When Edvin Anger last weekend took his career's first World Championship victory by winning the classic sprint in French Les Rousses, the superior Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was not on the starting line.
The Norwegian is the world's best sprinter, but it was only now in Engadin that he made his comeback after the overall victory in Tour de Ski in early January.
"Stiff in the legs"
Now Høsflot Klæbo was back on top of the podium – with Edvin Anger as second in the final.
I was stiff in the legs. Damn! But it was close, says Anger to Viaplay and emphasizes that the competition took place at 1,800 meters above sea level.
The Swede led with a few hundred meters left to the finish, but a bit before the final sprint, the Norwegian pulled ahead of Anger.
If I could have held on for about three seconds more, I could have decided it. He came in and slowed me down. It's nicely done by him, but it was close.
For Høsflot Klæbo, it was the season's sixth sprint victory in the World Cup – he has won all the sprint competitions he has participated in.
Now I know that with a bit, a bit fresher legs and a calmer semifinal, I could have matched him, says Edvin Anger, who won the semifinal ahead of Klæbo.
"Not coincidences"
The Swede does not want to talk about it being a form peak he has shown now with a month left until the World Championship in Trondheim.
Can you have form for two months? It's not coincidences anymore, says he to Viaplay.
The Frenchman Lucas Chanavat became third.
Oskar Svensson – the other three Swedes were eliminated – also advanced from the qualification, but he was eliminated in the semifinal.
The World Cup competitions in Engadin continue with 20 kilometers mass start on Sunday.
