Cold uncertain about the future: "Thrown between many emotions"

The season's big target for Charlotte Kalla was the Tour de Ski, which ended with a twelfth place, and she continues to search for answers.

- I had hoped to be able to fight higher up, then it is difficult to pinpoint a reason why it did not become so, she tells SVT Sport.

Now training awaits before going to Czech Nove Mesto in a week and a half.

Are you going to change your schedule?

- On the whole, I will not change the huge amount of training, but it is something you do when you plan for the season. And it is between May and October that you can work on it and influence it.

- If I choose to continue for another year, we are guaranteed to make adjustments, but right now no quick fix can be made. What could be done differently is something we think about and evaluate all the time.

Kalla says that the training programs varied during her career.

- It has fluctuated during my career, that is what is so exciting that there are always things to screw on and different training models. That is what is so very exciting to think about and try and see what makes me best prepared.

She goes on to say that it is a frustrating situation to not really be able to put your finger on what is the problem.

And the questions about the deceptive form are many - something that obviously affects her.

- It becomes very intense, precisely because you are thrown between many emotions, you hope this is the day when it turns and then it will not be so. Then you get questions from journalist after journalist why it does not go better. The one who very, very much wants the answer to that question is me.

- Sometimes it can be a bit shabby but this is also part of the sport.

Although she is going through a tough time, she says that is not the toughest challenge she has had in her career.

- When I had the heartbreak in 2016, there was more uncertainty, and it's always nice to have those experiences with you in your luggage. It's no fun situation to be in, but it feels like I can handle it better than a few years ago.

You say "if I choose to continue another year" - how do you think?

- Right now I have more than half the season left, so I intend to do everything I can to influence it to be as good as possible. Then I have to think about what the future means.

So you are not already thinking about the World Cup 2021?

- Yes, but you do. We are going to go to Oberstdorf and hopefully they have snow so we can have a look at the lanes and take in some World Cup atmosphere. Then you get to see exactly when the season should be summed up, where I feel the motivation is.