Swiss skier Dario Cologna talked about the victory of Norwegian Johannes Klebo in the Tour de Ski. TV2.
“I don’t see anyone who can challenge Klebo other than Bolshunov. But the Russian is not here. Klebo will be the greatest skier of all time if he keeps it up,” he said.
Recall that the FIS decided to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until the end of last season, and then extended the sanctions. They missed the final stages of the 2021/22 World Cup. Also, Russian skiers are not taking part in the new season 2022/23, but they are focusing on local starts.
It is worth noting that this did not prevent Russian woman Natalya Nepryaeva from earning the overall standings of the World Cup, despite missing the last three stages. In the men’s men, Norway’s Johannes Klebo was the best, second place went to the winner of the last two years, Alexander Bolshunov.
Vegard Ulvang, former chairman of the FIS Cross Country Committee declarationthat initially it would be necessary to solve the problem of the absence of the Russians.