The closer we get to the start of the ski season, the more the World Cup leaders disappoint fans.

The Norwegians have suffered loss after loss, and the last straw was the statement of Johannes Klebo. After several difficult months, the current owner of the Big Crystal Globe found mutual understanding with his native federation and agreed to compete at the World Cup.

However, to the disappointment of many, Johannes is still not ready to compete.

Past the national selection

A few weeks before the opening of the ski season in Beitostolen, Norway, Klebo went to his final training camp of this off-season. The five-time Olympic champion chose Italian Livigno for training.

But in early November he was forced to complete the training process due to illness. The coronavirus, which struck not only the 27-year-old native of Trondheim, but also part of the coaching staff and the women’s team, unsettled Klebo for a long time.

True, during the pause Johannes was not bored. During this time, the skier managed to announce his new ski suit, the design of which was created by his brother. Ola, as a DJ and creative person, came up with an extremely interesting solution based on the graffiti style.

Johannes Klebo and his younger brother Ola / Photo: © Personal archive of Johannes Klebo

It was in this suit that Klebo had to run the national selection race in Beitostolen. But, upon returning home, he said that the start of the season was a blur:

— It’s too early to take risks and go to competitions. The body is not ready yet. “I would really like to take part and test the new ski suit, but, unfortunately, everything turned out wrong,” laments the “Sprint King”.

Reserve time

Of course, Klebo’s absence in the biathlon Mecca will not prevent him from coming to the World Cup, since the Norwegian has a personal quota as the overall winner of last season. However, the overall competition at the national selection will suffer greatly.

Against the backdrop of the illness of Didrik Tenseth, Havard Taugbol, Schur Rete, as well as the incomprehensible condition of another newsmaker of the summer, Petter Northug, the start of the season for the best team in the world looks sad.

Petter Northug / Photo: © Getty Images

Plus, two-time Olympic champion Ingvild Ostberg had troubles because she did not receive medical permission to compete.

— The situation is that Ingvild cannot obtain a health certificate. So she is not allowed to start,” says the Norwegian team doctor.

In addition to the experienced skier, the promising Helen-Marie Fossesholm also found herself in a functional and psychological hole. She won’t be in Beitostolen either.

Every day the composition of the Norwegian national team changes more and more. At the same time, there is no certainty that the team leaders will recover from the illness by the start of the World Cup. The same Johannes Klebo notes with bitterness that he may not come to Ruka. It’s too hard for him to recover from coronavirus.

Of course, in the absence of the Russians, the Norwegians can afford to send even a third squad to international competitions and still count on medals. But the authority and status of the World Cup only suffer from this, as does interest in the tournament. So it would be more useful for the international community to bring back Russian athletes rather than criticize us for wanting to compete.