World Cup gold favorite Sweden’s relay ended in disappointment. In Norway, they got excited about a small shock victory.
Sweden won the surprise relay world championship in Seefeld four years ago, when Stina Nilsson smoked on the anchor section Therese Johaugin. Since then, Sweden has entered every relay race as the favorite, but the race has ended in disappointment.
Sweden, which suffered from bad ski problems two years ago in Obertstdorf, was only sixth. Last year in Beijing, of course, the country took bronze, but more was expected from the competition.
At the World Championships in Planica, Sweden, which dominated the women’s competitions, also went into Thursday’s relay as the biggest preliminary favorite. However, the end result was third place again.
At the second end of the section Ebba Andersson fell and suffered a broken stick. Invilg Flugstad Östberg and Frida Karlsson however, they quickly caught up with Germany and Finland at the beginning of the third leg. Östberg tore, and Karlsson was surprisingly unable to respond. He did not stay in Germany Even Pia Finkin after.
At the last change, the difference to Norway was 14 seconds.
– It feels quite sour and like today I am the one who is letting the team down. It’s from deep, Karlsson continued his chatter, Karlsson chatted to SVT.
Skiers and maintenance strongly disagree
However, Karlsson also spiked the equipment.
– It felt like he (Östberg) had much better skis than we did today, he stated Aftonbladet (you switch to another service) by.
Also skied the opening section Emma Ribom was not satisfied with his capes.
– This feels like a won bronze. We should be proud. We were able to do what we had today.
Swedish maintenance and lubrication manager Petter Myhlback however, was on different lines with Karlsson and Ribom.
– I can say that we have worked very hard, maybe harder than ever. I think we had a good kit today. Athletic performance equals results. It was a bronze medal.
Myhlback continued that others had better performances on some sections.
– We were definitely in the game today. On certain sections we had absolutely top skis.
Maintenance is often heavily criticized when the performance is not the best possible. Myhlback uploaded about it.
– I’m tired of the fact that as soon as the results are not what everyone wants, the reason is in the equipment. We’re doing a damn good job in the maintenance team.
According to Expressen (you switch to another service) the athletes and ski maintenance gathered a few hours after the end of the race for a crisis meeting. There, both skiers and maintenance got to present their views.
– We had to go through things and tell what the race was like from our point of view, and try to continue from this unitedly, said Andersson, who won gold and two bronze medals in Planica.
A small shock victory for Norway
In Norway, the victory was considered a small surprise. Vuonomaa renewed its world championship from two years ago.
For a long time, the Norwegian gold team did not have either Marit Björgen or Johaugia.
– A small shock win, Jan Post comment With NRK (you switch to another service).
In Planica, Norway has had to prove Sweden’s superiority on the women’s side. On Thursday, the parts changed.
– What a revenge for Norwegian women, Torgeir Bjorn your butt