by what Norway and the Nordic countries do.
– Of course, play with what Norway, Sweden and the great nations will do with the Tour de Ski. We want to compete against the best athletes, so that it is not just Russia against the rest of the world. All the best athletes must participate. I hope FIS thinks about this and finds a good solution, says Cramer.
Cramer fears the consequences for practitioners who become infected or quarantined. He calls it catastrophic in an important phase of the season leading up to the World Cup. Cramer says that the Russian team also have the opportunity to compete at home in Russia.
But Cramer’s wish is for more such raw duels with the entire world elite:
However, Russia will participate in the World Cup in both Davos and Dresden on the last two weekends before Christmas. The team traveled directly to the Swiss people from the World Cup in Finland.
Norway will continue to keep the door open for participation in the Tour if the crown situation changes and the FIS conducts the Tour de Ski in a different way.
CRITICAL: Russian national team coach Markus Cramer. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
Cramer believes it is a very strong signal for the FIS (International Ski Federation) when Norway, Sweden and Finland drop out of the World Cup race.
– Now it happens that nobody wants it to happen. Now see what happens because FIS doesn’t have a backup plan, says Cramer.
He believes the ball is now with the FIS when it comes to attracting the best nations.
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FIS race director Pierre Mignerey says they have scheduled a video conference with all nations for the end of the week.
– I do not intend to have negotiations with Norway, Sweden or Finland. I don’t see the point in having special meetings just with these nations. There must be meetings with all nations. We need to identify the challenges and what can be improved, says Mignerey.
The FIS is still working on the original Tour de Ski plan with races in Switzerland and Italy, regardless of the decision of Norway and possibly other nations.
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– For the rest of the nations, it is important to compete. That is the only possibility of television exposure. But we must do everything possible to ensure a secure format, says Mignerey.
He responds to Cramer’s criticism by saying that he has tried to explain to the coach why it is so difficult to change the configuration of the World Cup.
– Markus won’t understand. You come back with this all the time. There is definitely room for improvement in the design, also this season. If this is going to be optimal in the long run, it cannot be the case that nations only protect their interests at committee meetings, says Mignerey.
