Lil Hammer (Dagbladet): The first three races at the Women’s World Cup were all about two things: Therese Gohaug and Frida Carlson.
On Saturday, the 22-year-old Swede emerged victorious from a second drama that ran from start to finish. She was three-tenths ahead of Johaug.
In total, she is also leading 2-1 in this year’s season.
Carlson’s stab
After Saturday’s race, Frida Carlson also made sure to send a shot in the direction of Norway.
First, a little background: Tatiana Sorina rode on the Norwegian star’s back skates for large parts of the 10 km run. The Russian had stomped on Gohog poles over and over again, which Ole Morten Iversen believes costs at least three-tenths. Johaug herself was keen to make it clear that she did not want to blame the pole vault.
– No, he had nothing to say of the result, but it’s not ideal to have someone walking on your poles all the time, Gohoge tells Dagbladet.
Conversion express Carlson laughs when she hears what Iverson and Johog have to say:
Nobody gets a flawless race, right? She says there is always something going on.
When Expressen claims there might be an explanation, Carlson doesn’t hesitate to pour more gasoline on the fire:
– maybe you can be. It’s good that you have something to blame.
The next duel
Karlsson himself and Johaug both describe the relationship between the two as good, but there is no doubt that they both possess a crazy competitive instinct. They are also good at “playing the game”.
On Sunday, the two will likely meet again for a duel in the relay. If not, the next duel will be in Davos next weekend. Then a new 10 km freestyle awaits.
Carlson was very happy after Saturday’s duel:
– It was hard, but it was a fun fight. I am really happy today. I follow the plan. It’s tough, Carlson tells Dagbladet, but I’m pulling the longest straw.
Johaug continues:
– It was a close duel with Frida. You could almost call it a dead race. First you are in front. behind it. Then in the foreground again. Frida was much better today.
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