Photo: Bildbyrån
Therese Johaug is no longer immortal.
Then Ebba Andersson is probably sitting at home in Sweden rubbing her hands.
The Swede is suddenly the one you have to beat to win WC gold.
This is a comment. The opinions are the writer’s own.
This weekend there were domestic premieres in both Sweden (Bruksvallarna) and Norway (Beitostölen). For many, it was the start of a competitive season that promises a lot. It’s not just that we have more Swedish stars on the women’s side than ever – Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson, Lynn Svahn, Jonna Sundling, Maja Dahlqvist, Emma Ribom and Johanna Hagström and Moa Ilar – but also that a certain Norwegian ski queen is making a comeback.
What level does Therese Johaug hold?
Therese Johaug put the skis on the shelf two years ago and has since given birth, appeared on television for NRK and was the travel agency Apollo’s poster name for their training trips. But when the urge to compete became too great, she chose to invest wholeheartedly in her sports career again. Home WC in Trondheim 2025 was the given goal for the 36-year-old.
READ MORE: Strong reactions in Norway after Frida Karlsson’s comeback this weekend
Many have believed in advance that she will reach the same level she was at before she quit. Surely you remember that she ended her career with a bang when she won three individual golds during the Olympics in Beijing 2022? If nothing else, the Norwegian has trained as if she were unchallenged world number one again.
Therese won Saturday’s 10-kilometer race in classic style in Beitostölen and the margin of victory was 40 seconds. Afterwards, she joked with the press that she wanted to read the Swedish newspaper headlines. She hoped that her effort had put some fear into Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson & Co.
– There are good skaters I race against here, so it probably indicates that I can join and fight against the Swedish girls in Kuusamo (Ruka). Who knows? Me and Frida have had many dusts and she and Ebba are Sweden’s big stars. It should be rivalry back and forth, she told Sportbladet after the victory.
The statement came just days after Johaug made a cocky outburst in Expressen about Andersson’s WC efforts in Planica last year.
– There was a huge hype then. That Ebba has taken big steps forward. And sure enough, she has. Ebba has won many World Cup victories while I have been away. But…
– …but she had many second places as long as I was there.
Ebba Andersson really has the chance in the WC
On Sunday, it turned out that Johaug is not immortal at all. Heidi Weng won the 10 kilometer freestyle and proved that you ACTUALLY can snap Therese on the nose, even if it was a narrow victory by six tenths. Just knowing that it is possible to defeat the physical monster from Dalsbygda should make Ebba Andersson happy.
The 27-year-old won two out of three races in Bruksvallarna (10 km classic and free) and showed that she will be really hard to stop this year. Given that Frida Karlsson is still an uncertain card at the moment given the foot injury and the lack of training, Ebba is by far the biggest favorite at longer distances right now. It is her that Johaug must win over to take the gold medal on home soil in March.
READ MORE: Ebba Andersson’s rant to Therese Johaug: “I win WC gold”
On Sunday, March 9, it’s time for the WC’s five-mile, the distance that Johaug said in advance that she wants to focus on the most. The question is, can she handle Ebba then? Hopefully, Andersson has warmed up in his clothes and managed to beat Johaug a couple of times in the World Cup before then.
It will be extremely interesting to follow the women’s world cup this year, especially considering that the rivalry between Sweden and Norway feels hotter than in a long time. How do you think things will go this winter for Ebba Andersson and Therese Johaug? Feel free to write a comment on Sportbibeln’s Facebook page.
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