– It is not optimal. I feel there are “Squid Game” and “Hunger Games” conditions here, says Adrian Smiseth Sejersted to news. He is in the right mood, but is the only Norwegian at the start of the legendary downhill race in Kitzbühel. The Saturday race here is one of the biggest things you can win as an alpine skier. – For the past ten years, I have been able to rely on Svindal, Aleks and Jansrud to defend Norway’s honor. It will probably be a new experience to be the only one who can carry the schooner here. We’ll see how I can manage it, says Sejersted. Being alone on the pace, he may lose some important advantages heading into the race. Becoming more vulnerable One of those Sejersted has been used to leaning on, Aksel Lund Svindal, is in place for the “Hahnenkamm Race” and feels for his former team-mate: – I remember Adrian and I staying in rooms a lot. Then you can discuss a lot in the evening together. Many of the youngest live with the oldest, which has been a great advantage for us, says Svindal to news. A-TEAM: Just a few years ago, there were several guns on the national speed team. Kjetil Jansrud (left) and Aksel Lund Svindal (bottom) have posted. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB He himself drove alone for several years in Kitzbühel. – It is much more fun to be part of a team. It was an incredible transition for me when Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus gave up, and I was very happy when Jansrud came. It becomes more inspiring with teammates. I think Adrian notices that the Source is gone. – What do you lose without teammates? – For the team, it is an advantage to have more cards that can create good results for the team. With a performer, it is a little more vulnerable. You feel it a bit in the pressure on yourself too. The last time only one Norwegian started in Kitzbühel was in 2015. Then it was Kjetil Jansrud who drove alone – and won. “Dark thoughts” When Kilde injured himself in Wengen last weekend, Sejersted was back on top and knew little about what had happened. An alpinist realizes in any case that something has happened when the race is paused and the helicopter starts hovering over the mountainside. Nevertheless, on what was a bad day for both him and the team, Sejersted delivered his best downhill race ever. HAPPY: Sejersted was able to tie his fist for fourth place in the downhill race in Wengen. Photo: CLAUDIA GRECO / Reuters – It was a very big vitamin injection. I had a lot of “dark” thoughts in the weeks before, when it didn’t go as I had hoped, says Sejersted and continues: – It was a tough opening of the season placing bronze, so important with the good result in Wengen. Now the dark thoughts are a little further away. Friday’s race ended with an 18th place for Sejersted, but it’s the Saturday that really delivers. Svindal thinks it could work out for the Norwegian: – It was quick to see which turns he has to work on until tomorrow. Then he has much better opportunities tomorrow.
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