Photo: Bildbyrån
Only three ladies completed the entire Tour de Ski and Ebba Andersson was never really close to the podium.
At the same time, Edvin Anger had an impressive start, but he couldn’t make it all the way to the finish line.
If it continues like this for the Swedes this winter, there won’t be many WC medals.
This is a comment. The opinions are the writer’s own.
Many Swedes are worried about the skiing WC in Trondheim. Sure, it’s almost two months away. But at the moment there is not much to indicate that it will be a successful championship for the blue and yellow skaters.
Tour de Ski not a success for Sweden
For Sweden, this year’s Tour de Ski was a failure. We already knew in advance that several riders would opt out of the tour to recharge for the WC elsewhere. That perhaps our biggest poster name Frida Karlssonwho actually won the entire Tour de Ski 2023, was missing of course also made the competition feel less hot.
READ MORE: Painful words about Ebba Andersson in Norway after the fiasco
Rider after rider was forced to cancel. Most often it was about injury or illness. Calle Halfvarssons back messed up. Jonna Sundling and Emma Ribom said “no thanks”. Maja Dahlqvist and Johanna Hagström got sick and canceled the tour. In the end, only three ladies completed all nine stages: Ebba Andersson, Lynn Svahn and Moa Ilar. They also came in 6th, 18th and 14th respectively overall – they had nothing to say about.
Therese Johaug is the favorite at the Ski World Championships
Of course, it feels even worse considering that it was the Norwegian giant Therese Johaug36, who again won the entire Tour de Ski. The Norwegian made a comeback a month or so ago, after being away from the World Cup for two years, and she immediately showed that she is as sharp as before she retired. Right now, the feeling is really that she is the big favorite in all the distances that she competes in at the home WC in Trondheim.
READ MORE: New news about Frida Karlsson – after the involuntary break
Who will stop her? Frida Karlsson can of course win a single race if she has a good day. We have already seen that in this year’s World Cup in Ruka, where the Swede somewhat surprisingly went and won immediately after she had returned from her foot injury. But the question is whether she will even be completely healthy at the WC, or whether she was able to train as she wanted? Ebba Andersson is also a candidate to win a medal in the longer distances, but she has been completely out of shape all season. She needs to move up a lot to challenge the Norwegians.
Edvin Anger is a small hope
The ones who possibly have a chance to win a medal when they come to the Swedish ladies are the sprint girls. Jonna Sundling has shown earlier this year that she is still to be reckoned with. Linn Svahn came second in the second sprint in the Tour de Ski. If she has a good day, she can beat anyone – even if she hasn’t been very good at the World Cup so far.
We can hardly count the men as medalists. Calle’s back seems to be ruining his season. William Poromaa continues to finish as the 13th best man in each event and does not feel close to repeating the feat from the WC in Planica 2023 when he took bronze in the five mile. Then we have Edwin Anger… Right now he feels like the only Swedish men’s skater who MAYBE could get involved in a medal fight. He has even sprinted by Johannes Hösflot Kläbo in a riot on the tour. In any case, he has the capacity to end up on the podium.
How do you think it will go for Sweden in the skiing WC? Will any of the ladies be able to challenge Therese Johaug for the gold medals? Can Edvin Anger surprise? Write a comment!
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