The season barely had time to start before Maja Dahlqvist received a yellow card and was placed last by the jury in her sprint semifinal because she ruined the Swedish premiere for Moa Lundgren.
On Friday, the World Cup begins with the individual sprint in Ruka, Finland, and then it will be an even tougher time.
With last year’s season’s incidents in mind, the International Ski Federation (Fis) has reviewed the regulations to avoid fights in the finish line, skiers who fall for each other and poles that are broken.
– You want more fair play, states Ludvig Remb.
A working group with, among others, former national team skier Ida Ingemarsdotter and Norwegian star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has designed the new regulations.
The Swedish premiere in Gällivare last weekend was the first time the new rules were applied.
– It is clearer what the active person may and may not do in the event of an overtaking. It is a very big responsibility of each individual to decide whether it is possible to drive again without destroying for anyone, is there a gap?
Ludvig Remb was present at the Swedish premiere in Gällivare when Maja Dahlqvist went into Moa Lundgren.
– Maja steps in front of Moa and then this incident occurs. She simply destroyed for Moa and then the rule says that if it has had a significant impact on the end result, it should be judged as a disqualification, or the rider will be ranked last in the heat.
Dahlqvist was not washed but was placed last in his semifinal heat and got the final position twelve.
– There will be tougher assessments and fewer alternatives for the jury, it will be more black or white, says Remb.
Dahlqvist also received a yellow card, which remains, if Dahlqvist gets another, she will automatically be disqualified at that competition, then the warnings will be reset again.
– Following the rule change, situations such as the one between Alexander Bolshunov, Russia, and Joni Mäki, Finland, during the competitions in Lahti last year, can be judged differently.
Foto: Jussi Nukari/AP
Fis has during the fall digitally informed the elite, leaders and delegates about the changes after last year’s season which contained a number of incidents that upset both skiers and leaders.
The Russian Alexander Bolshunov thought that the Finn Joni Mäki closed his way into the riot when they settled for second place in the relay in Lahti.
Mäki chose to cross the track in which Bolshunov came riding, stopped the Russian’s advance and snatched second place behind Norway.
The Russian lost his temper, hit the stick with his wand against Mäki and after the finish he brutally knocked over the Finn.
Today’s regulations say that the advantage of being able to choose their best line must not be abused to the detriment of other competitors, for example by suddenly changing their ride line or unnecessarily maintaining a selected line.
– If you follow the new rules, there will probably be quite large consequences. The new regulations that the jury will work according to are stricter than before, Remb states.