Photo: Bildbyrån, SVT
The Swedish cross-country men have started the season, to say the least, with a bang.
SVT expert Mathias Fredriksson is clear in his criticism.
– No, it’s not approved and it doesn’t feel good, he says.
Edwin Anger looked strong in the Sweden premiere in Bruksvallarna. William Poromaa has a WC medal from Planica 2023 to defend. Calle Halfvarsson says himself that he still has more to give. And now even 18-year-olds have the super talent Alvar Myhlback made his debut as a senior at the World Cup. Nevertheless, things are not going well for the Swedish men.
Mathias Fredriksson saws the cross-country men
So far this year, there have only been two “top 10” finishes in the six opening races in Ruka and Lillehammer. Those times it wasn’t even the aforementioned skaters who performed, but Jens Burman who came seventh in the 10 km classic style in Ruka and Marcus Grate who came sixth in the sprint at the same location.
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One who is clear that it is simply too bad is the former national team skater Mathias Fredrikssonwho won medals both at the Olympics and at the WC. He is now an expert in SVT’s Winter Studio.
– No, it’s not that good. Sweden should have much better men’s skaters than that. What do you say? Two “top 10” in six races and it is clear that: “No, it is not approved and it does not feel good”. But that is the reality right now, he says on the channel.
The SVT expert wants to see greater change
Fredriksson says that the problem is nothing new, but has existed for a couple of years. Actually then Marcus Hellner, Johan Olsson and the riders of that generation retired.
– I think you have to look at the whole structure. What do you already do from junior age? It’s not the first year. So somewhere we are not keeping up in terms of capacity. Above all, on tough courses, we have very few riders who have the courage to join. The Norwegians have 15 riders who are at the front and can push on, but we don’t have that, he says.
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The expert maintains that the Swedish men are too weak and too untrained. Something must be done to change the training structure in the country in the long term.
– Somewhere we have made a mistake and we have to sit down and sort it out. I think that basically we need to have a little better capacity in the riders, he says.
What do you think about this? Is Mathias Fredriksson right or is he too harsh in his criticism? Feel free to comment!
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