The removal of our ski team from the international season is more and more likely, although there are still more than three months before the traditional starting stage in Ruka. Therefore, Vyalbe and her colleagues are focusing on domestic competitions, which became the basis of the new calendar.

In this situation, the main creators of our ban realized the tragedy of their situation. The Norwegians will have to work hard to find real motivation for performances.

Even Klebo admitted that now his task is just to get to the finish line. The Norwegian, judging by his statements, seemed to have been replaced.

Adequate replacement

In the new version of the calendar, which appeared on the website of our federation on August 10, there are no Eastern European Cup competitions now. Instead, the stages of the Russian Cup were added. This means that the focus will be on the development of domestic competitions.

The first leg at Töi Summit will start 6 days earlier (November 19-20) than the World Cup in Finland (Ruka, November 25). The last stage, the eighth, is Kirovsk (April 7-9). The international season will end a couple of weeks earlier – March 24-26 in Lahti.

Instead of the World Championship in Planica (February 21 – March 5, 2023), our calendar provides for the Championship Heights competition (February 23 – March 5), which will take place either in Sochi or Syktyvkar.

In general, the European season turns out to be richer: 12 stages, the Tour de Ski and the World Championship against 8 stages and three championships in Russia, but this is not a catastrophic difference. Our athletes will feel at ease, although, of course, fans may get bored with the traditional Christmas Tour de Ski. The Russian calendar does not offer a replacement for this multi-day period.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Federico Modica

It is worth recognizing that our top skiers are actively preparing for the new season and see no problems with “running” at domestic Russian starts.

– The last championship of Russia turned out to be very cool. And if we have to spend the whole next season at domestic competitions, I would like to see the same excitement, ”said Olympic relay champion Yulia Stupak at the state awards ceremony at Luzhniki.

Difficult period Klebo

However, while inside Russia they are making understandable preparatory steps for the upcoming winter, our main rivals from Norway are thinking about the difficulties of a psychological plan. The world’s best sprinter Johannes Klebo is in trouble with a hamstring injury and will now go a month without training. And this is the minimum.

But, in addition, the five-time Olympic champion admits that it is not only problems with his leg that can prevent him from showing good results in the season. Klebo is upset that a possible season without Russia could be strange, which gives rise to philosophical reasoning in him: “I think that the path to the goal can be the most important. I’ll just try to win as many races as possible.”

Photo: © Personal archive of Johannes Klebo

Eirik Mir Nossum, coach of the remote Norwegian national team, echoes him.

— Russia remains the leading country with arguably the strongest skier in the world, Bolshunov. It is clear that the image of his photo on the wall as a motivation may not be relevant now, but we will still work to the maximum,” the mentor emphasized diplomatically.

At the same time, Nossum did not hide that he hopes for the return of our athletes in the new season. Naturally, in this situation, it will be much easier for him to motivate his athletes.

Tops think differently

However, the FIS leadership, including Eric Röste, who was re-elected to the board of the international organization, admits that no changes are expected in the near future.

– The participation of Russian skiers is prohibited until a new decision is made by the FIS board. This can only happen if the situation changes. But the situation has not changed,” the official said.

Compatriot Klebo is not ready to betray his political point of view for the sake of preserving wrestling at international competitions. Although it seems that it is more important for the men’s team to have real competition in the face of the Russians, without which their motivation is already beginning to suffer. How hard it will be for them next season.