Johannes Hösflot Kläbo has been one of the great dominants of cross-country skiing in recent years. But in the first race of the World Cup season, Friday’s sprint in Ruka, he was defeated.
On the way up the last hill, Kläbo led by a couple of meters, but then the 22-year-old Russian Terentev woke up. He stepped out in his own track, rushed up the hill and made the competitors’ ride look like slow motion.
In the riot, Terentev was unthreatened and secured his first World Cup victory in his career.
– It is a great victory for me, says Terentev.
– It’s a fantastic feeling. I had not thought so when I came to the last hill with Kläbo, he says.
The shooting star is hailed by rivals
The competitors were impressed by Alexander Terentev’s performance on the last hill.
– It’s among the worst I’ve seen. It was terribly impressive, says Marcus Grate.
Grate and Terentev have competed against each other before. Therefore, the Swede was not particularly surprised that Terentev struck in Ruka.
– I have known that he has an extreme speed and is young. It was really nice of him. Fun to see.
After passing the hill, Johannes Hösflot Kläbo was hardly disappointed.
– The experience is that it is brutal. It’s as it is, we do the best we can and today I finished second. And then I am the first to say that I am impressed with what he does, says Kläbo.
Kläbo was asked if he could learn anything from Terentev from a Norwegian journalist.
– Everyone who went here and finished in everything from place two to 70 has something to learn from him. He went fast and was the best, says Kläbo.
Northug: “New timekeeping”
Another who was impressed by Terente’s effort was Petter Northug. The former gold medalist in the WC and Olympics is now an expert in Norwegian TV2.
He believes that something historical happened in the sprint hill. And that it is not positive for Johannes Hösflot Kläbo.
– Kläbo’s brand is gone now. We’ve got a new timeline. Before and after the sprint in Ruka 2021, Northug tells TV2.
The Norwegian skiers will have to watch out for Terentev in the Olympics, says Northug. And not just in the sprint.
– He is young, he is fast and can cause more trouble than we want. At several distances, says Northug.
The successful man is already ready for the Olympics
After the successful start of the season, Alexander Terentev was rewarded with a ticket to the Olympics in China by the president of the Russian Ski Federation, Jelena Välbe.
The next time the international ski audience gets to see Alexander Terentev compete is in Lillehammer next weekend. Then the 22-year-old will run the sprint in freestyle and one of the distances in the relay.
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