Johannes Hösflot Kläbo was one of the few who was not surprised by Finland’s silver at the World Cup. Hans Christer Holund incensed Niko Anttola from earth to heaven.
Norway roared to an overwhelming victory in the men’s relay at the World Skiing Championships in Planica. Finland was handsomely second, but there was no doubt about the number one. Hans Christer Holund, Paul Golberg, Simen Hegstad Krüger and Johannes Hösflot Kläbo won with a difference of 46.9 seconds over Finland.
In Finland, the medal has been considered sensational and a surprise. Based on the previous games in Planica, the Finnish four shouldn’t have been a very big medal candidate. It had also been 14 years since Finland’s last relay medal in the prestige games.
Norwegian superstar Johannes Hösflot Kläbo states, however, that Finland’s medal was not a surprise.
– Finland worked really hard. Iivo (Niskanen) pulled really hard in the second round. The rest of the team was incredible. The medal was really deserved. It’s nice that Finland is back on the podium, Kläbo commented to Urheilu.
Iivo Niskanen played a key role in the relay silver, when he broke away from the other medal contenders in the second traditional leg. Perttu Hyvärinen and Niko Anttola kept their surface clear with sections.
For many, Niko Anttola is certainly the most unknown name in the Finnish team. The 20-year-old super promise has rocketed into the skiing world’s consciousness.
Earlier this winter, Anttola won the junior world championship. At the time, a Norwegian skiing legend Petter Northug got excited to cheer on Anttola. He compared Anttola’s traditional technique to Iivo Niskase and freestyle to the five-time Norwegian Olympic champion to Thomas Alsgaard.
Three-time world champion and skier of the opening leg of the Norwegian day, Hans Christer Holund, admitted to Urheilu that he knew Anttola after the relay race.
– I watched it when he won the Junior World Championship. He is a good skier and will be a great skier. Anttola has a beautiful technique. I believe that Finland has a new star, Holund praised effusively.
Norway won the men’s WC relay for the 12th time in a row. Norway already decided the victory in the opening leg, when Holund ran away from the others.
Finland’s head coach Teemu Pasanen found Holundi’s selection for the opening leg surprising on Thursday. Holund joked after the race that 10 kilometers is a short distance for him and he is slow.
– The goal was to push right from the start and make others suffer right away. I just tried to ski twice uphill from the hard start. Fortunately, I got a divorce right away, Holund stated.
Kläbö is not going to break his jaws – “Ivo seems to be fine”
Despite the dominance, Kläbo and Holund incensed the importance of the message in the powerhouse of skiing.
– The message really means a lot. Everyone is watching it. Traditions are visible every year. This really means a lot to the whole team and the maintenance team, but also to the athletes who are outside the team watching this. This victory is not only ours, but the whole team’s, Kläbo incensed.
After a superior performance, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that getting into the Norwegian team is behind harder work than winning the world championship.
– We have eight skiers who could compete today. It’s an honor to be part of the team. To respect those left out, we have to do our best, Holund described the setting.
For the men, the WC skiing culminates on Sunday with a 50 kilometer joint start race in traditional skiing. Norway has so far won all the hardest trips in Planica for men. However, Kläbo does not go into the race with his jaws down.
– It will be a really tough race. Iivo also seems to be in pretty good shape. 50 kilometers will be a tough race because of the tough tracks and the weather that changes every day, says Kläbo.