– It's more important for cross-country skiing than we understand Norwegians

Toblach: No one has won the ski tour several times. Dario Cologna can remain invisible for long periods, but he is often the leader of the Tour de Ski. On New Year's Day, the Swiss folk hero returns to his home in Val Müstair.

– It was a boy who did not really want to go to school and a cross-country skier who only saw what was fun in his sport.

The words belong to Lara Bucher. She is one of those who know the Val Müstair, 32 years old, better than anyone. She is a friend and cohabitant with the Swiss sports hero for eight years.

The hero and the legend of the people

The man from Tschierv in Val Müstair – the small village located east of Switzerland overlooking the Italian border – has lived for the last 10 years in Davos, center of cross-country skiing in the alpine region of Swiss.

And Dario Cologna is at the center of the opportunities of this sport in the country. So that in the vicinity of the ski slopes is a house in Davos where we can talk about white wood, we can read "Langlaufzentrum Dario Cologna".

He is a legend in Tschierv (a street of the city that bears his name – Via Dario Cologna), he is a legend in Davos. And a legend in all of Switzerland. An athlete will often be legendary when he wins four Olympic gold medals with the country's flag. It is precisely the bouncer Simon Amman who makes him rival of the Olympic gold number.

On New Year's Day, he is on the starting line in his hometown, but he could have wished for a slightly different, purely athletic background.

– It's all about sprinting and it's not always the best for me. Of course, I'm happy to go home, but if I wanted to show my best practice, he said after becoming number 11 of the second practice of the Tour de Skis, 15 km free to Toblach.

He is now in 16th place overall when the circus returns home to the Swiss ski resort.

– It will be difficult to measure against the Russians and Norwegians, but I did not give up.

Very important for the sport

Three times Cologna has been named this year's athlete. This is happening in the home country of tennis star Roger Federer. It is big in Switzerland, but probably because there is still an interest in cross-country skiing outside the Nordic countries and Russia.

– It is extremely important for cross-country sports. And perhaps more important than we realize in Norway. We need a new profile like Central European Dario. I would have liked that person to be German. When Tobias Angerer ravaged the worst, 10 or 12 years ago, the interest was huge in Germany. Hopefully someone will come forward before setting up Dario, says Fredrik Aukland.

Aukland is an expert commentator of the NRK, but has been coaching Dario Cologna and the Swiss national team for several seasons.

Aukland also believes that Dario Cologna alone is the reason why the World Cup cross-country skiing has two big Swiss sponsors.

– The day Dario leaves, cross-country skiing is a challenge. According to Aukland, it is more important to have central European stars than Nordic ones.

Cologna has the same recognition.

– I may have made cross-country skiing more popular in some parts of Europe, and I understand what Fredrik is saying. Let's hope someone gets up. There are talents and Central Europe needs a cross-country skier who does well, says Cologna.

A student model

Former coach of the Swiss folk hero, he praises the 32-year-old player. He was a model student.

"He knows how to do what it takes to be successful and he is very good at being a 24-hour practitioner and relaxing and enjoying life," Aukland said.

For Dario Cologna, there has never been a question of downgrading the Tour de Ski. He has won four times. When some Nordic runners decided to pull out of this tight and tough competition towards the end of the year, they often argued that they should win a championship medal a month and a half later.

– It is important for your career and your profile to go to the Tour de Ski. If you train 365 days a year, you can only do seven races in nine days. All World Cup skiers achieve this. All the rest is just nonsense. It is important to give priority to training and rest afterwards. I think it's quite possible to get in shape for the Tour de Ski and the championship.

Aged 32, he has four Olympic gold medals. It is precisely these gold medals that are the highlights of their careers. But the four wins in the Tour de Ski have brought him a lot.

Last year, he won the Ski Tour and won gold at 15 kilometers at the Pyeongchang Olympics.