Emil Iversen slams ‘Olympic expert’ Simen Hegstad Krüger after another setback: 'I don't bother thinking about it'

Emil Iversen produced another strong performance by finishing third in Monday’s 10-kilometre classic stage of the Tour de Ski. He then addressed the media with a pointed comment about compatriot Simen Hegstad Krüger after Krüger delivered a disappointing race in Toblach.

Krüger, 32, was the weakest of the Norwegian distance skiers in Toblach, finishing 1:16 behind the winner Mattis Stenshagen and placing 31st — the latest in a run of subpar results this season. He missed the Ruka opener through illness and has a season-best 10th place from the skiathlon in Trondheim.

“— He hasn’t had any good races yet this winter. So I understand that he doesn’t think much about the Olympics. There’s no reason to think about it. The rest of us who have been fast can think about it,” Iversen told VG about Krüger’s Olympic chances.

Iversen himself was cautious when asked about his own hopes for Milano–Cortina 2026: “I don’t bother thinking about it right now. I have to finish the Tour and then we’ll sum things up after that.”

Krüger had previously told HBO Max he made major changes to his training in the hope of further Olympic success — “the biggest changes I’ve made since I was a junior” — but those adjustments have not yet produced the desired results.

At present there are two open places in Norway’s Olympic cross-country team; that may increase to three if the quota expands from seven to eight athletes. The Norwegian Ski Federation is expected to select the final spots after the Tour de Ski, with one spot reserved for a sprinter.

Alongside Iversen, Monday’s winner Mattis Stenshagen and Andreas Fjorden Ree have made stronger cases this season among distance skiers than Krüger. Among the sprinters, the battle appears to be between Ansgar Evensen, Lars Heggen and Oskar Opstad Vike. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Harald Østberg Amundsen, Erik Valnes, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget and Einar Hedegart are already named to the Norwegian Olympic team.

HBO Max expert Martin Johnsrud Sundby — who earlier proposed a preliminary Olympic lineup that included Iversen, Ansgar Evensen and Andreas Fjorden Ree — has been vocal about his picks and the reaction they caused. Iversen currently looks the most secure of Sundby’s selections.

Fjorden Ree also had a poor day in Toblach. Evensen failed to reach the final in the sprint, where Heggen and Opstad Vike joined Klæbo on the podium. Stenshagen’s win in Toblach was seen as a strong Olympic bid.

The Norwegian federation will finalise the team after Tour de Ski, leaving athletes five days of racing yet to influence selection.