– I have not imagined that she will run any long-distance races. Maybe after the World Cup is over, says Chris Jespersen, coach in Team Aker Dæhlie, to news. Chris Jespersen, coach at Team Aker Dæhlie. Photo: Anders Skjerdingstad / news Astrid Øyre Slind, who is a Team Aker Dæhlie runner, focuses mainly on long runs. But after securing victory in 10 kilometer skating at Beistølen today, she is considering dropping long-distance running for the rest of the season. – The challenge is that I want to go all out. The advantage is that I have fun no matter what I do, so I feel I’m in a good place, she says to news and continues: – Now I have to take one weekend at a time. For now, it might even be the Tour de Ski and then get a feel for how I’m doing and what I’m good at then. Then I have some big long races in which I really want to win too. There will be an assessment of where I stand, says Astrid Øyre Slind to news after she secured victory in the 10 kilometer freestyle today. Secured victory after thriller The goal was to beat everyone. Something the three-mile bronze winner during the WC in Planica did last year when she outclassed everyone in the 10 kilometer freestyle. Heidi Weng, who secured victory in the 10 kilometer classic on Saturday, was unsure before the start and thought there could be many ups and downs. – Today I don’t know, Weng constantly told news before the start. With a later starting number than both Øyre Slind and Claudel, she was 4.9 seconds behind the former at the opening point. And it was precisely this trio that the freestyle race was supposed to be about. Only Claudel managed to close in on Øyre Slind in the lead, while Weng continued to struggle. At the finish line, the French girl was seven tenths behind the Team Aker Dæhlie runner. – It was very tight. It was very good to hear the speaker count down and see that it was a bit far left for Claudel, says Øyre Slind. Weng moved into third place. Great talent impressed In anticipation of the big guns, however, it was Elena Rise Johnsen with starting number 36 who held the lead for a long time at the opening point. At 2.6 kilometres, she was 17 seconds down on the nearest competitor. Something that made the experts widen their eyes. – It was a sensational opening, exclaimed Jann Post in the commentator’s box. – We will monitor those opening hours a little more, countered Fredrik Aukland, news’s expert commentator. But then came Øyre Slind, Claudel and Weng, who the rest of the race was to be about.
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Øyre Slind impressed in the season premiere – the coach believes she must change the plan – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
