Sweden national team coach Johannes Lukas reacts to the actions of NRK commentator Andreas Stabrun Smith during the start of Saturday’s hunt.
– You can actually go without a pole in the final round and you will still win, reported Stabrun Smith at the time Johannes Thinnes Bo was going to him seventh individual World Cup victory this season. The Norwegian then led by one minute and 21 seconds after the last pitch at Pokljuka, with 2.5km to go.
Stabrun Smith’s move provokes a reaction from Swedish national biathlon manager Johannes Lukas.
– I absolutely do not think he would have won without spells. Those experts say so. They should know what it’s like to go out before they say anything, says Lukas The Espresso.
Stabrun Smith laughs out loud when the Swedish national coach’s comment is brought to his attention.
– Then I understand that the Swedish national coach is quite frustrated that the best Swede came in 19th place (Sebastian Samuelsson), NRK commentator tells VG.
– But do you really think he could have won without spells in the last round?
– Even if it’s superior now, I understand that there was a lot of lactic acid in the thighs, even for Johannes, replies Stabrun Smith from the car, returning to the hotel in Slovenia.
Joining him in the car sat NRK biathlon expert Ola Lunde. After a short chat between them, Stabrun Smith calls back.
– I was too careful. She would surely have won without spells. Ola and I agree, she says and laughs.
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The protagonist himself also believes that he could have thrown the sticks and won anyway.
– Actually I think today I would have won without pole in the last round. It went incredibly well on the track, says Thingnes Bø.
The Swedish biathlete Jesper Nelin is of the same opinion.
– It’s inhumane right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he won without pole, Nelin tells Expressen.
The Norwegian men’s biathletes, led by Thingnes Bø, have been absolutely superb this season and have taken nine out of ten individual victories. The Norwegian men also won both relays.
During the start of the Pokljuka hunt, all six Norwegians finished in the top eight on the hit list.
