Disqualified on the results of the sprint at the world Championships in ski sports Sergey Ustyugov sure that the winner of this race Johannes Clabo deliberately came in contact during the semifinal race. According to the Russians, this situation knocked him off balance, and he couldn’t hold back emotions after the finish, which resulted in an unpleasant incident with a Norwegian. On the side of the athlete stood the head of the Federation of ski races of Russia Elena Vjalbe, which, however, criticized Ustyugova for the temper. Many experts also noted the unexpected decision of the judges not to punish, Clebo at the end of the contentious episode.

  • Norwegian Johannes Clabo and Russian Sergey Ustyugov after the semi-final race
  • AFP
  • © Joe Klamar

“He has done for our country very much”

The first men’s race at the world Championships in ski sports, which started in the Austrian Tirol, over the relative success for the Russian team. Gleb Zealous won the bronze medal in the sprint free style.

After the finish of the race the athlete is in a channel “Match TV” admitted that after the previous failures of the current medal is particularly valuable.

“After-admission to the Olympic games everything was not as we would like. But everyone was tired, everyone was hard because the track is heavy. And excitement before the start was due to the significance of the results. Of course, emotion was hard to handle, but still worked out,” said Zealous.

According to him, too much effort was spent in the quarter, partly did not allow him to fight for the highest step of the podium. In addition, the Russians paid tribute to the Norwegian Johannes, Clebo and Italian Federico Pellegrino, who took gold and silver respectively.

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“They are doing something incredible. World Championships, world Cup or Olympic games, they always keep the bar high”, he added.

With a well-deserved third place Zealous congratulated the Minister of sports of Russia Pavel Kolobkov.

Bronze — a good result. The championship has just started, and I wish Hleb, like other guys from our team, success in the other disciplines,” said the official.

In turn, Vice-President of Federation of ski races of Russia (FLGR) Sergey Kryanin expressed the opinion that the Zealous had a decent resistance stronger and more experienced opponents.

“He has done for our country very much. Worked 100% and even more. Gleb — well done, but he still needs to prepare to fight these guys. Today he showed that at the moment is the third in the world,” said the functionary in a conversation with TASS.

“At the world Cup for this shoot”

Competitions of so high level, where at stake is the title of the world champion, and the atmosphere is tense to the limit, not without unpleasant incident. So, after the semifinal race, one of the leaders of the Russian team, Sergey Ustyugov pushed the future of the Victor, Clabo, and then patted him on the cheek. The reason for this conflict was the clash on the track, which almost led to the fall of the Russian.

Despite the ambiguity of the episode, Zealous prefer to take a neutral position during communication with the Norwegian after the final.

“Left it to the press conference. We discussed that it was hard for all. Discussed last year’s world Cup, which was held here. In principle, it was the same game of cat-and-mouse”, — he said.

Later his version of events shared Ustyugov. He accused Clabo that he intentionally broke the rules to gain an advantage before the finish line. As for the incident after the race, then, according to the Russians, he so just wanted to wish the opponent good luck.

“In our semi-finals, nobody wanted to go first on the descent, but I did. Knew that I was “coasting”, it was necessary not to miss opponents on the right side. When we pulled up closer to recovery, whether I climbed, or Norwegian cut me off. I think that it was all deliberately, so at the finish a little freaked. If it was someone else, then this would have happened,” admitted the Russian.

In turn, Clabo did not comment on the incident on the track. He only said that he does not blame the opponent that he was unable to restrain his emotions.

“I understand that Sergei is very angry, he is now in very good shape, and I’m sure Saturday will be a good battle. Now I can say absolutely frankly that I have no negative feelings towards Ustyugov is the best”, — quotes the Norwegian RIA Novosti.

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For his short temper Ustyugov in the end, he paid first, followed preduprezhdeniie by the organizers. Moreover, according to the President FLGR Elena Vyalbe skier deservedly received a yellow card. Representatives of the Russian team tried to file a protest to the actions of Clabo during the race, but it was rejected.

“Johannes blocked athlete who followed him. Unfortunately, it’s the Norwegians, and they seem to have different rules. We are faced with this is not the first time, and not just us,” explained the Federation’s position Vyalbe.

In turn, the head coach of a national team Yury Borodavko called the semifinal race is ambiguous and added that the actions of Klebo Russia lost the real chance of another medal in the sprint.

“It is in any gate not climbing. It is a violation on the part of Klebo, and it was left without attention. Sergey stepped on ski socks, Johannes was parallel with him and blocked traffic. At the world Cup for this shoot,” — said the expert.

The judges ‘ decision not to punish the Norwegian has caused a wave of indignation. So, Russian coach Markus Cramer gave the example of a situation in which his client received a yellow card for the same episode.

“The jury believes that it is not a violation of the rules on the part of Clabo because he was ahead and could choose the direction of movement. Yeah, okay, but don’t step on skis to the opponent. At the world Championships 2017 in Lahti in a similar situation Sergey did the same and he was given a warning. How then to explain this to the athletes if the rules change all the time?” — asked a rhetorical question Kramer.

The Olympic champion Alexander Legkov has expressed the view that Ustyugov chose the wrong tactics in the semi-finals, which eventually led to a clash with Norwegian.

“The incident with Clabo would not be, if Sergey from the start ran very quickly — plus it was in it. Even if he lost at the finish line and came third, would be able to reach the final as a lucky loser. He had to run away and work for the result”, — said Legkov.

Note that following the results of competitions the international ski Federation ruled Ustyugov second yellow card “for unsportsmanlike conduct”, with the result that he was disqualified and his result in the final race cancelled.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the national team of Russia stressed that the punishment will not affect the participation of the athletes in the skiathlon. Thus Ustyugov will be released on next start on Saturday, February 23.