– The way he is performing now, I think he could take a break, says Ola Lunde. Because after Tarjei Bø’s record of 53-18-9-39-16 in the World Cup so far, news’s expert believes that Bø should get a plane ticket home to Oslo. Instead, he went to French Annecy Le Grand-Bornand for the third World Cup round. – Tarjei’s place should be threatened, but I think he will have renewed confidence, said Lunde on Sunday evening. On Monday, he was right when the withdrawal was presented. Tarjei Bø himself believes that he deserves a place on the World Cup team. – What do you say to critics who say you have to get out? SAFE: Tarjei Bø is sure that the results will turn around. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB – Then I say they have no idea, says Bø with a twinkle in his eye. He is completely honest that the results this season have not been good enough, but is confident that the form, and the results, will come. – We have many good athletes and both me and Vetle have been a little below par this year, especially on the shooting range, but everyone at home knows what kind of top level we have. We have to have some ice in our stomachs, both us and the people who cheer us on. We fight back, says Bø to news. National team manager Per Arne Botnan supports Bø and thinks Lunde should understand that there is little that needs to be done before ironing is back at its peak. – There are small adjustments that are needed for Tarjei, and it is easiest to follow up when he is with the national team here instead of going home, says Botnan to news. – Very bad But Ola Lunde thinks the biathlon association is doing itself a disservice by taking the same crew to the first three World Cup rounds of the season. – The point is that if the team that has entered from the start gets to travel around the whole winter, then there is no chance for any of those below at the top level. If you dominate in the IBU Cup, you deserve the chance, Lunde believes. CRITICAL: Ola Lunde believes the national team management must allow athletes from the IBU Cup in the World Cup. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB And that’s exactly what Endre Strømsheim has done. In the first four races of the season at the second highest level, Strømsheim has three wins and one second place. But even though he has been the answer to the IBU Cup for Johannes Thingnes Bø, Strømsheim does not get the chance to measure his strength with the world’s elite. – I don’t think it’s good when we have the level of runners we have in the IBU Cup. Endre Strømsheim has dominated in the IBU Cup, and if he doesn’t get the chance, I think it’s very bad, says Lunde. The expert points out that it will not be any easier to remove elite runners in January, and that you will probably see the same Norwegian runners in the World Cup until the WC in February. – Completely inconsistent It makes Strømsheim frustrated. – It is completely tragic. I completely disagree with the selection based on the association’s own criteria. It says that athletes who need experience at a higher level must be given the opportunity. I need that, and in addition I have the results from the IBU Cup. So I struggle a bit with their argument, says Strømsheim to news. – What has the national team management said to you? TRAGIC: Endre Strømsheim does not understand the argument of the national team management. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB – They haven’t said anything other than that Tarjei is useful further with his experience. They almost have to explain it themselves. Botnan understands Strømsheim’s point that younger runners should be able to try out in the World Cup. – It is stated in the withdrawal rules, yes. But this will come more later in the season if the incumbents have not performed until then. That assessment will be more relevant later in the season, explains the national team manager. CHALLENGE: National team manager Per Arne Botnan believes the challenge for Strømsheim is that the level is so high on the men’s side. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news – The challenge is the level On the way to Ridnaun in Italy and the second round of the IBU Cup, he leaves nothing in between when it comes to the association’s handling of the second best athletes. – There is no such thing as a single time, there is no possibility. What one delivers in the IBU Cup is not relevant. The times someone from the IBU Cup gets the opportunity in the World Cup is only when it suits the World Cup team, says Strømsheim and underlines: – I have great respect for Tarjei and what he has achieved in the past. I don’t think he should be scrapped because of a weak start, but that the management could see this as an opportunity to appease Tarjei and give me the chance in the World Cup. The national team manager understands the disappointment of Strømsheim. – Endre could not have done that much better actually to qualify for the World Cup. The challenge is that the level is so high on the men’s side. Tarjei has not been quite top in the World Cup then, but history says something about his capacity, and despite everything he won the opening weekend at Sjusjøen, says Botnan.
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