Are you tired of Klebo yet? Here are 10 cool skiers to watch at the World Cup

Are you tired of Klebo yet? Here are 10 cool skiers to watch at the World Cup

Yulia Sidorova November 25, 2023, 14:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.

The boys will give Klebo some real competition and the girls will create intrigue until the end of the season.

Johannes Klebo, despite his disputes with the federation, will continue competing in the World Cup this winter. However, this does not mean that the outcome of each race is predetermined, so don’t rush to close the stream.

Men’s and women’s skiing is full of worthy candidates who can make this season even brighter and more interesting. These boys and girls are worthy of your attention. Well, it’s more interesting to support them than Johannes.

Paul Golberg (Norway)

Paul Goldberg

Photo: Getty Images

Golberg had a simply incredible 2022/2023 season. Not only did he finish second overall behind Johannes Klebo, but he also gained a huge lead of 596 points over third place. His “crown” is long-distance running. It was he who received the “Little Crystal Globe” in this competition, ahead of Johannes by 104 points. In addition, Paul managed to win three golds at once at the World Championships in Planica, one of them in the marathon, and Klebo finished second.

Golberg is stronger than Klebo in distance running:

Johannes Klebo was left without the World Cup trophy. Even an incredible world record didn’t help!

Iivo Niskanen (Finland)

Iivo Niskanen

Photo: Getty Images

The best Finnish skier of the last decade, with three Olympic gold medals to his name, missed most of last season. Outside the national team he prepared with his coach Olli Ohtonen for something new. The change of family environment could well have had a beneficial effect on his condition, and this season we may see Niskanen at his best.

Richard Jouve (France)

Richard Jouve

Photo: Getty Images

Last season, Richard made a splash at the World Cup. He sensationally won the classic sprint, defeating Klebo. The fact is that since the 2018 Olympic Games, no one, except the Russians Bolshunov and Terentyev and the Norwegian Valnes, has managed to beat Klebo in this discipline. The 29-year-old skier is getting stronger every year. We are waiting for new sensations from him.

Zhuv defeated Klebo where no one expected:

Ski sensation: Klebo lost the sprint again! Is the Norwegian not ready for the World Cup?

Simen Kruger (Norway)

Simon Kruger

Photo: Getty Images

Last season Simen Kruger won all important distance races, but by decision of the coaches he missed the Planica marathon. Despite this, he managed to win three golds: he won all the races in which he participated. In the overall World Cup standings, Kruger took fourth place, but this is far from the limit for the outstanding Norwegian skier.

William Poroma (Sweden)

William Poroma

Photo: Getty Images

At 22 years old, Swede William Poroma has already won bronze in the World Marathon Championships, placing just behind the experienced Golberg and Klebo. Despite missing several stages, he finished 13th overall and seventh in the distance, behind six Norwegians. There is a feeling that Poroma is the future of cross-country skiing.

Poroma won a medal at the World Cup after a violent incident:

A Swedish skier crashed into a board at high speed during the World Championships. The fall seemed terrifying

Frida Karlsson (Sweden)

Frida Carlsson

Photo: Getty Images

Last season, 23-year-old Frida Karlsson, after individual training, became the winner of the Tour de Ski stage race, taking sixth place in the overall classification and eighth place in the distance. She immediately returned to the national team and throughout the offseason she was delighted with the new conditions in the national team. In women’s cross-country skiing there is no clear favorite, but Karlsson could well claim that title.

Ebba Andersson (Sweden)

Ebba Andersson

Photo: Getty Images

Sweden’s Ebba Andersson dreams of taking Karlsson’s place on the Tour de Ski podium in the new season. Considering her performance at the Planica World Championships, Ebba may not be! Recall that Andersson won two individual gold medals in Planica, as well as bronze in the 10-kilometer freestyle race and in the relay. Everyone was shocked!

The Swede had an incredible World Cup:

Swedish skiers recovered from their failure. They didn’t give the marathon gold to anyone

Jonna Sundling (Sweden)

Jonna Sundling

Photo: Getty Images

Swede Jonna Sundling, 28, missed the start of last season and practically never left the podium. At the 2023 World Championships, she won two golds at once: individual and team. Imagine what will happen if Sundling competes in all stages of the World Cup in the new season.

And by the way, Jonna is currently the only participant in the 2023/2024 World Cup who has personal Olympic gold in her collection.

Jessica Diggins (United States)

Jessica Diggins

Photo: Getty Images

The incredible Jessica Diggins has consistently placed in the top 3 overall for three consecutive seasons. The latter was special for the American, since at the World Championships in Planica she managed to win her first personal gold. At 32 years old, she is still one of the strongest skiers in the world and continues to challenge her younger rivals.

First personal gold with tears in my eyes:

Strong sensation in the 2023 World Cup! The American skier took the gold from the invincible Swedes

Tiril Weng (Norway)

Tiril Weng

Photo: Getty Images

Norwegian Tiril Weng had an excellent 2022/2023 season. According to the results of the Tour de Ski, she came third and then took third place in both the speed and distance competitions. Throughout the entire season, Weng finished outside the top ten only a few times, and the rest of the time he consistently finished in the top three. The result is an early victory in the overall World Cup standings.