On Monday, the Norwegian national cross-country teams for the season 2023/2024 will be presented, but for now, there is no agreement between Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and the Norwegian Ski Association. 

TV2’s cross-country skiing experts Petter Skinstad and Petter Northug believe there are several reasons why the cooperation between Klæbo and Skiforbundet is difficult. 

Space For Individual Plans

Even though the 26-year-old has until now been part of the national team, he has had great freedom to run his plan separately from the rest of the team and enjoys it. 

For Klæbo, the most important thing is getting the plan he believes is best to achieve his goals, namely the 2025 World Championships in Norway and the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Also Read: Klæbo Never Earned As Much As This Year

Budget and Cooperation 

Ahead of this year’s team presentation, the national team management has put forward a long list of drastic cuts for the elite national teams. 

From the cut list, it appears that in addition to reducing the number of skiers from 24 to 20 athletes, there will be fewer gathering days, less support equipment at gatherings, less access to doctors and physiotherapy during meetings, and less flexibility regarding travel and individual plans. 

There is no sound starting point for negotiating with Team Klæbo. 

“Klæbo wants to run his race, and the national team clearly has to save money. I don’t think there is any good combination in terms of sport anymore, so the association must ensure that the plans are so good that Klæbo benefits from being there,” says Skinstad to TV2.

Petter Northug agrees: 

“The ski association must give Johannes some advantages. If they do, he will continue,” says the 37-year-old in the same situation ten years ago. 

Read More: Significant Reduction In The Norwegian National Cross-Country Team 

When the national teams for the season 2022/2023 were announced at the beginning of May last year, Klæbo attended the presentation, even though at the time of the launch, he still had not signed any agreement with the Ski Association.

Among other things, Klæbo wanted free space to run his own altitude and training plan almost independently of the national team, and his serviceman should be part of the national waxing team. 

On Monday, April 24, the Ski Association will present the national cross-country teams for 2023/2024, and we will get the answer to whether Team Klæbo and the national team will agree this year.