The Milano Cortina Olympics are set to feature the men's 10+10 km cross-country relay race, with the competition kickstarting at 13:20. Notably, Alvar Johannes Alev is representing Estonia, while other athletes such as the previous Olympic gold and silver medalists from 2022, Aleksandr Bolshunov and Deniss Spitsov, are absent from the race. Both athletes earned significant recognition in their last events, but due to the ongoing geopolitical issues, they won't be competing this year.

In contrast, Saveli Korosteljov is participating under a neutral flag despite his known connections to Russia and support for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, adding a layer of complexity to the competition. The event garners attention primarily because of the overarching presence of Norwegian cross-country skiing champion Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who is a top favorite, having previously won the only other cross-country relay this season.

As anticipation builds, the focus is on how Alev—ranked 38th in the Trondheim World Cup and 28th in the World Championships earlier this season—will perform on the Tesero ski stadium track. With the dominance of Klæbo looming over, Alev’s performance may be critical in testing his mettle amidst an intense international sporting atmosphere.