A phenomenal career as a traditional skier has ended for Martin Johnsrud Sundby.

There were many championship medals and three overall World Cup victories, but now there is full focus on long distance running as he has teamed up with former Team Koteng and forms Team Koteng / Eidissen.

- On paper, we have a strong team, very strong all-round skiers, skiers who have been at the top of the world in "regular" cross-country skiing, he says about the team and emphasizes the importance of the experience and knowledge he can share from the skiers in the team ridden Ski Classics before.

- I think we can challenge everyone, but at the same time I am very humble before the task because I know that the staging when you have walked 50 km, and what happens next, I am not currently equipped for.

But I want to beat everyone and that is the ambition.

"Had been incredibly fun"

The team aims to win the team competition and then strong results are required throughout the season, but for Sundby itself, there is extra focus on the classics Marcialonga and Vasaloppet.

- I have an insane desire to win those competitions.

I have won a lot in my career, but being able to do it before I put the skis on the shelf would have been incredibly fun.

He believes he has the greatest chance in Marcialonga, Italy.

- The Vasaloppet is a little longer and thus even a little tougher to train for the first season.

The shift from traditional skiing means, of course, an enormous amount of pole training.

- Is there something I love in life, it is to train very much on very little and that is really what I am going to do now.

I will be very good at staking and it is an exciting challenge.

I know that those who travel fast today are insanely good, but I think I have enough resources to be able to fight them.

Long workouts

Right now, a training session for Sundby is rarely less than 80 km.



- I usually like to be alert when I have to drive hard and it is different now, because now I prefer to drive hard when I am tired, says the 36-year-old.

- It is definitely the high speed over time that will be my biggest challenge, so we train a lot on that.

I do not have that much range so I have to practice walking at a very high speed over a long period of time, while I do not consume too much power on it.

If he achieves his goals, he will have done something that very few cross-country skiers have done.

- Historically, not so many of my colleagues have won the World Cup, Olympic gold, World Cup gold and who have also managed to win the Marcialonga and Vasaloppet.

So coping with it would have been insanely cool.

"Inspiring"

Last year there was a bit of a change of power on the men's side in Ski Classics when Emil Persson became the first Swede to win the overall cup.

Now Sundby wants to make sure that Norway gets back on the throne.

- It's inspiring.

When I'm struggling, that's what I think of.

To be able to fight against that gang.

To use my strengths and cutting-edge skills and try to play them out.

SVT broadcasts Ski Classics next season.