Karlsson crushed all opposition on the 10 km classic in the World Cup premiere in Ruka last week. She was 46.5 seconds ahead of Therese Johaug back then.
On Friday, she was 46.4 seconds slower than the 36-year-old Norwegian, who took her first World Cup victory in two and a half years – exactly 1,000 days since she won in Falun in March 2022.
There are big gaps. But I'm pretty sure we had better skis than the Swedes today. There's no doubt about that. It goes up and it goes down. Next weekend it can be the opposite, says Therese Johaug to Viaplay
I felt like I was in good shape in Ruka too, but maybe I had a little bad luck.
Comeback this year
After the 2021-22 season, Johaug ended her career, but ahead of this winter – with the World Championship in Trondheim as the main goal – she has made a new attempt.
Frida Karlsson led indeed at the first passing, at 0.8 kilometers, but after that, Therese Johaug was in a class of her own. The only one who kept a decent pace was national team colleague Heidi Weng, who finished second, 11.4 seconds behind Johaug.
Frida Karlsson looked long to secure third place, but ultimately lost a second-place battle against Astrid Øyre Slind, who fixed a Norwegian sweep. Karlsson became fourth, less than three seconds behind Slind.
It doesn't feel super today, it's something you have to fight for. But I'm glad to be going with skate now too, says Karlsson to Viaplay.
Tough for Andersson
Foot problems forced Karlsson to alternative training during the preseason. The injury makes itself more noticeable in freestyle skiing, she says.
It feels completely okay. I may not have the same relaxation as in classic. But it will come.
Ebba Andersson continues to search for form so far this season. It became a seventh place for Andersson, over a minute behind Therese Johaug.
There were many who managed to set a better pace on the gear than I did today, summarizes Andersson her performance.
