Stig Rune Kveen finished as coach of the women’s national team in cross-country skiing – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule

He confirms this to Adressa.

– It costs too much, the 43-year-old tells the newspaper about why he is giving up.

– It’s just that, what can I say, when you spend more than 150 travel days a year, the load becomes high. It has been challenging, and I want to spend my time on my loved ones going forward, Kveen continues.

He has been the women’s national team coach together with Sjur Ole Svarstad since 2022. National team manager Ulf Morten Aune informs NRK that Svarstad will continue.

– Sjur Ole’s agreement expires now, but we have verbally agreed that he will continue. Nothing is signed, but we agree. There is talk of an agreement for two seasons, says Aune.

– Didn’t see it coming

Kveen initially had contact until next season, but now gives up a year before the WC on home ground in Trondheim.

NRK’s ​​cross-country expert Fredrik Aukland is puzzled by the timing, which he describes as “dramatic”.

– It is both surprising and critical for the Norwegian cross-country women that he retires a year before the WC on home soil. It is a big job for the Ski Association to find a replacement, who also has less than a year to prepare a squad under pressure, he says.

The Ski Association states that they will immediately start the search for Kveen’s replacement. Aukland believes they should look to Kristine Stavås Skistad’s coach.

– I would like to single out Lage Sofienlund. He should be a very current candidate for this position, says the expert.

Skistad has been outside the national team this season, but took all five of the Norwegian women’s World Cup victories this winter. By bringing in Sofienlund, there may be a hope of luring Skistad back to the national team, Aukland believes.

– Here the Ski Association really has an opportunity to look at the way they are organised. The problem is that there is only one year until the World Cup, but there is one more opportunity they can take.

National team manager Aune does not want to go into specific names.

– We do not comment on any names. The announcement has not gone out yet. It will probably be out this week. At least you won’t get us involved in speculating on names.

– Didn’t see it coming

National team player Tiril Udnes Weng was informed of the coach’s departure earlier on Tuesday.

– I think it’s boring and a shame. We have been very satisfied with Stig Rune and had hoped to have him with us further. But I understand the decision that has been made and support him in it, she says to NRK.

But Kveen’s choice came as a surprise.

– I didn’t see it coming. It was surprising, and I think it’s crazy, she says.

Udnes Weng understands that Kveen will prioritize differently with his wife and children at home. She thanks him for the help he has given in her career.

– He came in after a season where many, including myself, had had a bad season. He helped build self-confidence and security, as well as new technique. I will miss that and his good mood, she says.

– Enough is enough

The decision comes shortly after the women’s national team rounded off this year’s season. During the winter, the women took five World Cup victories – all from Kristine Stavå’s Skistad, who are outside the national team.

Kveen believes that he has the athletes’ trust and that there are no sporting reasons why he is now retiring.

– When going into such an important season, it requires the coaches to have maximum commitment and a battery that is fully charged. I know it will take a lot, and I can’t continue with the feeling I have today. Enough is enough, he says to Adressa.

– I trust that we will get a good replacement. He doesn’t disappear. It is still possible to call Stig Rune. I think it will go well, says Udnes Weng.

So far, NRK has not succeeded in getting a comment from Kveen or Svarstad.