National team doctor Magnus Oscarsson confirmed yesterday for SVT Sport that Frida Karlsson will not participate in the Tour de Ski. Karlsson has had a competition ban since the VC premiere weekend in Ruka and the longtime union's associate director Ola Strömberg has previously told SVT that it is a nutritional deficiency that has caused the absence.
Besides Karlsson, as expected, Ebba Andersson, who is rehabilitating her knee injury, is also missing.
Perhaps most eye-opening is that the great talent Linn Svahn doesn't get the chance, despite last weekend's victory in Davos.
However, Calle Halfvarsson is selected in the squad that was presented today. Karl-Johan Westberg is also back, after being petted from the A-national team squad for the season.
- We have a strong team and expect outstanding investments when we reach the final climb up Alpe Cermis on January 5, says women's coach Magnus Ingesson in a press release.