Before last weekend’s premiere, Frida Karlsson had an individual World Cup victory in her career. Now she has three.
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And Saturday’s 10-kilometer freestyle race was a real thriller. Not at a single intermediate time was there a difference of more than two seconds between Sweden’s Frida Karlsson and Norway’s Therese Johaug.
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After 6.1 kilometers Karlsson leads by one tenth, just over a kilometer later Johaug led by six tenths and with 1.7 kilometers left it was again the Swedish lead, with 1.1 seconds.
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But at the last intermediate time, with 200 meters left, the Norwegian was four tenths ahead and seemed to have a small grip on the victory.
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Although Johaug had Karlsson’s time to go, she did not make it. She was out too late with three tenths of a second margin.
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After Saturday’s victory, Frida Karlsson also regains the lead in the overall World Cup from Maja Dahlqvist, who won the season’s two opening sprints.
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– It is still something extra to feel that I am no longer just fighting for podium places, I am fighting for victory. That’s what you want, says Karlsson.
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Andersson off the podium
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Karlsson and Johaug were in a class of their own on Saturday, and the nearest skier, third Rosie Brennan from the USA, was 11.3 seconds behind Karlsson in the finish.
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At the same time, Ebba Andersson must continue to wait for the season’s first podium place. Andersson was seventh, 33 seconds from the victory and just over 20 seconds from third place.
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Moa Olsson was 16th, Emma Ribom 25th, Louise Lindström 37th and Charlotte Kalla 39th,
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The World Cup weekend in Lillehammer ends on Sunday with relays.
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