OBERSTDORF (Nettavisen): – They are clearly not afraid of runners like me.
That’s what Røthe says after finishing 5th – 3.4 seconds behind winner Johannes Høsflot Klæbo at the start of the 20 kilometer chase in Oberstdorf.
Vossingen came within 1 minute 12 seconds of Klæbo at the start. He is very surprised how the competitors ahead of him handled the race.
– It’s shocking to me that there is no one who wants to speed up, Røthe tells Nettavisen.
He had crossed out in the recap before Wednesday’s race, but thanks for the goodie bag. From 1 minute and 47 seconds late in the round-up, it’s now just 39 seconds until Klæbo.
– For my part, it’s a dream scenario. Can’t get any better than this, says Røthe.
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Surprised the expert
NRK expert Torgeir Bjørn was also surprised by how Wednesday’s hunting match for the men went.
– Everything went well for Klæbo, he almost secured his position, but for Simen Hegstad Krüger didn’t take advantage of it today. He has allowed many who were distant in summary to come closer. Both sprinters like Sindre Bjørnestad Skar, but also a guy like Sjur Røthe come dangerously close, Bjørn tells Nettavisen.
The pundit is impressed by Røthe and predicts there could be more from the 34-year-old pundit throughout the winter.
– Today’s race confirms that Sjur Røthe is truly on the rise. He impressed me a lot after a slightly bad summer and fall of training. Doing so many good races now bodes well that he is a clear medal candidate in the WC in the 15km freestyle and skiathlon, although there is a tough fight for those places, says Bjørn.
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– I wish I had the strength
Simen Hegstad Krüger was one of those who had high expectations for Wednesday’s race, but the Norwegian was never able to pick up the pace at the front.
He is clearly disappointed when he meets Nettavisen after the hunt has begun.
– I wish I had the strength to do another ski race, but today I wasn’t close to being able to do it. Before you have time to look around, you’re gathered there. I noticed right away that it wasn’t quite the tough day needed to be able to hold the lead. Of course I am disappointed by this, but with the conditions we are in today, I was afraid it would turn out like this, says Krüger.
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With very fast conditions, it was an advantage to come from behind and one who took advantage of that was sprinter Sindre Bjørnestad Skar, who finished second.
He too is surprised that no one in front has chosen to accelerate to keep those behind away.
– This was good. I think he went awfully fast the first couple laps but suddenly we were on top. I was surprised and thought it was weird. I was also surprised that it didn’t go any faster than it did in the end. I was happy about it, because I was stiff and had nothing else to do. I got the most out of the day today, Skar tells Nettavisen.
He thinks the podium would have been different if the group at the top had ridden harder over time.
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Travel to Italy
Klæbo is still the big favorite to win the tour, but Røthe is suddenly fighting for the podium again.
– Now he is definitely in the running for the podium. Klæbo will still be the clear overall favorite. I think Krüger almost destroyed the opportunity to win, while Sjur Røthe now definitely has the opportunity to be in the top three in the round-up. It’s mainly because you won’t find a bigger favorite than him and Krüger on the last hill, says NRK expert Torgeir Bjørn.
Røthe recognizes that he has been given something to think about.
– Little was said about the tour yesterday and I agreed with myself that I would have to fight for a place on the podium on the last climb of the Tour de ski. It was supposed to be the only and last goal, but as it looks now, I have to at least try to do a good 15km race, Vossingen says and points to Saturday’s distance in Val di Fiemme.
Thursday is a rest day for the Tour de ski, before it’s ready for a new stage with a sprint into Val di Fiemme on Friday.
