LES ROUSSES/OSLO (VG) In the last 10 kilometer test before the WC, Swedish Ebba Andersson, American Jessie Diggins and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg showed great form. For other Norwegian runners, the race was a real downer.
Because on a day where Andersson was back in the World Cup with a crash, French Delphine Claudel and Jessie Diggins made up the rest of the podium, Østberg was the big bright spot seen from Norwegian eyes.
The Gjøvik girl took a solid fourth place in Friday’s 10 kilometer freestyle. The last time the world’s elite have gathered for precisely this WC exercise before the year’s big highlight in Planica in February and March.
Østberg was only four seconds from taking a podium place.
For Heidi Weng, the race was a real downer. She shared 15th place with Helene Marie Fossesholm.
They were over a minute behind Andersson. After the race, Weng revealed major problems with his vision.
– It was perfectly fine, but I have never experienced being so cold. I had no vision, I saw next to nothing on the last lap. It was very uncomfortable, says Weng to Viaplay after the race.
To VG, she emphasizes that it was not so dramatically.
– But I had to bet that I was able to turn correctly. Quite uncomfortable, says Weng.
Now the big question is what happens with the WC selection for this distance. Norway has a quota of four athletes for the 10 kilometers in the WC.
Weng was asked what she thinks this means for her on that occasion. She simply stated “that it wasn’t good enough”.
Lotta Udnes Weng also had a small dream of going the distance in the WC. After all, she became Norwegian champion a week ago.
After a 21st place on Friday, one minute and 13 seconds behind Andersson, she has dismissed those thoughts.
– That is bad. Last Friday was the best of the year. Today is the worst of the season. It fluctuates in top sport. I have to live with that, says Udnes Weng to VG, who commented on the WC chances at practice as follows:
– Those chances blow “on the head and the ass”. I’m quite a long way from being able to walk ten kilometers now, she says.
Helene Marie Fossesholm was very disappointed after Friday’s performance.
– It is too bad and nothing to brag about. I am disappointed, quite simply. I can only blame myself. I walk too badly and there was no “push” about it, she says of her own efforts.
What the performance had to say for the WC opportunities at the dream distance, she did not want to answer categorically.
– I can’t bear to think about it now. I’m disappointed. I’m not the one to take that team out. I do not know.
VG expands the case.
