– No, we are the B team, so we didn’t really expect to get on the podium, says Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs to news. She is in great spirits after securing the first podium of her career. Norway came second in the team sprint, only beaten by Sweden. The last time she ran a relay, in January, Norway was humiliated in the cross-country track: – It’s a little nicer to stand here now, that is. Now I don’t have to complain and I’m really just in a good mood, says Fosnæs. – I don’t think Norway expected that, so we are very happy, says Astrid Øyre Slind to news. The duo chirps at a furious pace, clearly relieved after a most surprising podium finish. Several of Norway’s supposed best sprinters dropped out of Friday’s race. – It may not be the fastest team we have, it’s fair to say that. But we knew they had the capacity, says Norway’s assistant coach Marit Bjørgen. ASSISTANT: Marit Bjørgen. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Norwegian failure in the qualification Simen Hegstad Krüger took teammate Even Northug with him and retired before the final. Among others, they were beaten by nations such as Great Britain and Spain. Krüger took the blame for the weak result. – I coped terribly badly. I hook in the first turn, and have to start all over again, says Krüger to news. LEI SEG: Simen Hegstad Krüger is interviewed after the poor qualification. Photo: MAGNUS GAMLEM / news – It was such a weak prologue that it can only be regretted. Annoying, but that’s how it is, says Krüger. – We are a team. There is no one to say sorry, says Even Northug to news after coming out. – It is sensational that a Norwegian team is eliminated from the team sprint. Both Northug and Krüger have gone below par, says Aukland. Norway’s first team with Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Pål Golberg won the prologue superbly. They were 1.8 seconds ahead of the USA, which was second. Norway 2 finished over 15 seconds behind. – For Norway’s first team, it looks good. Klæbo looked particularly good. He danced around these tracks in an elegant manner. But there will be some exciting finals with a fairly offensive Swiss team and an American team that I think are very eager to show themselves. Published 13.12.2024, at 16.50 Updated 13.12.2024, at 18.50
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