[ad_1]
– It has not occurred to me what is happening now. I still rise very high there, he says.
Everyone pointed to Johannes Thingnes Bø as the big favorite before the World Cup opening in Kontiolahti, but it was a completely different, relatively unknown Norwegian who really made it all work.
Starting at No. 37, national team debutant Sturla Holm Lægreid took the lead halfway, after two full runs. The strong shooter, who only missed one of 60 shots when allowed to go to the World Cup last season, went on to the third.
– You are fighting for a World Cup winner. It’s absolutely insane, absolutely unbelievable, said commentator Andreas Stabrun Smith.
– Really impressive, said Ola Lunde.
Amazing trip
His best place in the World Cup was a 10th place from last year. The 23-year-old also kept a cool head on the last trip to the stands and had a clear lead in the final round – 36.7 seconds ahead of compatriot Thingnes Bø.
– You can’t lose this! Stabrun Smith thought.
Lægreid won the Norgescup last year and a victory earned him a place in the IBU Cup. He then followed up with a silver at the European Championship and made his World Cup debut. In his four careers he was ranked 13th, 15th, 10th and 11th, and therefore only one boom. He was rewarded with a place on the national team this season.
Now he has hit 79 of 80 shots in the World Cup. In the end, he was 19.6 seconds ahead of Thingnes Bø.
– For a breakthrough. This day is unreal, the NRK commentator yelled.
– I concentrated on doing regular rounds today and shooting my best. He hadn’t imagined the location at all. It was horrible to hear on the road that he was on the same level as Tarjei and Johannes. So I led. It was crazy to get that feedback, says Lægreid, who admits he’s missed a bit in training this week.
INCREDIBLE STAND: Sturla Holm Lægreid showed incredible strength at normal distance.
Joking about the penalty shootout
Heavy favorite Thingnes Bø started at a breakneck pace on the track, clearly leading the first shot, but he also has trouble lying in the run-up to the season, missing the first lie. When he was standing he was better, and in the next lie he also lowered all the flashes.
Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old had the best cross country time, and with a full house also in the last stand, he took the lead at the finish line.
– I’m super happy. He had a good race plan, he’s doing well on the track. I was hoping to win, but it’s up to you to have it, Thingnes Bø tells NRK.
Because this time it was not a victory.
– I’m really impressed with Sturla. He’s probably never the best when it comes to it. But he made it to the World Cup last year and shot full house at full house. We laughed a lot when we got here, I said ‘you Sturla, there is the penalty round. I don’t know if you know where it is, but it’s there. We laugh well. And then he shot 20 hits today, he continues with a smile.
– It’s strange to be hit by someone younger.
– It’s weird to get hit by someone younger than me, but now I’m 27 and I had to get there. Win solid, today was completely raw. What a way to win your first race. It is a higher rating.
When asked if Thingnes Bø should expect to be defeated this season, Lægreid answers the following:
– I hope so, because I also want to win. If I can match it, I am very happy.
Tarjei Bø started with a full house, but also had a boom on the next trip to the stand. With five straight on the last stretch, he was well placed but blew a chance for a podium spot with two arms on shot four.
– The form is there, but you still have to do a good race in general and I didn’t make it. It was a good old fashioned crack. We just have to enjoy Sturla taking it away. The young man is now wearing a yellow jersey and it is a great day for the team and for him. It’s crazy, he praises Bø, who finished 12th.
– It’s completely, completely crude that I win here today, and tomorrow I’m here in a yellow jersey. I invite you to that, says Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, who had four booms and a disappointing 38th place.
Erlend Bjøntegaard was number 13 and Johannes Dale was ranked 23. On Sunday, Sprint is on the show in Finland.
