Frida Karlsson outclassed the opponents during the hunt start in Oberstdorf.
But during the race it could have gone wrong – and she was forced to double-check with the leaders.
– I shouted to all the leaders, she says.
Frida Karlsson had won her first stage at the Tour de Ski and gained a 20-second lead during Oberstdorf’s chase start. Several hungry Norwegians chased behind her, and it didn’t take long before Karlsson – probably on purpose – had lost the lead.
Karlsson’s confusion
Suddenly there were four riders in a top group, but Karlsson was the one with by far the most strength left, and a few kilometers later she had left the Norwegians, so it was great. In the end, she was completely superior, more than a minute ahead of the nearest Norwegian, and a good distance ahead of the runner-up, Krista Pärmäkoski.
But it could actually end in a minor disaster for Karlsson during the race. The Swede, and everyone else, would ride six laps during the competition, and it is not always easy to keep track when you are in the middle of a competition. Karlsson had no idea, and was forced to take help from the leaders.
– I shouted to all the leaders, “which lap am I on”? It gets messy when there is so much, says Karlsson to SVT.
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“Could have been costly”
Frida Karlsson believes that it is typical of her, and that her competitors probably knew exactly which lap she was on. It has happened that riders have finished too early, and it can be costly.
– Yes, then maybe I would have finished after five laps, says Karlsson about the miss.
Anders Byström, national team manager, confirms that Karlsson was confused – and that he had to help her make the move out of the groove.
– Well, she probably just wanted to make sure of that, it was out on the fourth lap, then I said there were two laps left, so she got it then, so she knew when to pull, he says.
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