How Bolshunov pinned Klebo: the Russian congratulated the opponent on an early victory

Norway has mastered the skiing: “We just turn off the TV”

In this international ski season, only one intrigue is drawn so far, around which conjectures and discussions have already spun. How many medals will Johannes Klebo win in the absence of our skiers this season? And at the World Championships: really six? Alexander Bolshunov also joined in: he congratulated and teased Klebo on winning (according to the results of the season that had just begun) the Big Crystal Globe.

At the first stage of the World Cup in cross-country skiing in Ruka, the Norwegian men’s team won eight of the nine medals. Expected, of course. In the classic sprint and cutting – in general, the entire podium turned out to be Norwegian: Klebo, Nortug, Gulberg and Klebo, Gulberg, Nienge. Then Klebo and Gulberg took first and second places in the pursuit. Italian Federico Pellegrino still defended the honor of other teams in the World Cup, winning bronze.

Commenting on the results of the first stage, the former coach of the Russian national team (now forced to refuse to work with our skiers, but continuing to help Sergei Ustyugov with training plans) Markus Kramer said not for the first time: the sport needs Russians. “In Ruka, the Norwegians took the first four places in the men’s sprint. Nobody in Central Europe is interested in this. We just turn off the TV.”

After the first stage, Johannes Klebo led the overall World Cup standings with three victories. He performed after an injury (or still with it – damage to the back of the thigh), which he complained about before the starts. The opponents were amazed: “It seems that he is not so badly injured. And it doesn’t look like he needs to be taken out of here in a wheelchair,” commented Swede Kalle Halvarsson. And he concluded: since Klebo still wins with a margin of 20 seconds, the rest can just leave.

Johannes Klebo himself spoke in the summer about the recovery time after an injury within three months. And he even talked about the fact that he received it, apparently due to the “wear and tear of the body.” And now the skier even seems to have to make excuses because of the victories, as they say, for a clear advantage. Reminds that the recovery was really difficult, this can only be understood by looking at his training diary. “I haven’t run much since July 4th. Classical skiing and running – it was very difficult, ”Expressen quotes Klebo’s response to the words of the Swede.

And medal divination is growing. Norwegian Simen Kruger believes that the second stage of the World Cup will still give chances to rivals. True, he hopes that it will be someone from Norway: “Is it possible to overtake Klebo this season? Yes, I think it is possible, ”the NRK athlete quotes.

The famous Petter Northug (two-time Olympic champion and 13-time world champion), looking ahead, is sure that without the Russians, and even in the form that Klebo managed to show, he is able to win all the gold of the World Championship. “Who will defeat Klebo without Bolshunov? Obviously no one. After what we saw in Ruka, I think everything is already clear, ”TV2 quotes Nortug as saying.

Alexander Bolshunov, who starts at the second stage of the Russian Cup on November 30, also could not stand it. He sent his regards to Klebo through Norwegian television: “I think you can give him all the medals of the World Championship at once. And say that I congratulate him on the Big Crystal Globe 2022/23.”

Johannes Klebo received greetings. Said it was a little unexpected. And what is embarrassing for him: not all the best go to the start today, and Bolshunov is not among them. “But in the current situation, this is not possible. I can’t do anything but ski as fast as possible.”