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Because after he turned 40 on Saturday and didn’t want to talk to anyone, everyone’s eyes were on Sundby during Sunday’s 15-kilometer freestyle.
It ended in another failure. The 36-year-old was far behind the leader during the race. NRK expert Torgeir Bjørn stated that it was obvious that something was wrong.
In the end, Sundby chose to break a few kilometers before the finish.
– I just have a back problem too big to ski. I am incredibly disappointed with that. It was the same today as yesterday. It is excruciating pain. I will not reach the goal. It’s frustrating, a very disappointed Sundby tells NRK in the press area.
The feeling of the classic 15 kilometers on Saturday, the distance he likes the most, was even worse.
– The curtain came down yesterday. You lie in the back, thinking “if this doesn’t work, it’s over.” Then I don’t have a chance. Therefore, he was frustrated and “depressed” after yesterday’s ending. I reasoned that if I don’t fix the problem, then there is no chance.
– Goes blind
He says the reason he broke Sunday is the same lower back problems that have bothered him since he broke a race at Beitostølen a year ago.
The fact that he and the team around him haven’t figured out how to solve back problems creates additional frustration.
– Now I’m going blind. I don’t know where the road goes next. I have to look at the NM (in January), really. There is a long way to go. Thats the reality.
– We have been playing for a long time. This has been a problem for a year. Whether we can find out in the short term is hard to say. I have to figure out how to ski again. I can’t go out and use force. It’s incredibly frustrating, repeat.
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Sundby’s little brother Sondre coaches the 36-year-old on a daily basis. He is aware that his older brother has been exceptional in physical tests. He also finds it “incredibly frustrating” that his brother doesn’t understand what he’s good at.
GETS HELP FROM HIS BROTHER: Sondre Sundby (left) celebrates his older brother’s (right) relay gold at Lahti WC 2017.
Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB
– But when he turns his back, he has no chance. Now we are going to do a full review. We’ll examine the body, we’ll take an MRI. All forces must be in motion. And we will talk to the rawest specialists, he tells NRK.
– We’ll find out and solve it. If we can do that, we will make a plan. And right now you can stay in good physical shape, like running sessions on the stake and on the treadmill, as long as you don’t strain your back.
– Martin needs time
The truth is that Sundby will not be seen at the Ruka World Cup next weekend. There are already eight shortlisted athletes.
The 36-year-old definitely seemed to be in the discussion. for weekend, but you need to focus on getting better again.
– I think Martin needs a little more time to get in shape. He will go to the World Cup as a defending champion, and I hope and believe that we will see a completely different Martin than we were able to see here, says coach Eirik Myhr Nossum.
– I can’t use my powers
Sundby is clear that there will be no more cross-country skiing for a few months. It has to “go back to zero”.
– NM will be extremely important with the WC in mind. I don’t have time to put more on my face. I just need to restart.
ERASE: Here’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby in action during the 15km free technique on Sunday.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
You conclude that you are motivated to know the problems and are fully aware that you have no chance if the pain continues. But he acknowledges that the performances in Beitostølen weren’t exactly based on the feeling of being able to deliver at the World Cup in February and March.
– I know I’ve been physically fine. But I can’t use my powers. I’m going 60 percent. I cannot assimilate. I know if it works then I have a lot to do. But I don’t have it if it doesn’t work, and I answer “they should take a month at a time” to NRK’s question about whether he could have gone to his last ski race.
Røthe on Sundby: – Hard to see
Where things went bad for Sundby, things went very well for his former national team colleague Hans Christer Holund. After opening kilometer 15 calmly, Lyn’s runner showed how well he had managed the race.
GOOD MORNING: To Sjur Røthe, here from Sunday’s race in Beitostølen.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
He ate slowly but surely in the lead for every kilometer during the race. In the end, he won by 21 seconds by signing the national team running back Harald Østberg Amundsen. Sjur Røthe also showed that his form is increasing. Vossingen was third, half a minute behind Holund.
– I know it doesn’t feel right now. I saw him skiing yesterday, I sat in the hotel and watched the race, and I see that something is wrong. It’s hard to see such a good skier and such a good friend struggling like that there, says Røthe of Sundby’s situation.
– It is clear that a handbrake is a place that is not entirely possible to get rid of. I think it’s a shame, getting his back in order should be the main focus, because not many weeks ago we saw him ski faster than he could at least walk a little more.
