– What is the status? – The status is that we have a dialogue and hope that we will soon get the last details in place. We all want Johannes at the start in Ruka, says cross-country manager Espen Bjervig to news. The women’s team and the men’s national sprint team meet in Lillehammer this week, but the biggest name of them all is missing – Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The 26-year-old turned down the national team this spring, and has not yet signed a so-called representation agreement, which gives him the opportunity to still start in the World Cup. Klæbo has expressed that he does not necessarily need to go to the World Cup in the winter and that he does not have a bad time. The boss doesn’t believe that. – No, quite honestly, I don’t believe that. I think he really wants to go to the World Cup. It’s probably said a bit sloppy, says Bjervig. Feels confident that Klæbo will go For the outgoing cross-country manager, he believes that a solution is beginning to come. – I feel it. The season is approaching, so it must also be approaching. We have a good dialogue, so I think we will land well on our feet, says Bjervig. – So that’s sloppy, not a negotiating argument? – I feel confident that Johannes wants to go to the World Cup race. The world’s best skier probably wants to compete against the other best in the world. GOOD DIALOGUE: Bjervig feels confident that Klæbo will be wearing a yellow starting number in the World Cup opener in Ruka. Photo: Lars Thomas Nordby / NTB He says the ball is in both parties’ court and that there are practical things they need to accommodate. But he is confident that Klæbo will be in the starting number for the World Cup opener in Ruka on 24 November. – Then we’ll just see In an interview during the Top Sports Week in August, Klæbo said that he will go skiing this winter, but did not specify which type of race. – My main goal is the WC in 2025. How will it be this winter, I’m betting that will work out. It’s a long time until the WC. The most important thing is to do the best possible job towards that, and of course the coming winter is an important season with the Tour de Ski and whatnot. But in the big picture, it is the WC on home ground that is the most important, said Klæbo to news. – I’ll be at the start this winter too, I’ll be skiing, and then we’ll just see what kind of skiing it is. In another interview the same week, the 26-year-old claimed that the backup plan for the winter is to play for Petter Northug’s long-distance team. news has tried to get in touch with manager and father Haakon Klæbo in connection with this case, but has so far not received a reply. IN FAMOUS STYLE: Klæbo won the hunt start during the Top Sports Week in August this year. Photo: Joakim Halvorsen / NTB Lekkasje For several of the national team athletes, it is energy draining that the association and Klæbo have not yet come to a solution. HOPE FOR A SOLUTION: Golberg hopes there will be a clarification in good time before they stand on the starting line at Beitostølen. Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB – It is a form of energy leakage that is not constructive for anyone. We want to focus on becoming the best possible skier and be as well prepared as possible, both physically and mentally, on Beitostølen. I expect that also applies to Johannes, says Pål Golberg to news. – It is in everyone’s interest that this comes to fruition. Everyone wants Johannes at the start and I can’t imagine that Johannes wants anything else either. Simen Hegstad Krüger also stated to news earlier this week that they notice that the parties have not reached an agreement. – I think it is starting to be time to agree. I don’t see what should stand in the way of finding an agreement. It is something that can be an energy leak both for us and for him, said Krüger Bjervig says he understands that a lack of clarification can be experienced as something that drains energy for the runners. – That probably applies to everyone. For Johannes, the other athletes here and as far as anyone else who is also involved in this here. Everyone wants to get this in place and I am confident that we will achieve that, says Bjervig.
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