Pongauer cross-country skiing ace got off to a botched start in the Nordic World Championships in Planica on Saturday and is now worried regarding another start. Swedes celebrate a double victory.
One year following her cross-country triumph at the China Games in the World Skiathlon Championships in Planica, Teresa Stadlober, who came third in the Olympics, finished 17th over 7.5 km in classic and 17th in skating. The woman from Salzburg had considered starting because of a sore throat, fell in the first corner and was 2:09.3 minutes behind. Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson (+22 seconds) celebrated a Swedish double victory. Astrid Oeyre Slind (+48) secured bronze for the Norwegians, who are accustomed to success.
Sore throat and fall as a double handicap
Stadlober, who got through the preparation in good health, was not quite fit, only following warming up did she decide to start. Before the first descent, she already had respect in a conversation with the APA: “If you start out and you have a descent right away, you have to get down well without falling. That’s definitely a challenge.” This was probably too big, and the 30-year-old lost contact with the top very quickly.
Stadlober fought his way to the finish line in 17th place
As a result, Stadlober was just outside the top 20 until the ski change, and she made up a few positions with the skating skis. In the end, she was regarding 40 seconds away from the top 10. “It started during the night, I didn’t sleep two hours, I had a bad sore throat,” explained Stadlober, who was satisfied with the placement given the circumstances. It was a little better in the morning. “Before we left, it got worse once more.” 10 km skating on Tuesday is probably not an issue.
Swedes celebrate double victory
After the quadruple victory in the individual sprint, Andersson and Karlsson ensured the next triumph for “Sverige”, Stadlober had named both as their first favourites. 25-year-old Andersson crowned herself as the successor to longtime dominator Therese Johaug. The Norwegian ended her career in March, is now pregnant and is an expert at the title fights in Slovenia. Despite Norway’s usual strength, Slind’s third place finish is a huge achievement for the 35-year-old, her first World Championships medal.
