Øyre Slind considered giving up – makes a U-turn after successful weekend – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule

– The plan is for her to go to the World Cup. Long-distance running is most likely out of the question, says Chris Jespersen, coach in Team Aker Dæhlie, to news. Chris Jespersen, coach at Team Aker Dæhlie. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news – The chance that she can assert herself in the World Cup is present, he continues. Astrid Øyre Slind, who is a Team Aker Dæhlie runner, focuses primarily on long-distance running. But after securing victory in 10 kilometer skating, the plan has changed. Now she is dropping long-distance running instead of the distance World Cup. – Yes, if I go fast enough to fight for an overall victory, then the goal is to win the distance cup, Øyre Slind also confirms to news. – I see that I had quite a few seconds up to the top last year. I don’t expect that I have closed the entire gap, but I can help fight for the podium in the distance cup would have been fun, she continues. – So the distance cup is the main goal? – Yes, the distance cup is the main focus. Astrid Øyre Slind, Heidi Weng, and Margrethe Bergane covered the podium in the 10 kilometer classic on Saturday. Photo: NTB Øyre Slind chose to turn down the national team in spring, in order to continue the venture with Team Aker Dæhlie. The cross-country ace really impressed in traditional cross-country skiing at the WC in Planica last year, when she took three-mile bronze. The challenge now is that she wants to go all out. Both long-distance running and World Cup. But even the Tour De Ski is the World Cup she prioritizes. This means that she loses several major classics within Ski Classics. The 35-year-old will then make a new assessment. Astrid Øyre Slind during the opening weekend at Beitstølen. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news Considered giving up The season opener at Beitostølen has gone beyond all expectations for Øyre Slind, who has secured two podium places over the weekend. But two weeks ago it didn’t look as bright, says the coach. – It looked terrible two weeks ago. She wanted to go skiing, says Chris Jespersen about a session Øyre Slind had in Granåsen. Øyre Slind confirms that there were few votes in the classical session Jespersen refers to: – That is actually somewhat true. I was mad at myself then, says Øyre Slind. Astrid Øyre Slind and Chris Jespersen during the opening weekend at Beitostølen. Photo: NTB – What was wrong? – It went so poorly technically. I had no balance on the ski and was frustrated that it went so badly. But a short way from bottom to top level. Today, only French Delphine Claudel and Heidi Wengsom competed with both the cross-country and cross-country aces.



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