For the second time since March 2007, Norway ended up outside the podium in a World Cup relay when Norway came fifth in Sunday’s relay in Oberhof, Germany. Norway was over three minutes and 40 seconds behind Sweden’s first team and 56 seconds behind Sweden’s second team. – This is the picture of where Norwegian women’s cross-country skiing stands today, says news expert Fredrik Aukland. – The national team runners need more at the start. That is the main reason why we end up far behind, but this is not the level we expect, says Aukland. Having won 15 of the last 16 World Cup relays before the relay in Sweden’s Gällivare before Christmas, Norway finished off the podium in a World Cup relay for the first time since 25 March 2007, when Norway finished fourth in Gällivare. This broke the streak of 25 straight podium places in World Cup relays, but after Sunday’s fifth place, it is the first time Norway has been outside the podium in two straight World Cup relays since the 2000/01 season. Sweden’s first team fulfilled the favorite stamp and won Sunday’s relay ahead of Germany, while Finland came third. – Now there is no B level in Norway. Now it is E or F level if we compare with Sweden’s A level, says news expert Torgeir Bjørn. news expert: – Unbelievable Already after the opening stage, Norway alternated over a minute behind Sweden’s first team when recruit runner Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, who ran the first World Cup relay of her career for Norway, sent out Mathilde Myhrvold on the second stage. DISAPPOINTED: Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad – First of all, I feel that I need to say sorry to all of Norway who have been watching. I never found the flow and never got to hang out. I felt like a hamster in a wheel and couldn’t get off, says Austgulen Fosnæs to Viaplay. Austgulen Fosnæs felt that she ruined the whole team. – If it had been a single race where I only went for myself, I would be able to bounce it off quickly, but now I feel that I have ruined three others as well, she continues to news. On the second stage, Saturday’s joint start winner, Frida Karlsson, decided by far the relay with a monster stage for Sweden’s first team, and further increased the distance to Norway. – It’s almost impossible to believe. The production does not show pictures of the Norwegian team. We have to second the images on the screen. It is very special, says news expert Aukland halfway through the second leg when Myhrvold was fighting with Italy for fifth place. Myhrvold alternated in sixth place, three minutes and ten seconds behind Karlsson. Illness Norway is the reigning world champion in the relay after the relay victory in Planica last season, but before the start illness caused trouble in the Norwegian squad. Heidi Weng, who was originally supposed to play in the second leg for the Norwegian first team, reported falling ill and was replaced by Myhrvold. Myhrvold was originally supposed to play the first leg for Norway’s second team, but as a result of her being moved to the first team, the second team was withdrawn from the competition.
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Norwegian humiliation – more than three minutes behind Sweden – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
