On Sunday, he outclassed Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov – then boarded a direct flight to Davos. Now the cross-country skiing World Cup awaits.

Saveliy Korostelev is one of the Russians now expecting to receive the green light for neutral status, which would give him the right to compete in the World Cup after last week’s CAS ruling.

The young ski talent, who just turned 22, is now planning to race the World Cup round in Davos this coming weekend.

Also Read –  Confirmed: Russia allowed to participate in the Olympics

The week’s big talking point

A possible Russian return has been the dominant topic in the skiing world ever since the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling was announced on Tuesday, December 2. CAS determined that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) must allow athletes who qualify for neutral status to compete. A panel of three people will decide which athletes meet the criteria.

So far, FIS has not released any information about eligible athletes or how many might be cleared. But Korostelev is widely rumored to be among those expected to receive approval. He was also one of the athletes who signed the Russian appeal submitted to CAS.

Read More: These Russians may be ready for the World Cup

In incredible form

Everything suggests that Saveliy Korostelev is in spectacular shape. On Sunday, he won the mass start at the Russian Cup in Tyumen, outsprinting Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov. Immediately afterward, Russian Ski Association president Jelena Välbe told Russian media that Korostelev would travel directly from Tyumen to Davos.

According to Välbe, Korostelev already has his visa and documents in order and is now only waiting for final confirmation from FIS.

The last time he competed internationally, Korostelev was nearly unbeatable – that was at the Junior World Championships in Lygna in 2022. Last winter, he won the overall Russian Cup, where he was on another level entirely. He beat Sergey Ardashev by 250 points, while the 2022 Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov finished third, nearly 300 points behind.

Now, Korostelev dreams of taking a shot at Klæbo and the other international stars.

Major withdrawals from Davos

At the same time, several major names have announced they will not attend Davos. That includes top Swedish athletes Frida Karlsson, William Poromaa, and Edvin Anger.

For many Norwegian stars, the situation is different. There is still fierce competition for the limited spots on the Olympic team, and performances at the highest international level will be decisive.

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