– They had no chance at the end, says Erik Valnes to news, with a broad grin. When the 26-year-old moved at the end of training, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and the rest of the national sprint team got off his back. The WC silver winner from Oberstdorf stretched his arms in the air, the show and made a small leprosy. Sprint coach Arild Monsen did not allow himself to be excited by the able-eyes. – I know what he cheered for and I’m not too happy about that, Monsen tells news after the sprint national team’s training session in sunny Valbruna. Shaken at the behavior Because even though there is a playful atmosphere and a lot of twinkle in the eye at the sprint national team’s training, the Moldensen gets serious when the start of the championships approaches. – He played around here with such backflips, jumps and nonsense two days before a WC sprint. You mustn’t come to me to tell me about a strain in your thigh, then, that is, says Monsen, who pulls on his smiley face and shakes his head in frustration before he delivers the following message: – These are not the days to keep up with such nonsense.. – But isn’t it fine to play around a bit? – Yes, but not two days before the WC sprint, says Monsen. STRENGTH: The smile is rarely far away, but Arild Monsen does not want any nonsense or injuries before the WC’s most important distance for a sprint national team coach. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB The atmosphere was particularly good in Italian Valbruna, half an hour’s drive from Planica, two days before the opening distance in the WC. There was no indication that the runners were affected by the fact that WC medals and a potential place in the team sprint are soon at stake. Dismisses allegation of tricks Nor was the coach’s speech enough to break Valnes’ mood: – No, one jump must be enough, but I haven’t taken a backflip, so I don’t know where that comes from, says Valnes to news, before he gets in the car to the hotel. STORFORNOUD: – Getting to the finish line alone, it’s good to feel that feeling too. I have never done that before, says Valnes to news. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB After winning World Cup silver in Oberstdorf two years ago, as well as World Cup gold and Olympic gold in the team sprint in the last couple of years, Valnes is among the favorites in the sprint. He feels fit after struggling with illness at the start of the season. – The classic sprints have been a bit off, especially the one in Les Rousses, so I probably don’t have the same confidence as before Oberstdorf (in 2021), but I think the form is probably just as good. PS! The WC sprint starts on Thursday with a prologue at 12:00 and elimination rounds from 14:30. Norway’s men’s team consists of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Pål Golberg, Even Northug, Håvard Solås Taugbøl and Erik Valnes.
ttn-69
– Not the days for such nonsense – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
