On Sunday, skiing history will be written in Norway.
But Frida Karlsson trembles before it and Petter Northug is now directing criticism.
– I am scared and worried, says the Norwegian skiing expert to TV2.
For the first time ever in skiing history, the women’s skiers will now compete in the five-mile at the World Cup. The historic race awaits on Sunday in Holmenkollen, where the ladies step up to the same distance as the men for the very first time.
Karlsson’s concern
It will be a real challenge for all riders and the race has also received a lot of criticism recently. Especially since the five-mile comes just a week after the cross-country skiers completed the three-mile during the World Ski Championships.
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Before the season saw the Swedish hope Frida Karlsson looking forward to the five-mile in Holmenkollen and getting to test their limits over such a long distance. But after the discharge with a skiing WC, she has started to tremble more and more before the historic race.
– Before the WC, we said that it’s probably only me and Ebba who want to walk five miles. But now I probably just think that it is Ebba who wants to ride it, says the Swede to the news agency NTB.
READ MORE: Frida Karlsson’s perfect fit for Ebba Andersson – the great tribute before the historic competition
Northug’s criticism
The WC queen Ebba Andersson really confirmed during the WC that she is the world’s best distance skier right now and goes into the five-mile as the big favourite. After the great criticism of the race, now also the Norwegian skiing icon gives in Peter Northug into the debate.
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He clearly criticizes the race and now warns the riders.
– The five-mile in Holmenkollen is six laps of 8.6 kilometers. It’s a really tough five miles considering the height difference. You can also see that on the men’s side, says Northug, who is an expert at Norwegian TV2.
– I think that three miles for ladies is more than enough. What I fear is that there will be too many gaps between the riders and that the race will therefore be boring.
READ MORE: Stina Nilsson breaks the silence after the nightmare news – opens up about the disappointment: “It feels so great…”
“Surprised”
Northug praises the initiative for women and men to run the same long distances, but before Holmenkollen in particular he is clear about his concerns.
– I am not negative that they drive the same routes, I think it is right that they do so. But I’m worried about the distances in the five-mile race in Kollen, he says to the Norwegian TV channel.
Despite everything, Petter Northug is looking forward to Sunday’s race and is excited about how it will turn out. But he does not think that the distance of 50 km will be long-lasting on the women’s side.
– I will be surprised if the women’s five-mile becomes a tradition, Northug concludes his analysis.
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