New Rule for World Cup Cross-Country Skiing Starting Numbers Delights Riders

Published 2023-12-02 09.17

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The possibility of choosing gave several riders headaches.

It’s nice to avoid.

– I think it should be as simple as possible, says Frida Karlsson.

When there is an individual start in the World Cup in cross-country skiing, the best skiers – the seeded – usually start in a stream one after the other.

Previously, the seeded riders had to choose their starting number (the highest ranked got to choose first), but now there are new times. In this year’s World Cup, the seeded riders are randomly drawn into a certain number of starting numbers.

The riders applaud the change

Sportbladet asked a bunch of seeded skaters about the new rule and everyone was positive.

– It’s good, it will be the same for everyone. You’re either lucky or unlucky, says Norwegian superstar Johannes Hösflot Kläbo.

helskärmJohannes Hösflot Kläbo. Photo: Kalle Parkkinen / Bildbyrån

– I think it’s good. It becomes a little unfair if some always get the best starting number, so it’s good that they have changed, says compatriot Emil Iversen.

– I think it will probably be more even this way. It’s like the one who is ranked the best doesn’t always have to have the biggest advantage, but the one who is the best wins, says Swede Edvin Anger.

“Could be a sick advantage”

When the riders had to choose a starting number, they could try to ensure that they could ride on the back of strong competitors and get “pulling help”.

– It can be a sick advantage to start early and come out behind someone going out on their first round. It’s a hell of an advantage and then it’s much better than this year, that it’s a bit of luck whether you get it or not, says Briton Andrew Musgrave.

Now it’s over with fiddling the night before the competitions.

– It is clear that on some tracks you might benefit from trying to find a back, but I think it is rare that you get to choose and it turns out the way you want anyway, says William Poromaa.

Frida: “Little worry”

Frida Karlsson is also satisfied with the change.

– One less thing to have to think about, I think it should be as simple as possible. I was about to say as few tactics as possible, but yes… a little in that direction, says Karlsson.

How much time have you put into it before? Thinking about whether you should choose an early or late start number and which ridges you could take?

– It has only been a small concern. Ideally, you just want to do your own race, but then they have to time it so that “it gets to ride with it” or something like that. It just doesn’t matter, I think.

full screen Frida Karlsson. Photo: Kalle Parkkinen / Bildbyrån
2023-12-03 09:23:52
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