The Swedish relay victory was not only unchallenged. It was also historic. For the first time ever, the Swedish ski ladies have now won two World Cup relays in a row.
– When you are in such good shape, you feel immortal, says Frida Karlsson.
The World Cup weekend in German Oberhof has been a real Swedish success. After Friday’s sprint success with three Swedish podium places and then Frida Karlsson’s win in the mass start over 20 kilometers, the finish was just as formidable.
The Swedish team (Linn Svahn, Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling) finished 17 seconds ahead of second place Germany.
– When you’re in such good shape, you feel immortal, it’s so much fun when it flaps and the body responds. We have strong cards on every stretch and think we should use every stretch, says Frida Karlsson to Viaplay.
Huge gap
She took over after Linn Svahn, who went out first, and both of them could give Sweden a big gap in front of the nearest competitor, Germany. After Ebba Andersson kept up the distance, Jonna Sundling was able to go out on the final stretch with a lead of over a minute. What then looked to be a superior victory, however, became exciting at times for the German home crowd when Victoria Karl produced one of the best individual efforts of the race. But the distance was too great to be fully picked up.
– It was a relief to cross the finish line and that I managed to hold off Karl, who rode like a cannon. I was still able to keep my composure and see where she was, Sundling told Viaplay about her German competitor.
The Swedish victory is historic. For the first time, Sweden has won two World Cup relays in a row after earlier in the season taking home the victory in Gällivare.
– There is always prestige in the relay and it just shows how strong a team we have, comments Frida Karlsson.
Norwegian fiasco
As great as the Swedish success was, it was just as dark for Norway. In the last World Cup relay, they missed a podium place for the first time since 2007 and now it was only a fifth place, after Sweden’s second team, which finished fourth, among others.
It is the worst Norwegian position since 2006 and in terms of time, they have never been so far behind the winning team in a relay.
– First of all, I want to apologize to all of Norway. I felt like a hamster in a wheel and got nowhere, says Austgulen Fosnæs to Viaplay.
TT NEWS AGENCY
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