PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The World Cup in Falun is usually a highlight for the Swedish national team riders.
Not this winter.
– It sucks to have to stand over it, says Jonna Sundling.
If it’s a championship year, so be it. For the majority of the Swedish cross-country stars, this means that what is usually one of the highlights of the season will be missed.
– I was asked which place I like to compete in the most. And I say Falun. It’s a really nice competition venue and I have great memories from there. It is of course very sad, says the four-time world champion Jonna Sundling.
Sacrifices are required
The problem is that the World Cup weekend in Falun is February 14-16, just ten days before the WC in Trondheim, and therefore clashes with the national team’s last high-altitude camp.
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A camp that most Swedish skiers include in their plan.
– Yes, unfortunately it looks that way at the moment. It’s terribly sad, of course, I really wanted to ride it. The WC is the big goal, then you have to make certain sacrifices. But it is incredibly tough to have to stand over home ground, says William Poromaa.
– Same for me. It’s boring as hell, but at the same time it will open up so it feels fun to see so many people who wouldn’t have had the chance to compete otherwise. But Falun is one of the highlights of the year, so it feels sad not to be there myself, says Lynn Svahn.
There are some exceptions. Ebba Andersson usually only charge up in thinner air if the championship in question is also at a high altitude. The 27-year-old, who has two gold medals to defend from the WC 2023, expects to start in Falun.
– I have no plans for a high-altitude camp. I plan for Falun, says Andersson.
It is typical that the WC affects the Swedish skiing public, she thinks.
– It is a shame and sad that it has to be like this. But if it is the case that uploading at high altitude is a prerequisite for getting in your very best shape, the consequence is unfortunately that World Cup competitions end up in a bind.
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The national team veteran Calle Halfvarssonborn and living in Dalarna, has not decided. It depends on which high-altitude candy the national team offers.
– I have a hard time seeing that I will be riding at high altitude now that I didn’t ride at high altitude during the summer. In that case, it is if it is a very nice place where I get peace and quiet and can enjoy life in the run-up to a championship, says Halfvarsson.
Otherwise he drives in Falun.
– Yes, if it’s a place I don’t like to train at, then I don’t go. Then it probably ends with me going to Bruksvallarna and living in a cabin and training there.
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Facts: The ski season
• November 22–24: Swedish premiere, Bruksvallarna.
• November 29–December 1: World Cup premiere in Ruka, Finland.
• December 28-January 5: Tour de Ski in Toblach and Val di Fiemme, Italy.
• February 14–16: World Cup in Falun, Sweden.
• February 26–March 9: WC in Trondheim, Norway.
• March 15–16: World Cup in Holmenkollen, Norway.
• March 21–23: World Cup final in Lahtis, Finland.
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