– He has impressed greatly on the trail this winter. It is at the very highest level, also in a cross-country context, says Torgeir Bjørn, news’s cross-country expert, about Johannes Thingnes Bø’s achievements. Stryningen is apparently unbeatable in the Biathlon World Cup, especially in the ski track. It has also given him the best cross-country time time and time again, such as during the 10 kilometer long sprint in Anterselva last week. There he had the best cross-country time, 41.4 seconds ahead of Martin Ponsiluoma. Now several people in the biathlon circus are toying with the idea of Bø on the starting line in cross-country skiing. Several biathletes have previously competed in both the World Cup and WC in cross-country skiing with good success. Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Ronny Hafsås both have a World Cup victory in cross-country skiing, while Lars Berger won the World Cup gold in cross-country skiing at 15 kilometers in 2007. DOMINATING: Johannes Thingnes Bø is superior in the World Cup in biathlon this season. Photo: VINCENZO PINTO / AFP – Johannes is on par with (Ole Einar) Bjørndalen and (Lars) Berger, says Bjørn and adds: – What is special is that they were a bit of cross-country skiing types, who learned to shoot. They could just as well bet on cross-country skiing. Johannes is basically more of a pure and complete biathlete. – We have talked about what national team colleague Johannes Dale reveals to news that it has been a topic around the dinner table what the team’s players could achieve in special cross-country skiing. – It would have been fun to see what Johannes is now going to do. I don’t understand anything other than that it had lasted very well. I’m not going to say that he had won everything in cross-country skiing, but it is very tempting to think that thought, admits Dale. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen is one of those who have been closest to Thingnes Bø on the trail this season. – That Johannes goes fast is probably the least surprising thing at the moment. He is completely unique. – Should he switch to cross-country skiing? – We have talked a little about it. In a 10 kilometer race at the pace he has now, I think he would have claimed a lot. The team-mate believes the World Cup leader had struggled with the best Norwegian distance runners. – I think Harald (Østberg Amundsen), (Hans Christer) Holund and Simen (Hegstad Krüger) would have been much sharper in a 15 kilometer, but with the top speed Johannes is able to hold on to a 10 kilometer he would have been, not superb, but up and fought at the top, says Christiansen. SURE: The teammates of Johannes Thingnes Bø (in front) believe the World Cup leader would assert himself even without the stock exchange on his back. Back from left: Tarjei Bø, Sturla Holm Lægreid and Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen. Photo: CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP Big brother Tarjei Bø points out that the national cross-country team no longer needs the help of biathletes in the way they did when Lars Berger and Ole Einar Bjørndalen wreaked havoc on the track. – It would have been very cool to see him in cross-country skiing now, not least now that they have started going 10 kilometers instead of 15. I think that would have suited him perfectly, says Bø. – I think he had asserted himself very well, he says, and takes off his hat for what his brother is doing. Top six news expert Bjørn agrees with older brother Bø that 10 kilometers is an advantage for Thingnes Bø. – I am quite confident that as soon as he leaves this winter, he would be right up in the top tier. I think I would have entered the top six in the World Cup, says Bjørn. However, he believes his teammates and himself will have to wait a long time and perhaps forever before they get to see Bø in a cross-country race. – I understand that his teammates would have liked to see him go cross-country, then they would have let him in a couple of competitions, Bjørn adds with a twinkle in his eye. Thingnes Bø himself has no plans to try his hand at special cross-country skiing. – It goes away in the track during the day, and it would have been fun to see what it was all about, but I will probably never start a cross-country race and be as well prepared as I am for the World Cup (in biathlon). And then in many ways there is no point in even trying, he says when news asks him about the possibilities. Thingnes Bø won gold in the 10 kilometer Junior National Championships in 2012 and beat runners such as Sindre Bjørnestad Skar and Simen Hegstad Krüger, but has not competed in a special cross-country race since he came 63rd in the national opening at Beitostølen in autumn 2014. The World Cup leader says that it his only goal is to become the best possible in biathlon. – Special cross-country skiing is probably something I could master with given training and a commitment to it, but as far as my knowledge is in skiing, starting and stopping with shooting in the middle is what I master best. – Sjåstad Christiansen, do you think you could assert yourself? – It is only speculation. Unfortunately, I think we will never know.
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Torgeir Bjørn thinks Johannes Thingnes Bø can prove himself in cross-country skiing – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
