Cross-country World Cup: the race to catch up ends with a broken stick and disqualification

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The Norwegian Johannes Hösflot Kläbo (left) pressed Alexander Bolschunow (center) while overtaking, so that the Russian's stick broke

Photo: GIAN EHRENZELLER / EPA

What a drama at the end of the Nordic World Ski Championships: Norway's cross-country skier Johannes Hösflot Kläbo was disqualified an hour after winning what was supposed to be his fourth gold medal at the World Championships in Oberstdorf.

After 50 kilometers on the home straight, the 24-year-old had taken the right of way from his opponent Alexander Bolshunov.

A counter-protest by the Norwegians was rejected after a brief discussion.

The second-placed Norwegian Emil Iversen was declared world champion.

Bolschunow took silver, bronze went to the Norwegian Simen Hegstad Krüger.

300 meters from the goal there was contact between the much faster Kläbo and Bolshunow.

“That was borderline from Kläbo.

There was simply no more space, "said national coach Peter Schlickenrieder:" If he thinks he has to choose the track that the Bolshunov running in front of him chooses, I think it's borderline.

When he's behind, he usually has to walk around Bolshunov and choose the left lane. "

Bolshunov once again occupied the rulers of the FIS.

The 24-year-old was sentenced to a suspended sentence shortly before the World Cup for unsportsmanlike conduct, after killing the Finn Jona Mäki with a body check at the relay in Lahti at the end of January.

Bolshunov had denied intent.

Nevertheless, Norway could look forward to medals number 30 and 31 in the title fights in Oberstdorf.

With a total of 31 podium places (13x gold, 11x silver, 7x bronze), Norway significantly improved its own World Cup record from 2019 (25 medals), 13 titles represent the setting of its own record from two years ago.

German cross-country skiers remain medalless again

The German cross-country skiers had nothing to do with the outcome of the last of twelve World Cup decisions.

In 18th place, Jonas Dobler achieved the best individual result for the German men at the home World Cup.

“That was a conciliatory end.

The men fought, chapeau, ”said national coach Peter Schlickenrieder.

After 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, Germany’s cross-country skiers will have no medals for the fifth World Cup in a row.

Schlickenrieder had already declared the event in the Allgäu as the big goal when he took office in 2018.

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