– I am very disappointed, have to struggle far too much on the classic to have something over to be with today, says Karlsson to SVT Sport.
What went wrong with the classic?
– Either I’m very tense, I don’t know. I did not get the skis down and could not go relaxed and it was too much energy that went away, explains Karlsson.
Karlsson had not competed since the outclassing win in Les Rousses on January 19 and just trained and charged for the Championship in Trondheim to take his first individual World Cup gold.
“I’m a blank leaf,” Karlsson said before starting.
“Felt Gansk far away”
At the ski change halfway after the classic part, Karlsson was 8.9 seconds after the leading Heidi Weng.
Karlsson then went with Astrid Öyre Slind who kicked off the ski at the change and dropped 7-8 seconds.
She tried to chase the quartet Johaug, Heidi Weng, Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling. At the end, Karlsson mixed in the medal battle, invited after Jonna Sundlings and Heidi Weng’s case, but had to give up against Jonna Sundling and finished four.
– It wasn’t anyone I sprinted against so it felt pretty far away, says Karlsson.