– I completely disagree with the passages that have emerged from Fredrik Aukland, ski expert. It doesn’t depend on the grip, says sprint trainer Arild Monsen.

The big topic at Gjøvik after the NM sprint was Fredrik Aukland’s criticism of the Norwegian Ski Association. NRK experts reacted strongly to the fact that the men’s and several women’s national sprint teams were going to Livigno to perform the World Cup sprint at high altitude during the National Championships.

– You can’t cut everyone. Two of the runners on my team have no more precious metals to pick up right now. “You can’t complain that Even Northug and Håvard Taugbøl are no longer present during the NM week, if you complain about that then it’s the knowledge that something is wrong with Aukland’s head,” continued Monsen.

Previously, Aukland and Espen Bjervig, manager of the Norwegian national team, had met for a live debate on NRK. As the debate concluded, Bjervig told the press:

– Dit’s a bit far-fetched, because everyone who is and has been part of the international ski community knows what obligations we have. I thought it would be presented as a bit tabloid. Organizers have done a lot here to make this happen.

NRK experts believe they should hold back the criticism:

– I really respect Bjervig and Monsen as coaches and managers with good results over time. At the same time, as leaders, they must withstand criticism from outside their own association, said Aukland, who asked the following question Thursday morning:

– Why did the management of the Norwegian Ski Association allow runners to enter one race in order to prioritize the World Cup in Livigno, which is not even a WC practice?

After all, the National Championships in Gjøvik were held from Thursday to Sunday, and the entire national sprint team would be slumped after opening practice.

– The Norwegian ski championship is the most important event for Norwegian cross-country skiing. National team runners also have to stand there. “The fact that national team skiers were allowed to go to the World Cup is, in my opinion, disrespectful to the ski club and Ski-Norway,” said Aukland.

– Here I understand the meaning because Klæbo doesn’t have to go, some others don’t have to go. They treat some the same. Then there will be fewer national team runners at the start. Too bad for cross-country skiing.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is not sick, but he is standing all over the championship to prioritize the World Cup race at Livigno this weekend.

In the national team athlete contracts, basically it is stipulated in the contract that they have to compete in the National Championships.

Klæbo’s toughest competitor in the overall World Cup, Pål Golberg, will compete with Klæbo in Thursday’s sprint in Gjøvik. However, that would be the only practice he attended.

Bjervig: – It would be wrong anyway

The head of Norwegian cross-country skiing explained the loss of life as follows when he was first confronted with Aukland’s criticism:

– The World Cup is the top division where we play, we have to play. It’s a shame that it collided with the National Championship but that’s why we adjusted the program so they can go to the National Championship and the World Cup.

Bjervig would not confirm Thursday night’s selection, but it is now clear that all six runners on the Norwegian national sprint team will travel to Livigno and will be accompanied by Gjøran Tefre. Ane Appelkvist Stenseth and Julie Myhre were sent off from the women’s national team.

– There will be an error regardless of when there is a collision in the calendar. MN is very important. There’s no doubt about it. We’re very lucky to have some really strong athletes behind the best. Those concerned are six men and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and six women, Bjervig said.

– Why didn’t you set up NM last weekend when you could have avoided a crash?

– That’s because we will get very few out of the nine girls and ten boys on the Tour de Ski to stand. This program would be too restrictive.

Double-digit national team runners will not be running NM races this weekend

However, he does not want to blame the International Skiing and Boarding Federation (FIS):

– I myself sit in the same group and calendar plans. There are World Cup races every weekend and a weekend break after the Tour de Ski. It is a requirement of all countries that athletes are allowed to recover after a demanding racing programme.

As well as the men’s national sprint team which only ran one distance, Tiril Udnes Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalvå are reported to be out due to illness.

The same goes for Didrik Tønseth and Simen Hegstad Krüger on the men’s side. Emil Iversen is sitting out all of the individual distances because of a cold, but hopes to make it to Sunday’s relay.

The entry list also indicates that Astrid Øyre Slind, who finished seventh in the Tour de Ski, will not cover any distance in NM. He gave priority to the long-distance race La Diagonela.

Bjervig still considers it important not to underestimate the importance of the National Championship, not even related to the World Cup pick for Planica in February:

– Doing well in the National Championships, getting medals and winning the National Championships is a total that will weigh heavily. If you are sick and clash with the World Cup, there is still a chance to show off.