OBERSTDORF/OSLO (VG) Anne Kjersti Kalvå (30), one of Norway’s biggest overall Tour de Ski hopes, must cancel the Tour after testing positive for corona.
The 30-year-old has already returned from Londamou to his home in Trondheim. This was stated by Gro Eddie, media officer of the Norwegian Ski Association, in a letter.
— It was an awful message to say the least, national team coach Stig Ron Kiffin told VG about one of his biggest hopes in the battle for overall victory at this year’s Tour de Ski.
He says Calva took the letter very seriously.
– She was very disappointed and sorry. Kveen says it’s tedious to get this in the face when there are three stages left.
It was also dramatic on yesterday’s trail:
Viaplay expert Niklas Derhough describes the situation as very sad.
– She is in position in the Tour de Ski to finish on the podium. It would be the best thing she ever did in her career. It’s a very sad situation for both Anne Kjersti and the team, Dyrhaug says.
However, Calva lost a significant portion of his chances of an overall victory after a rocky start to the chase on Wednesday.
– What do you think she thought when she got that letter yesterday?
– I think she was incredibly upset, says Dyrhaug – and she remembers Kalvå being in a similar situation last year.
Because this is not the first time she has had a positive Corona test in an important part of the season.
Last season, Calva and Heidi Wing were diagnosed with coronavirus during the national team’s last altitude meet in Central Europe before the Olympics in Beijing. For the Norwegian women’s national team duo, the Olympics are over before they begin.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the women’s national team coach, Sjur Ole Svarstad, had also tested positive.
Now it’s all about getting ready for the water stage, says Viaplay expert Dyrhaug.
Calva had a very strong start to the season in the World Cup. Dyrhaug believes she can go all the individual distances at this year’s Championships in Planica.
But she has teammates, such as Ragnhild Haga and Marte Skanes, who contracted the coronavirus in November. The two have the advantage of competing in the World Cup so far this season.
– You get worried when you see how long they needed. It’s a bit individual. But there’s no doubt that it will take some time before you’re back on the horse again, says Dyrhaug.
– Now she has to go home, recover, spend the required time and focus all her attention on the restroom. If she can make it through and her body plays into the team again, she’s still one of the favorites to win a WC medal, especially in the 30k classic, says Dyrhaug.
As a result, we won’t see such scenes from Kalvå in the rest of the tour:
“Infuriatingly humble internet trailblazer. Twitter buff. Beer nerd. Bacon scholar. Coffee practitioner.”
