By Mitch Phillips and Philip O’Connor
ZHANGJIAKOU, China (Reuters) -Alexander Bolshunov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) blazed his way to a third Beijing Olympic gold when he took the mass start 50km title in a race postponed for an hour and shortened to 30km due to freezing winds on Saturday.
It was the first time the race had been shortened since making its debut in the first Games of 1924 but it made little difference to supreme all-rounder Bolshunov, who took charge in the latter stages to come in 5.5 seconds ahead of compatriot Ivan Yakimushkin.
Norway’s Simen Hegstad Krueger recovered from a lengthy COVID isolation to claim an impressive bronze but his highly-fancied team mate Johannes Klaebo pulled out just after the 20km-mark having been ill overnight.
Skiing his only race in Beijing after being delayed by a positive COVID-19 test, Krueger wasted no time getting out in front alongside four Russians though he was not moving as smoothly.
Krueger changed skis at the halfway point and used his improved glide to reignite his challenge, but with little support he had to work extra hard to stay in touch.
With the biting wind swirling around the tight, twisting course, Bolshunov tolerated no breakaways, reeling in challengers and controlling the tempo from the front pack throughout.
Klaebo, seeking his third gold and fifth medal of the Games, cut a disappointed figure as he withdrew, saying later he had planned to skip the race but decided to give it a go when it was shortened.
Six kilometres from home, Bolshunov began to make his break, thundering clear in an effort to split the leading group, and with 2.6km left he accelerated again in an effort to lose Krueger as Yakimushkin joined the fray.
The latter played the role of wingman to perfection, passing Krueger and slowing the pace as Bolshunov blazed around the final bend to complete a hat-trick of golds after victories in the skiathlon and the relay, as well as 15km classical silver and team sprint bronze.
“Five? Really,” Bolshunov said as he counted on his fingers. “Five medals, three gold, it is something unbelievable because before the season I set the goal of two gold medals and now I have three and a medal in every race I took part in.”
The Russian, who became the first man to win five cross-country medals at one Olympics, said he would have been happy to race the full 50km.
“Overall I can say that when the conditions are harder, this is in my favour because when it is harder, it is easier for me,” he said.
Krueger said: “Just to get to the race today is a small victory in itself and the rest is really a bonus. I think I got absolutely everything out of my body today and I didn’t have a chance to do any better.”
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips; Editing by Ken Ferris and Clare Fallon)
