"We will repay debts at the World Cup": how Bolshunov reacted to the collision with the Norwegian at the KM stage

"Holund just carried Sanya off the track"

The men's skiathlon at the World Cup in cross-country skiing in Lahti, Finland was overshadowed by a serious scandal involving Alexander Bolshunov.

The leader of the overall standings of the tournament fought for medals with five Norwegians at once: Emil Iversen, Sür Röthe, Paul Golberg, Simen Kruger and Hans Holund. 

However, just a kilometer before the finish line, the Russian unexpectedly lagged behind four Scandinavians, and Kholund was behind him with a broken stick.

As a result, Iversen, Röthe and Golberg took the entire podium, and the domestic athlete finished only fifth, 20 seconds behind the winner. 

It soon became clear that the reason for the unexpected failure was not fatigue after the energy-consuming Tour de Ski, but a collision with Holund.

Moreover, it did not get into the lens of television cameras, since this section of the route is located in the so-called "gray zone".

This was told by the coach of the Russian national team Yuri Bordavko.

“Kholund simply carried Sanya off the track.

Right before the turn.

I took it out clean.

Especially or not, you need to ask Sani, I have not yet seen him.

The situation is very unpleasant, but I don't want to slander anyone.

Before making any statements, you need to have information, "- quotes the words of a specialist" Sport-Express ". 

Later, Borodavko noted that the Russian national team would not file a protest against the outcome of the race, since the controversial episode did not get into the camera lens.

However, after some time, a short recording of the incident appeared on the Internet.

The video shows how Kholund unexpectedly blocks the trajectory of Bolshunov, and he literally flies off the track.

Alexander himself did not hide his emotions and hinted that the Norwegians could purposefully knock him down.

“The Norwegian tactics have worked today.

On the last descent, Kholund fell on me, got into a blockage - three ran away.

No chance.

Well, they didn't do it on purpose, but in principle they can think of everything in advance.

You can lose today.

We will repay debts at the World Cup, but now let them rejoice.

Nothing has changed, today is just not the day.

I hope the World Cup will be a little better.

After the Tour de Ski I rested, but so far my condition is not very good, ”the skier said in an interview with Match TV.

In turn, the president of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation, Elena Vyalbe, refrained from accusing the rivals. 

“There is a video of the moment, we went to watch.

As Sasha says, he was following the Norwegian, got caught, he fell, and Sasha, accordingly, with him.

That is, there was no deliberate action on the part of the Norwegian, "R-Sport quotes Vyalbe.

Norwegians version

In turn, the Norwegians were in no hurry to apologize to Bolshunov.

In their opinion, he himself is to blame for what happened.

In particular, Kholund presented to journalists his own version of what happened - the Russian knocked him down, trying to get around at the turn.

“I break both sticks and fly into the net.

I fall, the same thing happens with Bolshunov.

Then, in general, the race was over for us.

After the finish, I asked him simply: “Why.

What's the point?"

The outcome of the race was not decided there, "NRK quotes Holund.

Supported by Hans Christer and teammates.

So, Iversen compared Bolshunov with a bear and admitted that it was unpleasant for him “to deal with him”, since Alexander can always drive into an opponent from behind.

In turn, the three-time Olympic champion Johannes Klebo admitted that he and his fellow national teammates were pleased to "put Bolshunov in his place."

And Golberg lamented that Alexander's accusation of a deliberate confrontation was more like a joke.

“This cannot be taken seriously.

They know what is at stake for each of us.

That he deliberately fell down there is complete nonsense.

It's sad if they think so, but I can't believe it, ”the athlete said in an interview with Dagbladet.

One way or another, but the fall and failure in the skiathlon did not prevent Bolshunov from maintaining a confident leadership in the overall standings of the World Cup.

After the race, he has 1391 points.

The Norwegians, who have missed several stages due to the coronavirus pandemic, are not even in the top 10 yet.

The best of them, Iversen, is only in 11th place.