PHOTO: Bildbyrån
No Swedish man has managed to win the Tour de Ski.
But now there is a golden situation for the Swedish men.
– It will be much easier for the Swedish riders this year, says expert Anders Blomquist to SVT.
It’s time for the big highlight of the year in the non-championship ski season. The Tour de Ski starts this weekend and the mini-tour at the World Cup has been hit by serious disease chaos before.
Kläbo is completely missing
All three Norwegians who came first, second and third last year are now completely gone, which opens up the starting field considerably. Both Johannes Hösflot Kläbo and Simen Hegstad Krüger has been forced to withdraw due to covid disease and last year’s third Hans Christer Holund has ended his career.
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Now the ski expert gives Anders Blomquist his verdict on this year’s Tour de Ski edition on the men’s side.
– In terms of sports, it will be a watered-down edition. Kläbo would have swept clean in many of these races, if he had been healthy, but that will completely change the conditions. In a way, it can be a little more exciting even if all that magic and fantastic that Kläbo can offer – which is the next level in skiing – you miss that this year, he tells SVT.
The Swedish chance
The Norwegians’ absence will be a golden opportunity for the Swedes, where not a single blue-yellow men’s skier has won the Tour de Ski yet in history.
– It will be much easier for the Swedish riders. It opens up a completely different spectrum. Suddenly you have a chance on the podium, suddenly you have a chance if you are in really good shape – to be there and fight all the way to Alpe Cermis. So it’s a big opportunity even though I think there are more Norwegians who will be too strong for the Swedes, says SVT expert “Blomman” about the competition this year.
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The two men’s rowers who are closest to the world elite are Calle Halfvarsson and William Poromaa but unfortunately they haven’t had the best of starts to the season. But Blomquist now chooses his favorite of the Swedes.
– It would have suited Calle perfectly, but now he is also coming back from covid. So it’s a big uncertainty for Calle, so therefore I’d say William Poromaa has the best chance even though he’s had a lot of messes. I would say he has a chance on the podium but then everything has to be right. No mess, good form, flow in the races – then it can be the podium, the expert admits to the TV channel.
How do you think it goes for the Swedes in the Tour de Ski? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson are now nobbing in Norway – after the problems in the Swedish squad: “Not normal”
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