Norwegian Karoline Grötting had nothing to oppose in the sprint of the mass start race, which ended on classic ski terrain in Val di Fiemme.
– I am very happy with silver. Linn was stronger than me in the sprint, said the Norwegian after the finish.
That the Norwegian had to face the 35-year-old Swede is not so strange. Sömskar is a roller ski specialist, now with eleven WC gold medals in the sport.
“A little special”
– All the gold and medals have meant a lot, but it is clear that this is a bit special. That I succeeded despite the fact that it was three years ago and that the WC was postponed a year and I was forced to extend the investment, says Sömskar to SVT.
Sömskar has not definitively said that his skiing career is over.
– No, I find it difficult to decide. It’s so much fun. And when the body responds to training so…
– But I have no plans for any more investment, says Sömskar, who has only planned to complete this WC and then run the Swedish Cup on roller skis.
Have a chance at three more golds
At the WC, Sömskar has three new chances for gold. In the sprint tomorrow and then in the team sprint and finally in the 15 km classic mass start. The final race goes up the Alpe de Cermi slalom slope, just like the Tour de Ski in the winters. A gold there would be the icing on the cake.
– Yes, it is likely that this will be the last, so it would be fun, laughs Sömskar.
Ebba Stenman, just like Sömskar from Umeå, was high up in the race for a long time but ended up in sixth place.
WC results ladies
1. Linn Sömskar, Sweden, 24.05,1
2. Karoline Grötting, Norway, +1.2
3. Stefania Corradini, Italy, +2.8
4. Maria Eugenia Boccardi, Italian, +8.5
5. Nicole Monsorno, Italy, +29.8
6. Ebba Stenman, Sweden, +32.7
You can find the entire list of results here.