The competition in Austrian Bad Gastein was Stina Nilsson's comeback as a cross-country skier – and the expectations were high ahead of her debut in the long-distance cup. Saturday's distance was seven kilometers with individual start, and Nilsson finished tenth, 47.7 seconds behind the winner Gjerde Alnæs.
It feels incredibly nice to be underway and I pushed myself well out there and am satisfied, says Stina Nilsson to SVT.
I thrive best when there are people around and a bit of atmosphere, to get to ski alone is something else for me. Based on that, I did as well as I could.
Stina Nilsson won both Olympic Games gold and World Championship gold in cross-country skiing before she switched to biathlon four years ago, an investment that did not become a major success. In April, Nilsson announced that she was leaving biathlon to focus on Ski Classics – the cross-country skiing long-distance cup.
Saturday's winner Anikken Gjerde Alnæs was involved in a serious car accident last summer and has since struggled with rehabilitation.
It's completely crazy, says a stunned Norwegian to SVT about the victory.
Also on the men's side, it was Norwegian at the top through Amund Hoel, who took his first victory in the long-distance cup. Max Novak became the best Swedish skier on fourth place, three seconds from the podium.
It's still approved, says Novak.
On Sunday, the premiere weekend continues with 36 kilometers mass start.
