Photo: Bildbyrån, Geir Olsen/NTB/TT
On Thursday, the World Cup sprint is decided in Trondheim.
One of the big favorites to take the gold is Jonna Sundling, who is the reigning champion.
Her national teammate Linn Svahn, on the other hand, believes in another winner.
– Kristine Stavås Skistad will be the woman to beat, she says.
The ski World Cup really starts with the sprint in Granåsen, Trondheim. Sweden has several gold candidates, especially on the women’s side where names such as Jonna Sundling30, and Linn Svahn25, should be mentioned. Also Maja Dahlqvist; 30, Emma Ribom27, and Johanna Hagström26, has a chance at a medal.
Linn Svahn won the World Cup sprint in Falun
Jonna Sundling has been the strongest sprinter seen throughout the season, but in the last World Cup competition for the World Cup, the one in Falun, it was Linn Svahn who took the first victory of the season. It was her first individual profit in one year.
– I had not competed for more than a month, so I was a little uncertain about how good I was in relation to everyone else. Both Kristine Stavås Skistad25, and Maja Dahlqvist had won in the World Cup in recent weeks, so it is clear that the level was so high that I was pleasantly surprised. But that’s probably more the way I did it like me, like this in retrospect, felt that: “I can also go this way”. That was nice to feel, says Linn Svahn at a digital press conference where the sports cable is present.
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Swiss Nadine Fähndrich29, came second in that final in Falun. Stavås Skistad came third. The Norwegian suddenly got one more competitor for the World Cup, not just Jonna Sundling.
– I think she felt she had more control over me before the sprint than after the sprint, says Linn Svahn.
Svahn and Skistad are likened to each other
Svahn and Stavås Skistad are often likened to each other. They have a bit the same style and both choose to isolate themselves during much of the seasons to follow their own arrangements rather than training with others. They do not like to talk to the media, but choose to keep quiet and work themselves in peace and quiet.
– In a way, I understand what you mean, but I think something is that I am very triggered by that duel. That she is there and has such a high level. In recent seasons she has been terribly strong and last year I think we both went off with as many victories overall during the season. So I think we both recognize that, that no one wants to be beaten by the other.
Read more: Kristine Stavås Skistad’s extremely cocky play for the ski World Cup
Linn Svahn thinks it is good and important to dare to go their own way, so that not all cross -country skiers do exactly the same all the time.
– There are so many who are so different in profile and in what you need. So I believe that you should do what feels best for yourself, what you think is most important. Then I also believe in contributing, making the whole good for everyone else as well. Especially when we come in to a championship like this, it’s just about doing what you can to be as good as possible for that day. That’s what feels so fun.
Linn noble Jonna Sundling
When Linn Svahn is forced to speculate on how it will go in the World Cup sprint, she humbly chooses to mention her own name when talking about possible winners.
– I think there will be a lot of Swedes. We are such a strong team and if you look at the latest championship it was only Swedish in the top four. So I think you will see many, many Swedes at the top that will make up for it, she says.
Nor is Jonna Sundling that she holds as a favorite in the distance. It is Norwegian home rider Stavås Skistad who gets Linn Svahn’s voice.
– Then we have Kristine Stavås Skistad, of course, at home, which I think is by far the toughest competitor to take a gold. As good as she is and has shown. There is something special about home championships as well. So I think she will be the woman to beat. Then I think there will be many Swedes who will be up there and drive about it, she says and continues:
– We also have other nations that are always good. We have Jessie Digginswe have Nadine Fähndrich, we have Jasmi Joensuu Which has shown the forefoot this year and that you can never count. If I get to speculate, I think it will be a Norwegian-Swedish duel.
Who do you think wins the ladies’ sprint in the World Cup? Jonna Sundling, Linn Svahn or Kristine Stavås Skistad? Someone quite different? Feel free to comment!
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