– Now I fear the form could dip at any time, says Tiril Udnes Weng to news after what has been an adventurous pre-Christmas winter. The 26-year-old from Nes has run all ten races in the World Cup. It still has four podium places and three fourth places, and the weakest result is a ninth place. She thus leads the world cup overall ahead of Jessie Diggins and Krista Pärmäkoski. Anne Kjersti Kalvå’s start to the season has been almost as sensational. The 30-year-old from Lundamo has finally had his international breakthrough and leads the distance world cup two points ahead of Weng going into Christmas. Her first podium in the World Cup came when she came second in the classic 10-kilometer race at Beitostølen on 10 December. It was long awaited, after Kalvå had very small margins against him in the race at the front. MUCH TO SMILE FOR: Anne Kjersti Kalvå hosts the distance world cup. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news Almost a curse – It was almost a curse there, with a total of seven tenths from the podium in two weekends. It was a bit tragicomic. But I had faith that I would make it when I was so close every time, so it was good to make it happen, she admits. Nevertheless, Kalvå shares the same fear as Weng, that the success will not last. – It’s a bit like that you’re afraid that it’s a fluke, that the shape I’m in now will disappear, she acknowledges. National team coach Stig Rune Kveen still believes that they have nothing to fear. His claim is that his form will only get better going forward towards the WC in Planica. – Considering the training work in the autumn and into the winter, there is nothing to suggest that the form will get worse, says Kveen. He points out that they have kept up the pressure on the amount of training until now, and will continue to train well beyond Christmas. – So we are crossing our fingers and have drawn up a plan so that they will hopefully go faster in January and February, says Kveen to news. – A trauma that lies where Kalvå hopes and believes the trainer’s analysis is reliable. – I don’t know that it has been such insane form, that I have only been robust and solid and trained well in between. I actually feel that I may have a knack for playing later this winter, she says. What she fears most is another round of the coronavirus which will put a stop to her Olympic participation in Beijing. – I’m terrified of that covid, I’ll admit it. There is a trauma that lies there, and we have been quite close to some cases in recent weeks, she says. Kalvå reduces the risk with good recovery and avoiding socializing with more people than necessary. – I can’t do much more than that. I try not to let it hang over me, and bet that I have some good karma this year, she smiles. MORE TO COME: National team coach Stig Rune Kveen predicts that Tiril Udnes Weng will be even better at the WC. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NT Tiril Udnes Weng also hopes fears of a form dip are unfounded. – When we get to the World Cup and most likely have had a bit of training and started a bit again with getting in shape, I hope to be a lot better than now, she confirms. Fear of Frida dominance In that case, the new coaching duo on the national team, Stig Rune Kveen and Sjur Ole Svarstad, have reason for optimism before both the Tour de Ski, which started on New Year’s Eve, and the WC in Planica in February. In addition to Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Tiril Udnes Weng, Norway also had Heidi Weng and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg on the podium this winter. The four have secured Norwegian podium places in five out of six distance races in the World Cup. The crisis that was feared after Therese Johaug resigned has not struck. And although the Norwegian women are without individual victories in the world cup so far, no one has dominated so much that they seem unbeatable. In the six distance races, Frida Karlsson and Jessie Diggins have two victories each. Ebba Andersson and Kerttu Niskanen have one win each. That surprises Kveen. – It is very gratifying that we are definitely on the right track with a view to fighting at the very top. So we just have to “go on” in order to develop and fight tooth and nail every competition weekend.
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Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Tiril fear that the success is a fluke – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
