Race director of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Lasse Ottesen, confirmed that the judges received a protest from Germany after the race.

– We’ve looked through all the video and photo materials we have and the jury agreed it was a minor “racing incident,” said Ottesen.

He was clear that nothing had led up to the disqualification, but said they would probably talk to Riiber about the incident.

– It’s more about defending the sporting side from a sporting point of view. But tactics are legal in sport, so that’s how it is, says Ottesen.

The Norwegian runner shook his head in protest

In the Norwegian camp, little did they understand that a protest had been filed, leading to a jury meeting before notification of the final gold coming in for the Norwegian runner.

– There is no hope. It wasn’t something they could hold a jury meeting with. There is no place for anyone there, said Riiber.

– In this case, you have to defame the German people, if someone is insulted there, said Espen Andersen.

Heading into the run, Riiber moved on from Germany’s Julian Schmid and crossed the finish line first, but it was the situation on the penultimate slope that created discussion and led to a jury meeting being held.

– There is only a 20-30 centimeter hatch. The Jarl is slightly ahead of me, so his tactics are better than mine, Schmid himself told NRK.

Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger also has little faith the protests will change the outcome.

– I don’t think the protest will work. It was a very close match, so you should at least try. It’s very close. I do not know. I hope it works, but I think that’s fine from the Jarl, said the German.

– I don’t really understand why there is a jury meeting. I think the problem is pretty clear. The Jarl went ahead and entered the turn first. Schmid tries his hand at the freak inside and then of course gets really tight. It’s barely enough that the Jarl doesn’t fall, says NRK cross-country expert Fredrik Aukland.

And after a few minutes a message also came – there is Norwegian gold in Planica.

Thrilling cross-country skiing

Norway came first in cross-country skiing in the combined men’s team competition in WC, but after a strong stage from Eric Frenzel, Norway’s entire lead was eaten away.

The next two stages were marked by tactical trickery and in the last stage Jarl Magnus Riiber came out along with German Julian Schmid. More than 20 seconds separated World Cup leaders Johannes Lamparter, but a calm pace up front saw Austria also go into the gold rush.

– This is going to be more fun than we wanted, but he has to hurry. We have to hope for the best, said Jens Lurås Oftebro, who made the second leg for Norway.

Riiber himself described it as nerve-wracking to have the role of anchor before cross-country skiing, but after a very dramatic finish he went on to win Norwegian gold.

Seventh WC Gold for Riiber

For Riiber, this is the seventh time he has won WC gold, including three individual golds and four team golds.

With seven WC gold medals, he equaled Germany’s Eric Frenzel as the man with the most combined WC gold medals. In return, Frenzel had eight silvers and three bronzes, while Riiber had three silvers in addition to six golds.

Riiber (and Frenzel) are both in the hunt for their eighth WC gold in the individual competition at big hill on Saturday.

For Frenzel, this was his 18th WC medal which made him the most medaled male athlete in WC skiing, one more than Bjørn Dæhlie. Marit Bjørgen has 26 WC medals.

Riiber with super jump

Norway got a brilliant starting point before cross-country skiing, thanks in large part to Jarl Magnus Riiber. With the longest jump in the competition, 139 meters, he is clearly the best of them all.

– It’s one of the wildest things I’ve ever seen put together, teammate Espen Andersen said of Riiber.

Before cross-country skiing, Norway was 20 and 23 seconds behind its two biggest competitors, Austria and Germany, respectively.

For Norway, Andersen traveled in the first cross-country leg, while Jens Lurås Oftebro, Jørgen Graabak and Riiber traveled in the next three rounds.

Riiber was also anchor on the Norwegian team that captured WC gold in 2019 and 2021, but is open to Jørgen Graabak, who served as anchor in Riiber’s absence at last year’s Olympics, taking that role at Planica.

– We have management that we want to improve. “At the same time, historically, I’ve finished well and hopefully have the mental edge over the competition,” Riiber said before the cross-country about the anchor’s choice.

– Much more tactical gameplay than we expected

Germany set aside everything to close the gap on Norway during the first part of the competition. With a strong finish, Eric Frenzel took Norway’s lead in the first stage and sent Vinzenz Geiger out with Oftebro.

– He has eaten Norway on this stage, said Bjørn about Frenzel’s stage.

The second stage is characterized by deception. Only with one and a half kilometers remaining from the 5 kilometer stage did Geiger increase his speed.

However, Oftebro stuck to Geiger’s back skis and also switched first.

Tactical play also characterizes the third stage and Austria and France nearly reach Norway and Germany before the pace picks up.

– This was a much more tactical game than we thought, said Bjørn.

There was no gap between Graabak and German Johannes Rydzek, and thus Riiber and German Julian Schmid came out on the same stage in the final stage, where the former proved to be the best.