There are World Cup contests so you can fertilize with them. Therese Johaug has won 20 only this winter.
That is exactly why Frida Karlsson's company today was something I rank high in Swedish skiing history. Not on par with the gold medalists in the Olympics and the World Cup - but outside of them, I only see Charlotte Kalla's win in the Tour de Ski 2008 that transcends what Frida Karlsson did today.

To win in Holmenkollen is great. To do so against Therese Johaug, a winter when the Norwegian defeated the sport and showed a devastating superiority that made the surroundings resign, gives the performance an extra dimension.

Otherwise, it started just as usual. After only ten minutes, Johaug left everyone else behind. Increased the lead for each lap. Behind was a large cluster where nothing special happened.

Yawn.

To believe in a profit for someone other than Johaug at that time was definitely not in my world.

Yawn.

Then came the move that completely changed the race. After 18.6 km, four skiers choose to take advantage of the opportunity to change skis. Karlsson, Andersson, Kalla and the Finnish Pärmäkoski.

When Frida leaves the ski exchange she is 1.08 after Johaug. So one minute and six seconds. After. Johaug. With just over a mile to go.

That could be the very definition of an impossible mission. To race Johaug for about a minute in Holmenkollen. Thanks for the coffee, as well. But the rest is a piece of ski history.

How Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson together - and then Frida alone - chase Johaug the last mile and win the sprint. A goose skin moment to take with you.

So was the drama - Karlsson took over the minute at Johaug

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The possibility of changing skis introduced Fis to bring life to solidified mass start races. A tactical consideration that could change monotonous pitching. It felt like artificial respiration on a sick patient when it was introduced. It also reinforced the element of cross-country skiing and some restrictions have been introduced.

Today it worked as the vitamin injection it was supposed to be. When Sweden chose to change, almost everyone else made the mistake of continuing without change. Today, the Swedish success was also a tactic and material triumph. Fair enough. Many times this winter, frustrated Swedish riders have seen Norwegians slip away on better skis. Today, they instead enjoyed the energy kick it is to feel superior, while Johaug, as a hunted prey, had to experience his lead shrink for each pass.

Johaug lost a couple of stages on the way to victory in the Tour de Ski, but this was something else. This was the race that really showed that Therese Johaug can be defeated. On demanding courses at home in classic Holmenkollen.

It was big and it was important for the skiing.