On Thursday, the World Cup kicks off in Oberstdorf, Germany, and one who was looking for form ahead of the championship is the Russian star Sergei Ustiugov.
He has had a tough season where he had a hard time recovering after being infected with covid-19 last autumn.
But lately, his form has been rising and he finished fourth in the sprint in Falun at the end of January.
Fell badly
Ustiugov, who has won a total of seven World Cup medals, is now recharging with the Russian team on site in Germany, but it has not been painless for him there either.
When they arranged test races before the World Cup this weekend, Ustiugov fell badly where the snow is softest in the sun.
- He had to finish the race when he fell on his back, shoulder and right leg.
It's a big problem and it looked bad.
He is in a lot of pain, so we will see, but we do not think anything is broken, says Russia's coach Markus Cramer to NRK.
"Turns off the emotions"
Ustiugov is supposed to run the sprint on Thursday, a competition that also determines how much he will be allowed to compete during the rest of the World Cup.
- I hope he shuts down all emotions that have to do with pain.
But it is clear that there is a risk that it will affect his performance.
But we have a good medical team and are confident that they will take care of him, says Cramer.