For the first time, the cross-country skiers run over 50 kilometers at a Nordic Ski World Cup. The race also becomes a real agony because of the difficult conditions. After the race, there is great criticism.
It should be a special World Cup premiere, but ultimately the women’s first 50 km race at the Nordic Ski World Cup became a real ordeal for the athletes.
After almost 2:25 hours, the new world champion Frida Karlsson finished in front of the two Norwegians Heidi Weng and Therese Johaub. An unfortunate fall had occurred on the last kilometer that robbed the next gold chance of the previous World Cup gold queen Ebba Andersson.
In the event of difficult conditions, however, the race had more to do with a fight in deep snow than with real high -performance sports. Even the absolute top of the world had to struggle with the adverse conditions. So the race became the longest race in World Cup history.
In view of the torture for almost two and a half hours – and even longer for many athletes – the German head coach Peter Schlickenrieder said: “50 kilometers are already hard in normal conditions – but this bordered on assault.”
Johaug struggled with conditions and missed gold
The former ski dominator Therese Johaub, who missed her desired 15th World Cup gold in her last World Cup race, saw it similarly.
“Of course I hoped for gold. But in the conditions and this course of the race, I couldn’t play my strengths, “said Johaug:” The whole World Cup was a bit strange to me. “
Johaug, who had ended her career after the Olympics in 2022 and had returned for the home World Cup after the birth of her first child, had previously brought silver in Trondheim.
Over 10 km and in the skiathlon, she had to give up almost Untersson, and in the season it was only enough for the Norwegians in a close decision only second behind the arch rival. It is questionable whether Johane will continue to Olympia in 2026.
Gold went in all six cross-country decisions of women to Norway’s arch-rivals Sweden.