Norwegian anger: "I was tackled by a Spaniard"

Sjur Röthe, who won three World Cup golds, was far behind in Tuesday's Tour de Ski stage.

He finished almost two minutes behind the winner Iivo Niskanen.

- It was tough.

Extra tough considering the storm, says Röthe afterwards.

"Part of the game"

He fell during the race.

After an unexpected tackle.

- I was tackled by a Spaniard.

It's part of the game.

I do not know if you saw it on TV, but he drives straight into me from the left.

It's annoying, but that's what it is.

Notable in this context is that it was not the only Spaniard in the race, Imanol Rojo, who tackled Röthe but Ireneu Esteve Altimiras who is from Andorra.

It is also noteworthy that Röthe is one of the Norwegians fighting for the last Olympic places.

That makes Tuesday's pale effort - at the Olympic distance of 15 kilometers - even heavier.

- I had a good plan before the race, but then I was interrupted with a tackle.

It's tough.