Wiklund took the victory with a margin of only half a second after clocking in at 3:56.86 – This is Ragne Wiklund’s outclass, said Viaplay expert and former skater Marit Fjellanger Bøhm. – It is a historic day, confirmed Viaplay expert Ida Njåtun. She thus beat the Dutch Irene Schouten, who has dominated the 3000 meters in recent years. Schouten took both EC gold, Olympic gold and distance victory in the all-round WC at the distance last year, but has struggled recently. Therefore, she stood down from the World Cup to aim for the WC, but it was not enough to tip Wiklund off the pole. – This is an enormous run delivered by Ragne Wiklund. She beats course record holder Irene Schouten, who has been at home and recharging for this race, said Viaplay commentator Njåtun. – It doesn’t help to be at home to recharge when you meet Ragne Wiklund in the championship, insisted fellow expert Bøhm. Strong season Wiklund has dominated the 3000 meters in the World Cup this season, and carried the burden of the favorite stamp into the WC in single distances. This season she has taken her first World Cup victories and has won no less than four out of five 3000 meters that have been run in the World Cup. The only one she has not won was in Heerenveen in the second World Cup round of the season, where she finished third behind Irene Schouten and Isabelle Weidemann. But none of them managed to chastise Wiklund when it really mattered – and neither did the rest of the world’s elite. THE GOLD GLASS: Ragne Wiklund was smiling from ear to ear after going into the gold time 3:56.86 Photo: Peter Dejong / AP Wiklund opened calmly, but managed the race perfectly. She picked up the pace halfway and gained a gap of barely a second down to Schouten around the halfway point. Towards the end she lost a little, but held on and took home the gold. She thus set the fastest time of her career on a low country track. In addition, the last two laps were the fastest she has ever gone in a 3000 meters. 31.09 and 31.60 in the end were decisive to secure the gold. Shocked last year Wiklund became in 2021 the first Norwegian woman to win a medal in the WC individual distances, a championship that has been held a total of 21 times since it was first held in 1996. Two years ago she surprisingly won the 1500 metres, something which was her first top-level podium finish. In the 3,000 metres, she was in line for a medal for a long time, but finished weakly and ended up in fourth place. Never before has Norway taken World Cup gold in the 3000 metres, but Bjørg Eva Jensen took Olympic gold in the 3000 meters in 1980.
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Wiklund took historic WC gold in the 3000 meters – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
