LILLEHAMMER (VG) With the sprint win, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won an incredible half of the World Cup races he raced in his career. But to pay homage to himself, he resoundingly says no thanks.
He he was again first across the finish line. Klæbo pulled out of the final corner and controlled for another breakaway win in Saturday’s sprint.
– In the last 40 seconds I don’t turn around, then I just walk, he says Klaebo to VG
It was Klæbo’s 104th World Cup start, his 52nd World Cup victory.
Win rate of other great Norwegians (and a Swede) at the World Cup:
- Bjorn Dæhlie – 39%.
- Peter Northug – 17%.
- Martin Johnsrud Sundby – 13.5%.
- Thomas Alsgaard – 13%.
- Vegard Ulvang – 8.5%.
- Swedish ski king Gunde Svan was close to Klæbo with a 46-win percentage, but rode just 65 World Cup races.
- Marit Bjørgen raced a total of 303 World Cup races and won 114 of them. This gives a win percentage of 37.5.
On Sunday, Klæbo will most likely choose the classic 20-kilometer joint start – unless the gorge is rumbling again. “Everyone” thinks Klæbo will win if he starts. He has taken four wins in four races so far this season.
– Can you win 30 World Cup races this year?
– No, I think it will be difficult. Then the growling in my throat has to go away quickly, then I can’t stand a day like that, and then everyone else has to grumble a little, then maybe it could work. But I think it’s unlikely. My goal is one ski race at a time, Klæbo responds and laughs a little at the idea of 30 victories.
There are 37 World Cup races this season.
– Can’t you be a little un-Norwegian and say: Am I so much better than the others that they have no chance?
– It’s so far from my upbringing. That thought never occurred to me to say, nor will I ever say, Klæbo replies and laughs.
For now, record after record means a crash when the 26-year-old from Byåsen in Trondheim skis.
With the sprint win in Lillehammer, Klæbo won twice as many World Cup sprint races as any other man. Federico Pellegrino, who finished second on Saturday, and Emil Jönsson have 16 victories each.
Northug also finished third in Saturday’s sprint. It is almost speechless for what Klæbo offers.
– We will all win, but he is raw. We just have to realize that and train accordingly, and do things to get close to and maybe beat him, Northug tells VG.
– What is it like to compete against someone who is so superior?
– I think it’s funny. I like having something to achieve. It helps with motivation, Northug replies.
This is what Martin Johnsrud Sundby had to say about Klæbo after Ruka’s success:
His older brother Petter Northug announced it on Twitter after Klæbo’s sprint victory:
“See how Johannes solves this problem technically in the final. It’s so raw to watch! Hit straight into the ground and quickly climb into position before it strikes again. Pellegrino, Anger and Northug will be extras when the call comes down. Get to work.”
Klæbo is number three in the list of victories in the same type of competition, he has 19 victories in the freestyle sprint. Marit Bjørgen occupies 1st and 2nd on that list, with 24 wins in the sprint freestyle alone and 20 wins in the relays, stats from the International Ski Federation show.
With Sunday’s win, Klæbo will be the only male rider to have five individual victories in Lillehammer. He equaled Martin Johnsrud Sundby’s fours in Saturday’s sprint triumph.
With three wins in Ruka surpassed Justyna Kowalczyk on the list of most World Cup victories. Kowalczyk had 50. Now Klæbo has 52. Only Marit Bjørgen and Therese Johaug have more. Bjørgen stopped at 114 victories, Johaug 82.
But there are still milestones for Klæbo. He has never won a classic distance race longer than 15 kilometres. On Sunday there is a classic joint start of 20 kilometers in Lillehammer.
And The hamstring injury doesn’t seem to worry Klæbo remarkable. The alternate lineup worked. Neither a hamstring nor a slightly sore neck stops the best cross-country skier in the world.
– I think the quarterfinals and semifinals are the heaviest today (Saturday), so I’ll have some of what I want in the final, Klæbo tells VG.
He also has some second and third places. In addition to 52 World Cup victories, he has 15 second places and 4 third places. That means 71 podiums in 104 races. He is solid.
