Photo: Bildbyrån
Seven stages in the space of nine days. Then it is important for the riders to quickly recover between competitions and find ways to maintain focus.
For Ebba Andersson, that means a bag full of entertainment.
– I have as much as I want to amuse myself these days, she tells Expressen.
It hasn’t really gone the way she wanted this season. But Ebba Andersson27, refuses to give up. She is still in the Tour de Ski, even though the results have not been with her at all. Before Friday’s sprint, Ebba was in thirteenth place in the overall standings.
This is how Ebba Andersson spends her rest time
The Tour de Ski is a recognized tough test for the cross-country skiers. The seven stages are completed in nine days, which means that there will not be such long recovery periods between races. It is up to each rider to find their own tricks and ways to slow down, relax but at the same time maintain focus.
– We were reminded of that (by the leaders). When should we be on? And when will we be off? It is important to think about, in order to be able to cope with an entire tour. Sure, it’s physically demanding. But that’s what we’re trained for. However, the head is not good at being so intense for a short period, says Ebba Andersson to Expressen.
READ MORE: Painful words about Ebba Andersson in Norway after the fiasco
Ebba is so experienced that she knows exactly what she needs to entertain herself and relax between laps. She has, among other things, a coloring book, a yatzy and a reading tablet in her pack.
– I spend a lot of time with my teammates. It gives me a lot of energy, she also says.
Ebba Andersson likes Alpe Cermis
Expressen: And maybe a movie?
– No, not film. I’m a little too impatient for that. But series works! I can handle about 45 minutes, if it is longer than that it will be a bit too energy demanding.
READ MORE: The words of the Norwegian press about Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson
On Saturday it’s time for the 10 km skiathlon in the Tour de Ski and on Sunday everything ends with the classic climb up Alpe Cermis. Ebba Andersson usually likes the terrifying climb, it suits her style as a skater. In 2022, she came up as the second woman for the hill. She also came second overall on the tour that same year. 2023 won Frida Karlsson Tour de Ski as second Swedish ever – 15 years after that Charlotte Kalla had done it for the first time.
Good luck with the end of the Tour de Ski, Ebba and all other Swedes. It’s been a tough year, but you are a brave few who hold the banner high.
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