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Therese Johaug (31) has received many stings from high-flying Swedes before the start of the season. But when it really started to apply, it parked Frida Karlsson (21), Ebba Andersson (23) and the other guns.
– So it was really good to take that Swedish duel! Especially when someone in the Swedish camp has spoken a bit. So it’s good to hit back hard, Johaug tells NRK.
Before the start of the season, there have been repeated messages from the Swedish side before the start of the season. Sprintess Linn Svahn said, for example, that “no one in the world surpasses this” after the Swedish national opening.
– Did the messages from the Swedes encourage you?
– Yes. I thought I would do my best to be on top and show who is the best, continues Johaug on the state channel.
On the first pass, however, it looked like the Queen of Dalsbygda would have a tough battle for victory. Frida Karlsson opened hard and led the Norwegian rival by 1.8 seconds.
It did not last long. Already in the middle of the race, 1.8 behind became 3.8 in front of and 6.2 kilometers the difference had become almost six seconds.
The Sollefteå express looked more and more marked during the race, while Johaug in turn painted. Already in the first distance race of the season at the World Cup, Johaug showed that the claim of the Swedes does not hold up.
Now she is the big favorite to win the mini-tour in Ruka. On Sunday she starts as first woman, 16 seconds ahead of Karlsson. But Johaug didn’t impress Andersson with the way he behaved behind her on the track.
– He yelled that I was getting off the track, and I thought “please then”. I can’t stop her if she screams twice. But she never came, which was a bit annoying because I wish I had followed the trail to the end, Andersson tells SVT.
EXCELLENT: Therese Johaug beat Frida Karlsson by 21.8 seconds at Ruka. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva / Lehtikuva
Johaug-stikk
In the end, there was no doubt who was victorious in the duel, Johaug parked all the Swedes and starts this year’s World Cup season from a distance better than the previous one.
Then Karlsson sped it to three miles at Holmenkollen.
This time he was 21.8 seconds ahead of Karlsson at the finish. Ebba Anderson finished third, 26 seconds behind.
– Ebba started thirty seconds before me, so I watched her most of the race. It was very good for me, says Johaug.
Weng broke
Helen Marie Fossesholm was impressed with her disposition, but was eventually kicked off the podium.
Tiril Udnes Weng was also involved in the battle for the podium for a long time, but was sent off by Johaug and Karlsson.
Heidi Weng was supposed to compete with the other stars, but just before the race she decided to cancel the mini tour in the Finnish forests. Coach Ole Morten Iversen described to TV 2 on Friday that he has lost a lot of energy due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Therese Johaug’s form, however, is nothing to worry about.
