Just over two weeks ago, Hanna Falk, 31, said that she is ending her national team career after three World Cups and two Olympics.

Now it is clear that she will run the long-distance race Ski Classics this winter.

There she is joined by, among others, Norwegian legend Marit Bjørgen, who continues to invest after her acclaimed start in the Vasaloppet.

Falk is convinced that this is just the beginning and that there will be more ski profiles in Ski Classics.

- There was an upswing for the long distance races already last year and it will also be next year, when SVT broadcasts the competitions.

It creates a lot of interest.

Here, the Swedish riders are involved and drive the development, says Falk and continues:

- At the same time, more young people are investing in long distance running and staking.

It is fun.

Wanted to change environment

Hanna Falk says that she has long been interested in long-distance running and that now was the right time for her to change form of skiing.

- I was happy with the national team and wanted to change environment.

Now I will probably benefit from the years as a traditional skier.

Hanna Falk will ride in the Swedish team Lager 157. She will thus be a teammate with Emil Persson, who won Ski Classics in total last winter, and Britta Johansson Norgren, who was the long-distance queen for many years until Lina Korsgren took over this year.

Local connection

- For me, it was natural to choose Warehouse 157. Partly because the team has a local anchorage in Ulricehamn, where I live.

Partly because it is a good environment in the team where the riders push each other, says Hanna Falk.

She also says that it will be extra good to be a teammate with Britta Johansson Norgren:

- It will be great for me to learn from her, who has been a leader and best in long distance running for many years.

Hope I can teach her a little too.

Back problems

Hanna Falk's big challenge will be to train her back so that her body can handle stretching for long distances.

She says that now it feels good after the herniated disc that has disrupted her skiing career in recent years.

- But it is important for me to build up the body gradually and not start maximally already in May.

When asked about her strengths in the winter long distance race, she answers:

- My basic training, the tactical game, the speed and the sprint. But here I want to be humble. There are many good girls who will go the long distance races.