National team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum can certainly break his and Norway’s world record from the World Ski Championships in Seefeld in 2019, with six men’s golds out of six possible when the World Championships in Oberstdorf kicks off at the end of February and the beginning of March 2021.
This is a comment. It is the writer’s attitude that is expressed.
At the same time, I am deeply concerned that the competition for the Norwegian team has become worse and worse in recent years. Several nations are struggling to recruit top athletes.
When I sit here in the cozy living room at Holmenkollen Park Hotel, eye to eye with Nossum, I just get more and more convinced.
It is actually possible.
It could be a new Norwegian grand slam.
Just like two years ago.
From the window in the restaurant, I see this autumn’s first snowflake falling over Oslo’s roof. The rough weather makes me think for a moment about the Russian Alexander Bolshunov.
The man who started first in the final of Tour Ski 2020 at Granåsen in Trondheim, but who went on a lubrication boom in the Trøndelag storm and fell from first to seventh place on the last stage.
In front of him, Bolshunov had six Norwegians with Pål Golberg, Simen Hegstad Krüger and Hans Christer Holund on the podium.
Bolshunov, who took World Cup silver in 30 kilometers and 50 kilometers in Seefeld, will probably be one of the few real challengers for the Norwegians this winter, too.
We can also add his compatriot Sergei Ustyugov, as well as the Finn Iivo Niskanen. But then it becomes more difficult to see someone with the capacity to crack five Norwegians in the individual World Cup races.
After the success in 2019, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Sjur Røthe, Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Hans Christer Holund will get free places in the sprint, 30 kilometers, 15 kilometers and 50 kilometers in the next WC.
In Seefeld, Norway competed with four men. In Oberstdorf, there will be five and even greater golden chances.
As I see it, there are two explanations for the Norwegian dominance.
* The breadth of the Norwegian squad has seldom, or never, been bigger and better. The development work is unparalleled compared to the rest of the world, from club to region to national team. We are talking about a Norwegian rocket that launches into the air with new and old profiles, accompanied by highly competent coaches and leaders.
* Competing nations such as Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, the United States, Canada and Switzerland are moving in the opposite direction as Norway and can only send out some scattered medal hopes. The width is jam-thin in these nations.
If the competitions become too unpredictable and the winners always come from the same country, well, then we risk that the international interest disappears.
This could lead to a crisis in which the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, also begins to think that cross-country skiing no longer deserves as much attention in the Olympic program, as only a few nations make up for the medals.
It should still be said that the results from the Junior WC and U23 WC this winter make me believe that there can be a greater international breadth towards the WC in Trondheim in 2025.
Norway’s dominance as of today is, in my opinion, partly due to a national cannon job and partly weakened international competition due to a generational change in several countries.
Competition on the men’s side is not what it once was.
And the Norwegians can not slow down their development in the track or lie down on the couch just because of a foreign star fall. Of course, Nossum’s gang does everything to get even better.
The competitors:
Sweden has no new Marcus Hellner, Johan Olsson, Anders Södergren or Daniel Richardsson ready for a gold match, yet.
Switzerland has no new Cologna going on and “Super Dario” sings even in the last verse.
Canada has no new Alex Harvey in sight.
Federico Pellegrino seems to be the only Italian threat (sprint), unless the eternal promising Francesco De Fabiani recovers.
The Czech Republic is struggling to find a new Lucas Bauer.
And the United States would need a new Kris Freeman or Bill Koch.
France has Lucas Chanavat and some others in the sprint, but that is probably not enough to beat Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
Estonia has largely doped itself out of the world elite, just like Austria and Kazakhstan.
But what about Germany, then? Well, the home hope on the men’s side can be Lars Bögel, number 35 and best German in the World Cup last season. People like the retired stars Axel Teichmann, Rene Sommerfeldt, and Tobias Angerer are missing something completely enormous.
China, for its part, is working hard to bring elite athletes to the Beijing Olympics in 2022, with the help of Terje Bjarte Langli and Anita Moen, but it is still far from being a medal hope. The same goes for Japan’s men’s team.
Finland has Niskanen. He does not win World Cup gold in the 15-kilometer freestyle. The 28-year-old classic specialist from Oulu on the shores of the northern Gulf of Bothnia can possibly triumph in the 50-kilometer classic – if he gets loose and does not have to ask against Norwegians or Bolshunov.
Norway’s squad is growing so fast. The outside world, apart from Russia, is shrinking.
In the 2019/2020 World Cup, Norway, for example, had seven men among the 12 best in the summary. Sweden had three and Finland had two athletes among the top 30. Italy and France had one each.
The next ones who can threaten Norway come from the east. Seven Russian runners were among the top 20 in the last World Cup.
As a Swede, I can not really see a single proper individual medal candidate from Sweden in the World Cup on the men’s side.
We blue-yellows can hope and believe in Calle Halfvarsson again. On Jens Burman (a joker on five miles), Oskar Svensson, Viktor Thorn and Johan Häggström. Good cross-country skiers, but none of them had a place in the Norwegian World Cup team.
At least not as it is now. Probably not in late February, either.
And while I can only imagine two new top athletes from Sweden in the near future, William Poromaa (20) and sprinter Marcus Grate (23), new Norwegian great talents are constantly appearing on the assembly line.
In my conversation with Nossum, the Inderøya boy can give me status on almost any number of aces he has on hand: Simen Hegstad Krüger, Hans Christer Holund, Emil Iversen, Didrik Tønseth, Sjur Røthe, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget…
Practitioners like Nossum during the morning have been out “whipping” in a tough elkhufs session from Sognsvann to Frognerseteren. Despite the snow and autumn weather outdoors, there was nothing wrong with the mood and will of the Norwegian boys.
Nossum just laughs.
– It looks good, he says.
SATISFIED: Eirik Myhr Nossum leads a strong Norwegian team.
Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum (NTB)
In Lillehammer, his colleague Arild Monsen is working to sharpen the form of the sprint boys: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Pål Golberg, Erik Valnes, Finn HÅgen Krogh, Sindre Bjørnstad Skar, Håvard Solås Taugbøl and Ansgar Evensen…
When we first mention relevant names, we can also mention some hungry wolves lurking in the shadows and who envision challenging the national team and doing everything to impress coach Nossum: Harald Østberg Amundsen, Jan Thomas Jenssen, Ivar Tildheim Andersen, Gjøran Tefre, Mattis Stenshagen and Håvard Moseby…
Nossum really has many to choose from.
Did I forget anyone?
Yes, at least 5-10 more who will probably challenge for a place on the World Cup team.
And yes, I must mention: Niklas Dyrhaug has a private venture with Martin Johnsrud Sundby. The latter I met at HK Labben in Kollen just a couple of weeks ago. Sweat splashed. Sundby gave everything on the tape.
He wants to win – again. And he works really hard to get back in the golden form he had during the Seefeld WC in 2019. It actually feels realistic, if his back holds.
So, which nation should be able to trump over Nossum’s gang and Norway’s broad troop?
No.
Eirik Myhr Nossum mentions Bolshunov’s name with respect and says: – If we win one individual gold and relay gold, then we are inside and have done well.
And then he adds:
– But of course we will do everything to win all the golds in Oberstdorf, too.
– And in the Tour de Ski we focus on the best team. The Tour de Ski is incredibly important in terms of promoting cross-country skiing.
I understand what he’s saying.
What should or is the motivation for the Norwegian gentlemen? Something that has been incredibly good, will be something absolutely fantastically good.
The conditions are better than ever.
Nossum tells me that his disciples have done an incredible job this summer and this fall. Most things seem to be in the care of the men’s team before this winter.
I end by asking about Finn Hågen Krogh. The answer is:
– He is on his way to the World Cup form he had in Lahti in 2017.
Yes, I just have to say thank you, Nossum.
At that time, the Alta boy saved Norway’s honor by staying away from Ustjugov on the anchor leg of the relay and led Norway to the championship’s only men’s gold.
Now Krogh’s toughest task will be to get a place on the World Cup team,
That says it all about Norway’s strength.
And maybe a little about the rest of the world as well.
Eirik Myhr Nossum gets up from his chair and gets ready for the next interview.
– The team selection will be the most difficult this winter, it will really not be easy.
That I understand.
Even luxury problem can give you headaches.
/ Torbjörn Nordvall
PS Ski World Cup begins in Oberstdorf, Germany with sprint competitions on 25 February 2021.
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