Double Sweden – Anna and Adam took first positions in China
2009-12-31
When Tour de ski
With 28 minus degrees and snow having fallen during the night, there conditions were tough during the sprint stage. The sun warmed a bit during the day and the cold did not affect the skiers too much due to low air moisture. Because of the snow conditions, the relatively flat 580 m course also became more decisive after going the two laps.
- I felt strong coming in to the finish in the final, so I knew that I would win, Adam said after the race. I wasn’t surprised that I did well today, but I was that I came third yesterday. This success really feels great for me since I have had a tough period of illnesses behind me. That I would do this good was more than I expected.
Adam is in the lead after two days of the Tour and has a good chance to take home the total victory. –I have no ambitions of winning Saturday’s race since the distance is a bit long for me, but I am of course hoping to be able to tag along to get a good finishing position that might give me a good overall placement.
Someone who sees big chances on Saturday is Gustav Hall who came second in the 2nd stage.
– The Chinese Vasaloppet is the race I have been looking forward to most during the week. It’s in classic style when you push along a lot with your poles, this suits me well so I think it’s going to be really great.
The skiers are free from competitions today and tomorrow, with time for
practice in the Vasaloppet tracks in
A big “finally” for Anna
Anna Simberg,
- I am so incredibly happy,
it was long since I won a competition, says Anna who is having a good time on
her first Tour in
- I felt quite stiff in the qualifications, so I was surprised to find myself being 4th after. Then I felt really good in the quarter and semifinal. Although I thought I had made a mistake taking the lead from start, I did as I had done just earlier and just went for it from start to finish, and luckily it paid out.
Anna came 7th in the first stage.
The women’s sprint also had a Swedish skier on 2nd place, Therese Svensson, Club Jarpens SK.
- I felt slow in the qualifications, so I thought there was something wrong with the qualification times list having me on top, says Therese.Therese was in a third position in the final at first but she worked her way up to 2nd position, a position she kept all the way over the finish line.
- I had to drop Simberg just before the finish straight; she became too tough for me.
Placing herself 6th
in the first mass start of the 1st stage, Therese also has a good position in
the total standings before the finishing Vasaloppet
