Picking a Winner—Team Norway’s Unique Dilemma

Team Norway has swept most distance race podiums this season, and has consistently placed a rotating series of Norwegian stars atop those podiums, as well. It’s become a foregone conclusion that a Norwegian man will win the Overall World Cup title this season. Even so, if any of those Norwegian contenders miss a couple of races, their chances of contending for the season-lone Crystal Globe all but evaporate. Just ask Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo; He’s podiumed in almost every race he’s entered this season, but illness kept him from racing in the points-rich environs of the Tour de Ski; therefore, he’s not likely to be adding to his collection of Crystal Globes this season.

Now the Scandinavian Nordic Ski website, Langrenn, reports that it’s Erik Valnes’ turn to be passed over. Valnes has been the hottest skier on the tour lately, with victories in both sprints and distance races including the 20 k Mass Start Freestyle last weekend in Oberhof, Germany. Curiously, Valnes is being passed over by Team Norway for a starting spot in the 20 k Mass Start Classic scheduled for this upcoming weekend. Valness will receive only one distance distance race start, while current World Cup Overall leader—Harald Østberg Amundsen, who leads Valnes by 229 points in the overall standings—will receive two starting opportunities in distance races. There’s nothing to suggest that Valnes is unhealthy, nothing to suggest that he’s slumping or unfit. He’s definitely a podium contender—in any event or discipline—and Norway is leaving him on the bench. Speculation exists that Team Norway has already chosen the eventual winner of the Crystal Globe: Amundsen.

It’s a strange circumstance when a team can select the winner, but no other ski-nation—and no other individual skier—has emerged to challenge that level of dominance. Certain Norwegian ski-stars on the women’s side are sitting out the races scheduled for this weekend in Goms, Switzerland—Astrid Oyre Slind, Kristen Stavaas Skistad, Silje Theodorsen—but for each of them the issues are reported to be illness or sharpness. The women’s team still seems to be chosen by a form of natural selection. For men’s team selections, however, there seem to be other forces at work. For Amundsen’s sake, we hope he skis well. If he falters, Team Norway will have a lot of explaining to do . . .