Last year, Jenny Larsson won the nine-mile long race after a sprint settlement. The Klarälvsloppet is Sweden’s longest roller ski race and for many cross-country skiers an important competition and form check in the preparations for the season.
– Nine miles is always a challenge in itself, it is often an extra hour compared to what you both train and compete for the most part. Then the course is extremely flat and it suits me very well, maybe a little extra on roller skis so it will be exciting, says Larsson.
The 28-year-old long-distance star changed teams this spring and now competes for Swedish, Lager 157.
– It really has been like coming home, literally, it feels great. Then I think that sometimes you need new inspiration in life in general and it felt like it suited me very well, says Larsson.
Is it different purely in terms of training?
– I would be lying if I said that there were huge differences, but at our level it is clearly in the details as well. So hard to say, but I believe in what I’m doing in any case, says Larsson, whose goal this winter is to fight for podium places and with the Vasaloppet as a clear highlight.
The overall winner takes up the hunt for victory
Emilie Fleten dominated the Ski Classics last year and was on the podium in all the races she ran, seven times as the winner. Now she hopes to add a prestigious roller skiing victory to her track record on Sunday.
– 90 kilometers, it’s not often you get that on a long pass even. So for me it is important training. So I hope the form is good enough to last the whole way. So I’ll be disappointed if you don’t join and fight for the victory, says Fleten.
Hear more about the race plan of the long-distance stars in the player above.
Long-distance debut for Nilsson
Today’s competition in Värmland over nine miles is also Stina Nilsson’s debut as a long-distance skier and both Fleten and Larsson look forward to her start with excitement. Hear more in the player below.