Weng (29) took a strong second in Sunday’s classic 10 kilometers in the Norwegian Cup in Natrudstilen, beaten only by the world’s best cross-country skier Therese Johaug (32).
– If this goes well, I don’t understand. Then I don’t understand what I’m made of, at least, Weng told NRK before the end result was completely clear.
Then it had already cost itself a little roar of joy, it went too well:
Weng was the fastest in the first half after 700 meters. From there, Johaug maintained a faster speed and the profit margin was 25.3 seconds in the end. Helene Marie Fossesholm is number three, 39.9 seconds behind Johaug.
– She was crazy about Ruka, here she is doing a race that gives hope for good performance during the winter, says NRK’s expert commentator Torgeir Bjørn about Weng’s race.
UPPTUR: Heidi Weng could laugh after a good experience at Natrudstilen.
I had to be off
Today’s result is a revival after a difficult period for Heidi Weng.
In connection with the national cross-country opening at Beitostølen, Weng said she was concerned about the corona pandemic and acknowledged her concerns about traveling abroad.
She still made it to the opening of the World Cup in Ruka, Finland. But after a weak sprint prologue last Friday, she withdrew.
– I think it’s kind of in my head now, she told NRK after the race.
– Heidi Weng doesn’t enjoy skiing right now, the national team doctor Øystein Andersen said in a press release the next morning.
Initially she should not have started at Natrudstilen, but she did
– I needed a week off. I’ve been training well since Tuesday, and then I thought I should take this as a workout because it’s better to start than go alone at Skeikampen. You get a little more gira when you go cross-country skiing. I felt really very alert and I think I can do better here than this too. I think it was fun, me, Weng laughs.
Norway does not pose
Norway has now decided not to enter the field with teams for the World Championships in Davos and Dresden for the next two weekends, and has also indicated that it is not relevant for field teams in the Tour de Ski. So Weng doesn’t have to decide if she wants to go there.
At the same time, new stories are constantly emerging from the cross-country family about the possible consequences of the corona.
On Friday, former top runner Maria Strøm Nakstad told NRK how she struggles with the after-effects after being hit by covid-19. On Saturday, Russian star Sergei Ustyugov said on Instagram that he is far from recovering after being hit by a corona during a rally in Val Senales, Italy in the second half of October.
SPRUDLET FOR BEGINNING: Heidi Weng.
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