Swedish commentator butcher’s Tour de Ski: – Congratulations debacle – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet): After three of eight stages of the Tour de Ski is all three top spots – in both women’s and men’s class – occupied by Norwegian cross-country skiers.

This year’s tour has been criticized for destroying the excitement of top already in the opening races and now runs the Swedish cross-country skiing commentator, Tomas Pettersson in Expressen, far in rebuking organizer.

– It is high time to congratulate the International Ski Federation with a giant failure, writes Pettersson.

The Swedish commentator believes that the ten previous editions of the Tour de Ski has been a success, but there have been something seriously wrong before this year’s start.

The Swedish tips

Pettersson encourage organizers to improve on four points next year:

1. Another approach: Pettersson writes that program with three hard and decisive stages in the beginning has turned out wrong.

2. Drop bonus seconds: – It is wrong and unnecessary, writes Pettersson.

3. Increase sprint ‘value: Expressen commentator believes there are too few seconds to gain success in sprint stages.

4. Consider World Cup points: – At Martin Johnsrud Sundby gets a World Cup victory to win Sunday’s Pursuit is just weird. He started the one-minute and 18-second head start. Fair? No, writing Pettersson.

– Everything can change

Vegard Ulvang, head of FIS cross-country committee, explains Dagbladet that the background for bonus seconds is avoiding tedious mass starts.

But skilegenden admits that no rules are written in stone.

– Everything can be changed. And if for example the Swedes are very unhappy with the arrangement, I recommend they deliver a proposal for new rules. All proposals will be treated at the FIS Congress, and get the proposal majority in a referendum, it will be adopted. It’s that simple, for that matter, says Ulvang Dagbladet.

New rules for next year’s Tour de Ski can be adopted at the Congress of the summer. But then FIS rely on anyone to come with proposals that can be discussed and voted on.

– Although I am not sure whether it is appropriate to remove the bonus seconds at the mass start now. Much is being said and meant in the moment. And already by the next mass start in Oberstdorf, where there will also be fought on a good number of seconds, much can be different, says Ulvang.

PS: Today is the rest day of the Tour de Ski.

• Esten O. Sæther wrote: Now try competitors everything to stop Norway.