In the season’s first individual World Cup biathlon was king of Simostranda absolutely superb. 41-year-old hit four full house and was devastatingly superior 20-kilometer Ostersund. After the victory confirmed Bjoerndalen that he feared for the World Cup season after summer’s roughly half months long period of illness.
Sports Director Morten Aa Djupvik have no trouble understanding exactly that.
– I think the fears were completely real. He has never gone so long without exercising. I can remember that we sat in the truck one evening and talked, and when Ole Einar said that he had not had such a long off training since he was 12 years, says he said.
Gjelland never doubt
Djupvik think while the involuntary exercise interruption may have brought something good with it.
– I think it was time to get the break, and perhaps turn it positive. Of course it’s never ideal to be ill, and certainly not as long, but the trick then is to take plenty of rest, and to build up gradually again afterwards. It has Ole Einar managed something very, says Djupvik.
He can not praise the coaching job Bjoerndalen has closed after the disease problems let go.
– He did everything right. I do not think anything could have been done differently, says sports chief.
The national team coach Egil Gjelland have felt completely confident that Bjoerndalen will dominate the leaderboards also in winter.
– I’ve been saying all along that I am not in doubt that he will work well and get very good races, he said.
Preparing for the World Cup?
protagonist himself has been more in doubt. When NTB spoke with Bjoerndalen in conjunction with national Skaters test races in Holmenkollen earlier this fall, claimed 41-year-old that he had the knife at his throat with regard to reach the finish with season preparations.
Bjoerndalen further stressed that he felt fairly confident that he would have time to get in shape for the World Cup on home soil in March, but that the challenge would be to perform well enough in advance to be taken out of the Norwegian team.
Now Sports Director Djupvik far in confirming that it becomes difficult to avoid Bjoerndalen in the World Cup squad.
– Yes, that’s clear. But there is time left for the World Cup. The nice thing about winning the World Cup, to be on the podium and to achieve early, is that you get more confidence and get freer rein with regard to being in the best possible shape under VM, he said.
– Can it may be necessary to change the Bear Valley season schedule as a result of this victory?
– We’ve talked about many scenarios. The Ole doing well, he has held fast to the plan he laid when things started to abide by the disease. It has he followed to the letter, says Djupvik. (© NTB)
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