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But first: Johaugs did what he wanted in his first race of the season. 58 seconds separated Helene Marie Fossesholm in second place, while Heidi Weng descended to the bottom of the podium more than a minute behind the Dalsbygda Express.
For Weng, it was not a good experience. She felt heavy from start to finish and didn’t even try to hold onto Johaug’s back when she was caught again with 30 seconds already after four miles.
– I didn’t have a good feeling. I couldn’t bear to be a part of those things there, Weng says quietly.
EXCELLENT: Here Therese Johaug passes Heidi Weng after six kilometers.
He also notes that he was closer to Johaug now than at the same time last year. Still, Saturday’s 10km was the only long race.
And it started with ya for Start.
– I was so nervous that I thought I was going to fall. My legs were shaking, says Weng, who finished third.
– I have no idea
Johaug, for his part, was very satisfied with the day’s work, but pointed out that cross-country skiing will be much more important. He did not want to improve his performance too much and believes that both Fossesholm and Weng have much more to offer during the winter.
But Johaug and the Norwegian athletes had watched the Swedes pay homage to themselves after their inauguration in Bruksvallarna.
Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson won there on Friday by a good margin over the rest. Frida Karlsson told Expressen that the Swedes have the best women’s team in the world. Linn Svahn claimed after the Aftonbladet race that no one in the world could do anything about the performance of their teammates.
– I think it’s difficult to report. Therese has shown time and again how sickly strong she is. Not just in one race, but throughout the season. There is a difference between a good race and 30 great races. It will be exciting to see when they report it. Therese is in the battle, and it’s not just about getting the top spots, Fossesholm tells NRK.
– Do they fly high during the day?
– Yes, you can say that. When they have no idea what form Therese is in. Reporting that no one had beaten Therese today is strange to me.
WINNING STICK: Therese Johaug received the first prize of the classic of less than 10 kilometers in Beitostølen, flanked by Helene Marie Fossesholm and Heidi Weng.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
– I do not feel safe
Johaug obviously didn’t want to engage in a war of words. She emphasizes that every ski race has its own story and did not want to compare a race in Sweden to one in Norway before Karlsson, Anderssom and she meet at the opening of the World Cup in Ruka next weekend.
– And at the beginning of the season there can be great distances. We have seen it before. But okay, you can get this stamp from Ruka. I enjoy taking revenge, I do, says the 32-year-old.
– But are you afraid?
– Well, I saw they left quickly. No doubt about that. But they had a long career. Then there will also be great distances. They ran their entire race in 30 minutes. It’s a long way. But they left fast. I don’t feel safe until next weekend, says Johaug.
