– It’s a clink disk. Damned idiot, Valnes told Viaplay shortly after the finish line.
The Norwegian was supposed to position himself on the far side of the stadium, but was visited by the Swede on his back skis – and was left lying in the snow together with Häggstrøm.
– I didn’t see him, then I just felt that someone had bumped into me from behind. It was impossible to stay on my feet, says Valnes to NRK.
– He ran over me. It’s that simple. There wasn’t an awful lot I could do differently. He was horribly rushed by Swedish seconds who were supposed to have him up on the podium, but you are allowed to use your head.
Valnes crossed the finish line in sixth place, but took over fifth place from the Swede after a trip to the jury room. Häggström was blamed and ranked last.
– It is a fairly mild punishment, considering that he has had his sprint destroyed in the final, says Häggström to NRK.
–Was it your fault, or do you have a different feeling?
– I’m the one who comes from behind and causes him to fall. But I feel there have been major incidents where nothing has been done, the Swede continues.
NOT SATISFIED: Erik Valnes was boiling soon after the incident, but restrained himself. He shook the Swede’s hand after the finish line.
Photo: BILDBYRÅN
When the incident was a little more distant, Valnes apologized for the outburst TV 2:
– That’s exactly what I regret a bit, because I don’t have to go to personal attacks because he tackled me on the trail. That was not good. I lie flat on my skin. No, it wasn’t good.
With the two out of the dance, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo stuck over the top of the last hill. On the run, no one was able to threaten the trønder.
Photo: BILDBYRÅN
He won as he wanted ahead of Lauri Vuorinen and Harald Østberg Amundsen.
Skistad kept quiet on the Swedes
In the women’s sprint, Kristine Stavås won Skistad in superb style ahead of home favorites Linn Svahn and Jonna Sundling. On her way across the finish line, she pressed her index finger to her mouth.
– It came a bit naturally, says Stavås Skistad to NRK about the celebration where she entertained the audience in Falun.
World Cup sprinter this season:
Expand/minimize fact box
Winners of the season’s sprinter in the World Cup:
Hand: Emma Ribom
Östersund: Emma Ribom
Trondheim: Kristine Stavås Skistad
February: The Svahn Age
Davos: Linn Svahn
Oberhof: Linn Svahn
Goms: Linn Svahn
Canmore (freestyle): Kristine Stavås Skistad
Canmore (classical): Linn Svahn
Minneapolis: Jonna Sundling
Lahti: Kristine Stavås Skistad
Drammen: Kristine Stavås Skistad
Falun: Kristine Stavås Skistad
– It’s a lot of fun to win in Sweden, so it was very nice, she continued.
– Was it almost too easy?
– Now the Swedes have reported that the slopes are too short, or it is the skiing or the weather. Now I won on a hard course and in hard conditions, so now I feel we can calm down a bit, says Skistad.
Skistad had asked for piping before the duel against the Swedish stars in Sweden, but had to wait until just before the final before she got her wish fulfilled.
– It was good that it was at least a little before the final, so you could sharpen up a bit, says Skistad.
The Norwegian star and the Swedes have sent several jabs at each other throughout the season, and have made no secret of the fact that they are not best friends.