During the World Cup competition in Norwegian Lillehammer, there were only ten nations in the men's relay and nine countries in the women's relay. Countries such as Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia were missing. Most sprint specialists also spent the weekend in Lillehammer.

- It's a sprint weekend December 21-22 that I think sets this up. There is not enough air in the program and recovery for the riders to be part of everything. Mattias Nilsson (men's trainer) said that we have to think long term and then we have to put over some riders. I think this is watering down the product, says SVT Sports expert Johanna Ojala in the Winter Studio.

"Something's Wrong"

SVT Sports biathlon expert Björn Ferry thinks it is strange with the weak support.

- There is something wrong with the system. The overall World Cup is somehow watered down. Such a relay is fun, but it will not be the same status. It's hardly that you can really call this a World Cup relay, he says.

A lot to think about

In biathlon, it is a completely different turnout under the VC relays in Östersund. Yesterday there were 26 countries in the men's relay and today there are 21 notified countries for the women's relay.

- There is a lot for Fis to think about how to design the World Cup. Even today you are struggling with a product. When there are such weekends, interest decreases, says Johanna Ojala.

She also has a proposal for a change.

- What you could do, as I thought, is to skip the sprint weekend just before Christmas. Instead, add a sprint competition this weekend to gather the sprint and distance riders. Then the sprinters can participate in the baton today, she says.