PHOTO: TT News Agency
They were tipped in advance as favourites.
But in the mass start, Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson “only” finished fifth and sixth.
– Ebba and Frida are giving away the victory, says Petter Skinstad, expert in Norwegian TV2, in his criticism.
This weekend saw the start of the ski season properly when the World Cup premiered in Ruka. The schedule included a sprint, 10 kilometer classic, and a 20 kilometer freestyle mass start. On the men’s side, there was unfortunately not a single podium for our Swedish skaters.
Swedish success
But on the women’s side, Sweden was significantly more successful. Emma Ribom won Friday’s sprint, and had with him Jonna Sundling on the podium. On Saturday won Ebba Anderssonas expected, the 10 kilometer race, and was joined by Frida Karlsson who came third.
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In the mass start, it was surprising enough Moa Ilar who won, to the great Swedish joy. She thus took her first victory in the World Cup, after previously never even being on the podium. However, Ilar already showed during the Swedish premiere that she can be counted on this season when she beat both Andersson and Karlsson in the 10 kilometer freestyle.
Norwegian criticism
In the World Cup race that Moa Ilar won, Ebba and Frida were in the lead for the majority of the time, but never managed to pull away properly. Something the duo is now receiving criticism for.
– I find it very difficult to understand why they choose this tactic. Moa Ilar, who wins, has given up the lead at the beginning of the race. Second-placed Diggins breaks the pole at the end and third-placed Brennan is also far back in the field. They are playing too poorly tactically. They allow riders with good sprinting skills to keep up round after round, says Petter Skinstadexpert in Norwegian TV2, to Expressen.
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Skinstad thinks that Andersson and Karlsson should have just “driven on in long, continuous parts”.
– They could have had help from Bergane then, who is also just as stupid tactically. Ebba and Frida give away the victory.
– Sure, if they’re not better, that’s okay. But then they would not have been so high in the field. After all, they solve a gap when they sprint for the bonus points and then it looks like they have full control. But maybe it’s about the duel between them. They look at each other too much and forget the rest of the field, he tells the evening newspaper.
READ MORE: Now a lot of criticism is being raised in Norway – after the Swedish smash hit in the World Cup premiere: “A disappointment”
Karlsson’s answer
Frida Karlsson admits that she would have raced differently if she had to rerun the race, but rejects Skinstad’s criticism.
– I think both me and Ebba are trying, it was driving every lap. Now I don’t know what Ebba says, but I drove anyway. We tried to pull away, but to be only two on the downhill compared to… say 22, that’s a big difference and it didn’t hold, says Frida.
READ MORE: Gunde Svan names the best skier on the women’s side – nodding both Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson
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