Tiril Udnes Weng puts the pressure on Sweden in the relay in the World Ski Championships

PLANICA. The psychs have started for the relay.

Tiril Udnes Weng is doing his part to put even more pressure on Sweden.

– We look a little fresher, says Frida Karlsson after the Norwegian star’s move.

After Tuesday’s 10-kilometer race, Tiril Udnes Weng (and everyone else) decided that Sweden is the team to beat in Thursday’s relay.

– Sweden are big favourites, she stated.

Now the Norwegian has made another effort to put the pressure on Sweden.

“The aunts!”

On Instagram, Tiril Udnes Weng has asked the question “who will win tomorrow?” and posted an edited picture where the Swedes’ faces have been made “younger” and the Norwegians have had gray hair.

– They seem to have a few years on their necks, says Ebba Andersson when Sportbladet shows her the picture.

– We’ll see if they’ve passed their best before date or not. We seem to look super fresh. We are really in the starting pits of our careers.

Frida Karlsson exclaims “the aunts!” when she gets to see the picture.

– We look a little fresher than them, she says.

Karlsson believes in Sweden’s young team, where the average age is 25, in the fight against Norway – whose average age is 31.

– We are a young, up-and-coming team, I would say. We broke through quite early and are a generation that has grown up with and sparred with each other, she says.

After missing out on a medal in the WC two years ago, Karlsson is more cautious now.

– I will bite my tongue and say that it is quite open, she says and smiles.

Andersson’s warning

Ebba Andersson also raises a warning finger.

– Oberstdorf (WC 2021) is a very clear proof of what it can look like in a relay. There and then we were also big favorites and had a very strong team beforehand. But in the competition situation, it was far from everything that was right and then we finished in sixth place, she says.

Emma Ribom, Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson and Maja Dahlqvist run the relay for Sweden. Norway’s team consists of Tiril Udnes Weng, Astrid Öyre Slind, Ingvild Flugstad Östberg and Anne Kjersti Kalvå.

An hour after Udnes Weng’s voting started, 74 percent had voted that the toddlers will win against the aunts.

The ladies’ relay in the ski WC starts at 12.30 on Thursday – here you can follow the race