Sweden’s Edvin Anger’s recent performances have made him the number one contender for Johannes Kläbo ahead of the World Championships.
The Norwegian sprinter king of skiing Johannes Kläbo has got Sweden Edvin from Anger one of his toughest challengers in the World Cup of Skiing.
In the sprint final on Saturday, Anger clearly lost to Kläbo at the end and finished second, but the Swede is realizing his potential.
The 22-year-old Anger took his first career World Cup win in the sprint at Les Rousses a week ago when Kläbo was not there.
Anger said in an interview with Urheilu that Kläbo can be beaten in the future.
– I am 22 years old. He is older than me. My fitness curve points upwards and he will have it downwards at some point, Anger stated in France.
The 28-year-old Kläbo has been the number one name in sprinting since the Winter Olympics 2018: there have been challengers, but no one has been able to properly displace Kläbo. The Norwegian has won the sprints and pair sprints since Pyeongchang.
Edvin Anger wants to end Kläbo’s gold streak at the World Championships in Trondheim.
The duo’s tough competitive situation and tight gaps were shown on Saturday in the Engadin free sprint.
Kläbo and Anger came to the final straight first, but Kläbo’s pace was clearly faster. The Norwegian left the Swede behind, clearly slowed down and gave second-placed Anger a long stare at the finish line.
– I turned my head, but it took a long time for me to notice him (Anger), Kläbo referred to his superiority in an interview with NRK.
You can watch the situation in the video below.
“It was about time”
Anger has admitted to NRK that there is friction between the two.
– We are not the best of friends, the Swede said.
According to Anger, he has not found a “common ground” with Kläbo.
According to the Swede, Kläbo has avoided even looking at him. When the two were on the podium at the same time at the Tour de Ski in Toblach after the 15-kilometer traditional race, Kläbo was as if Anger had never existed, the Swede claims. Harald Amundsen was first in the race, Anger second and Kläbo third.
– He (Kläbo) didn’t seem to be looking at me at all. He probably doesn’t want the Swede to come and beat him.
Kläbo replies that the situation in Toblach did not go completely as Anger claims.
– But I’m not interested in that. It’s nice that Anger has gained more momentum. It was about time, Kläbo grumbled.
– It’s a good thing that the Swedes have raised the standard. It is important for the species. Now Edvin has won the World Cup. What he’s doing is already starting to look like something.
At the World Championships, the sprint is competed in free skiing.
Sources: NRK.