Photo: Bildbyrån
Stina Nilsson has taken the step over from biathlon to long-distance running.
Now cross-country skiing legend Petter Northug says what he thinks about her new venture.
– She may need a year or two to be hardened with this hard strike, he says to Dagens Nyheter.
She went from being one of the most successful Swedish cross-country skiers to becoming an intermediate biathlete. Now have Stina Nilsson31, has his sights set on yet another new sport. This season, she invests wholeheartedly in long-distance running.
Stina Nilsson won in her long-distance debut
In her premiere on roller skis, she surprisingly won the Klarälvsloppet, which is 90 km long.
– I am so very satisfied. It was real tactical driving from Ramudden. I have ridden and been focused all the way to be able to counterattack, Stina told TV4 after the finish.
– If you have a day like today, it’s just tactically fun games to read and solve. This was the first time this summer that I have run with girls, have only been training with the Ragde guys and Emil (Nykvistboyfriend). A great receipt, she continued.
After the victory in her first ever long race, many people compared Stina to herself Peter Northugwho incidentally also made a comeback on the ski track recently after six years as a “retiree”.
– It’s a good analogy and they have many characteristics that are the same. Extremely strong heads, very high speed and loves the tactics and is not afraid to play those cards and just lay back, not up and pull. They use their strengths and they do it well. So they are quite similar to each other, said the expert, for example Anders Blomquist in SVT Sport.
READ MORE: Stina Nilsson’s honest words after the comparison with Petter Northug
Petter Northug’s words about Stina
Petter Northug himself believes that it can be a success for Stina Nilsson and her new long-distance venture.
– I saw her in the Klarälvsloppet. Even though it was on roller skis, she looked very strong, he tells Dagens Nyheter.
He even believes that a victory for her in the Vasaloppet could be relevant shortly. Maybe not this season, but in a year or so. It all depends on her continuing to train well and develop. She has the capacity.
– The Vasaloppet will suit her perfectly. She might need a year or two to toughen up with this hard stake. But I get reports from friends I have in her team that she is strong, says Petter, who also has the goal of winning the Vasaloppet in particular:
– I had a bad start to last season with overtraining in October. I’m happy with how the end of the season turned out. This year I am better trained and have better capacity, but I have to have a better start in the Vasaloppet than it was last time. If I get my lead, I will enter Moraparken and be involved in the victory. That’s my dream.
READ MORE: Stina Nilsson is reprimanded by her boyfriend Emil Nykvist
What do you think of Petter’s words about Stina? Do you also think she can make it big this year? Feel free to write a comment on Sportbibeln’s Facebook page.
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