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The end of the hunt on Ruka was decided almost before it began. But behind Therese Johaug was dramatic just before the finish line.
Swedish sprint comedians Linn Svahn and Maja Dahlqvist were well placed on the field behind top Therese Johaug for a long time, but they came out of TV pictures on the last hill before the finish. Svahn shot straight out of the goal area, Dahlqvist explains to NRK what happened:
– We got there faster, then they started to slow down to the front. Linn fell first and I couldn’t help it. I’m terribly disappointed, I could have fought for second and third place. You have to be cursed when you fall like this. There may be an agreement in the House.
This is not the first time that Swedish sprinters have driven sticks into each other’s wheels. Also at WC Seefeld a year and a half ago, they defeated each other in the decisive turn of the sprint final.
– Of course I’m pissed off. It’s so fucking unnecessary, Svahn tells Aftonbladet, and he blames Ebba Andersson, who according to Svahn goes out and makes the others crash.
Andersson, for his part, blames himself.
Even in Granåsen, on last season’s Ski Tour, things went wrong for Svahn, who took it all in stride:
Frida Karlsson started as number two, but finished in fourth place. I was not very happy with the trail in Ruka.
– It’s such a “boring” (boring) heavenly trail that I’m dying. There’s nothing possible to do, because you get caught back on the slopes right away, he tells SVT as he fights back tears.
She did the same when interviewed by Aftonbladet:
Do not say that!
Helene Marie Fossesholm took advantage of the fall to climb to sixth place, and was eight tenths behind her first World Cup.
– Don’t even say it! It’s very sad to lose by eight tenths, but Therese got ahead there alone once and it’s well deserved, Fossesholm tells NRK, before revealing that she cursed out loud after the goal.
Johaug and the junior have lived together in a room in Ruka and the 31-year-old makes no secret of the fact that she admires the next big star on the distance side of women’s cross-country skiing.
– I’m not surprised you get to a career like this. I’ve seen how much work he puts in, he tells the state channel after his superior victory:
Focuses on himself
Therese Johaug started with a 16-second baggage advantage from the start of Saturday’s interval in the classic and was therefore a huge favorite before the start of the final hunt on the mini-tour in the Finnish Ruka.
The field behind started with a tactical trick and let Johaug win relatively unchallenged in the final two rounds.
Therese Johaug had to walk the ten kilometers alone. She won the final 47 seconds ahead of sensational female Tatjana Sorina who came in second, ahead of Ebba Andersson in third.
Therefore, he vigorously responds to the Swedish accusation before the season. Söta’s brother has taken repeated shots and climbed in his own form towards the start of the season, but Johaug has spoken with his legs and has won both distance races of the season.
Expressen commentator Tomas Pettersen thought that Johaug had been successful with his mind game against the Swedes before the season, but that it has now been revealed.
– I focus mainly on myself, says Johaug.
It seems to work.
