Anger took his first individual World Cup victory in his career in an impressive and bold way. Everyone who had tried to win a heat by making an early move earlier in the day had to regret it.
But Anger succeeded. In the final, he was only challenged by Ansgar Evensen, but the Norwegian had to give up. Anger screamed out his joy when he crossed the finish line as the winner.
I'm going hard from the start and doing the job from the beginning. Then I see a Norwegian next to me, and I just felt "now I've done this, so now I have to take it", says Edvin Anger to Viaplay.
First final
It was also Norwegian on third and fourth place, through Erik Valnes and Even Northug. That warms a little extra, admits Anger.
This is something I've been fighting for since I entered the World Cup circuit. The first time I got on the podium was a big joy, but when I became third after that, it wasn't the same. And now you're standing there with two Norwegians next to you. Then you can't be anything but satisfied, says Anger.
The 22-year-old had not even reached the final in sprint earlier this winter. On the other hand, he has shown that he is probably better than ever before. Not least after the unexpected second place in the pursuit in Italian Toblach on New Year's Day.
Klæbo was missing
The victory means a lot for the Swedish men's national team as well. The last blue-yellow male skier to win a World Cup competition before Saturday was Oskar Svensson, who won the freestyle sprint in Ulricehamn on February 6, 2021.
It's really fun that the whole team is happy. We show that we can be the best in the world. And I look forward to challenging Klæbo as soon as he's back.
Yes, it should be said that the world's best sprint skier, Norwegian Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, was missing in Les Rousses. But Sweden's national team manager Anders Byström is not sure that his participation would have been able to stop a Swedish victory, and lifts up Anger as a gold candidate in the World Championship in the turn of the month February-March.
It's tougher competition at the World Championship. But now he's one of the favorites there too, says Byström to Viaplay.
I'll stick out my neck and say that even Klæbo would have had it tough today with the performance Edvin is showing, says Byström to Viaplay.
Anger's next race is Sunday's 20-kilometer mass start in classical style.
