In eight years, Norway has been heavily on the women’s prestigious WORLD cup relay race in cross-country skiing, but now the Norwegian dominance broken.
The Swedish quartet was the fastest on the WORLD cup-løjpen in Seefeld, and finally fought Stina Nilsson first across the finish line with Therese Johaug three seconds after.
Norway won the WORLD cup relay at the WORLD championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017, so it was a regular tronskifte, which took place on Thursday afternoon.
– It’s a dream come true, a very strong effort of the whole team, says the Swedish topløber Charlotte Kalla to news agency TT.
Kalla himself has otherwise had a halvtungt the WORLD cup, but was actually the woman behind the victory, as she on the third turn secured Sweden a lead of nearly 19 seconds, before Stina Nilsson had to walk the last five kilometers.
Nilsson, however, was allowed to work hard for the case, and Therese Johaug had closed the gap.
But in the bud had the swede the most effort, while Johaug had to see his tenth WORLD cup medal disappear in the last few metres.
– I did my best from the assumptions I had. I took almost 20 seconds.
– We knew that Stina is the best in a sprint, so I had to try to put her on the long stretch. I did an attempt, but she bed stuck, says Johaug to NRK.
in addition to Stina Nilsson and Charlotte Kalla passed the Swedish vinderkvartet of Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson.
the gold medal is Sweden’s second at the WORLD cup. Norway has won eight.