MOSCOW, February 6 The Russian men's team used very bad team tactics in skiathlon at the Beijing Olympics, said two-time Olympic champion Martin Jonsrud Sundby. Russian Alexander Bolshunov won the skiathlon at the Beijing Olympics, more than a minute ahead of his compatriot Denis Spitsov. Finn Iivo Niskanen finished third. The best of the Norwegians was Hans Christer Holund, who finished fourth. Johannes Klebo finished 40th. Sundby expressed bewilderment that Spitsov did not help Bolshunov break away in the classical part of the distance, but instead pulled Norwegian skiers to the leader of the Russian national team. “I absolutely did not understand what Spitsov was doing there. The Russian team had very bad team tactics in the skiathlon. I find it extremely strange that the Russian coaches allowed him to do this,” NRK quotes Sundby.
