More and more cross-country skiers who previously chose to focus on the traditional World Cup are now choosing to give the cross-country competitions a chance.
Last name?
Therese Johaug.
The news came on Tuesday morning, and Lina Korsgren - winner of the Vasaloppet and overall winner of the long-distance cup 2021 - was delighted with the 33-year-old's participation.
- It's going to be great fun!
Exciting and tough.
She has great chances of succeeding there as well, but I think that we who have staked for a long time and a lot have good chances of beating her, says Korsgren.
- She has a track record that does not go down well, it's just a matter of looking at her results.
She is well trained as few and has an extreme drive to win competitions, and it is a very good combination if you are to succeed.
"May be to her advantage"
What will be her challenge?
- It is well above all the time itself.
Our competitions last longer than the traditional competitions do.
Then it seems that she will run the slightly tougher races (Birkebeinerrennet and Reistadsloppet) with a lot of climbs, where it would go with a foothold as well, so then she has to do what she usually competes in. It can be to her advantage in just the fleas.
Why do you think many people choose to try the long distance races?
- There are many who are eager to try something new and different.
You may have run traditional competitions for a long time and feel that you need something new.
I also think that we who run long distance races inspire and contribute to them daring to try, because it seems fun, exciting and feasible.
Korsgren's form for the upcoming long-distance running season is "relatively good" and in two days she will travel to Norway to compete against Norway's best cross-country skiers in roller skis in Toppidrettsveka.
- We will see how you stand against Björgen and company, says the 33-year-old who is aiming for the fourth Vasaloppet victory next year.