Uproar during the race in Davos: German coach expelled from Tour de Ski

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Cross-country skiing national coach Peter Schlickenrieder has been severely punished for illegally assisting his runners in the Tour de Ski pursuit race on Thursday in Davos. The jury sentenced the 53-year-old to a fine of 1,000 Swiss francs (1,070 euros) and, above all, to the withdrawal of his accreditation until the end of the stage race on Sunday.

According to his own statement, Schlickenrieder put a ski on the track in difficult conditions, sometimes with heavy snowfall. His athletes have to run over it “so they can get rid of the studs that have formed because the aggressive snow has stuck.” He admitted that this was a violation of the rules: “Of course I accepted the punishment, even if it was a bit blatant.”

Tour final without Schlickenrieder

According to Schlickenrieder, if his runners around Katharina Hennig (27), who had to struggle hard to finish ninth on Thursday, had put a ski under the waxed racing skis to sweep away the clumps of snow, that would have been in accordance with the rules: “But everything that benefits the athlete, he must do himself, that cannot be done by a third party.”

Schlickenrieder will therefore not be able to care for his athletes on the course during the crucial tour stages in Val di Fiemme on Saturday and Sunday. (AFP)

Source : Blick