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By Peter Minde
LAKE PLACID — Johannes Høsflot Klæbo departed Oslo for Lake Placid on Wednesday, according to this article on langrenn.com and this blurb from NRK.
After his fall in the Drammen sprints, Klæbo spent a few days at home, and gradually resumed training. Nordic Insights learned that Klæbo would decide on potential overseas travel following an intensity workout on Tuesday.
From the Langrenn story: “After observation and further examinations, we have concluded that he is ready to participate in next weekend’s World Cup round in Lake Placid,” said national team doctor Ove Feragen in a press release on Wednesday morning.
Klæbo departed Norway early Wednesday and should arrive in Lake Placid approximately 36 hours before the men’s 10-kilometer interval-start classic race set for 3 p.m. local time on Friday afternoon.
After sweeping the Olympic podiums, one would think he doesn’t have anything to prove, that he could stay home and put his feet up. Klæbo has clinched the overall and sprint World Cups, but only three points separate him and Harald Østberg Amundsen in the chase for the distance globe. The compressed schedule doesn’t make for optimal race preparation.
But Klæbo believes it’s important to appear in Lake Placid.
“For cross-country skiing, the World Cups in the U.S.A. are extra important, and we have seen that before. I have been looking forward to this finale for a long time,” Klæbo told Langrenn.
At this writing, he hasn’t decided on how many races he’ll start. He’s acknowledged that he may not be in top shape. Notwithstanding, he’ll give it his best effort.
Will Klæbo wrap up the distance World Cup in Lake Placid? Will he be so enthralled that he forsakes summer training in Utah’s high desert for the Adirondacks’ deep woods, maple syrup, and black flies? Even my judgy cat doesn’t know. Stay tuned.
In other news out of Norway today, NRK separately reported that Einar Hedegart will start not only Sunday’s 20km skate, but also Saturday’s skate sprint. It will be Hedegart’s first individual sprint at the World Cup level; last month he teamed up with Klæbo to win gold in the team sprint in Milano–Cortina.
Per NRK, Norway’s starters for the sprint will be Amundsen, Hedegart, Even Northug, Mattis Stenshagen, Ansgar Evensen, Lars Heggen, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, and Even Solem Michelsen for the men, then Milla Grosberghaugen Andreassen, Karoline Grøtting, Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, Lotta Udnes Weng, Julie Myhre, Julie Bjervig Drivenes, and Tiril Udnes Weng for the women.
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