Where does Ebba Andersson stand ahead of this year's Tour de Ski?
She doesn't really know the answer to that question herself.
The season started strongly in the Swedish premiere in Bruksvallarna, where Andersson was superior in both races. Then came the placement sequence 6-9-7-4 in the World Cup - not at all what the 27-year-old had hoped for.
It was a good start in Bruksvallarna, but after that, I haven't really gotten the same good skiing. My ambition right now, as I go into the tour, is to get the flow that I've been missing during the initial weekends in the World Cup, says Ebba Andersson to TT.
"Suits me well"
She opted out of the World Cup weekend in mid-December and has instead been home in Sollefteå, training and celebrating Christmas.
The feeling is good, but also a bit uncertain for Andersson, who is the only Swedish skier to have reached the podium in the total tour twice.
The Tour de Ski as a whole is a format that suits me well, largely because I master the final climb well. Now I'm not going into the tour with too high expectations, but I'm still optimistic.
Who are your favorites this year?
Jessie Diggins (who won last year) is a low-odds favorite as the overall winner, she masters everything. Then I can't help but mention Therese Johaug. She takes on the final hill better than many - or maybe the best of all.
I would also mention Heidi Weng as a dark horse.
And Ebba Andersson?
Yes, I would probably classify myself more in the dark horse group than among the favorites.
"Not so secure"
A total of seven competitions await within nine days. The power test begins in Italian Toblach on Saturday, when one of the tour's two sprints is on the program.
Loading for a sprint day is among the toughest for me, since I'm not so secure and comfortable in those situations. To begin with, it's about making a good qualification, which is something I haven't handled all too well, says Andersson.
2007-2008: 1) Charlotte Kalla.
2011-2012: 2) Marcus Hellner.
2014-2015: 3) Calle Halfvarsson.
2016-2017: 3) Stina Nilsson.
2020-2021: 3) Ebba Andersson.
2021-2022: 2) Andersson.
2022-2023: 1) Frida Karlsson.
