Votes in Norway want to extend the exclusion of Russians in the World Cup.
Outing that makes the star Aleksandr Bolshunov light up.
– I hate to hear that, he says.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, Russian cross-country skiers were stopped from the World Cup. Since then, there have been several trips in the media, where Russian and other skiers have launched a fierce attack on each other.
Do not want to see Russians in the World Cup
It has been extra hard between Norway and Russia. When the war started, competition awaited in Norway – but who refused to stand as organizer unless Fis went in and put his foot down and banned Russian participants.
The riders were then already in place in Norway, but the nation got what they wanted and Russia was ported. Afterwards, they launched a fierce attack on our neighboring country in the west, claiming that they had been expelled from the country.
The whole spring has been a debate about whether Russian skiers can line up when the season starts again this winter. But Norway’s biggest star is sure of what he thinks.
“I hate it”
Johannes Hösflöt Kläbo hopes that the Russian exclusion will be extended, and that they will then also miss the World Cup in Slovenia after the turn of the year. The Norwegian’s move has caused Aleksandr Bolshunov to light up properly, and strikes back against Kläbo.
– It is not nice to hear how Kläbo says that he does not want to see Russians in the World Cup. I hate to hear this. You have to compete against the strongest to win. It is good for the sport and the interest, says Bolshunov to R-Sport according to Norwegian VG.
He continues:
– I try not to think about it, but of course I would like to compete in the international arena, to prove who really is the strongest skier in the World Cup. If we (Russia) do not compete next season, Norway will dominate completely.
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