The 27-year-old impressed greatly in a chilly Ruka and made it all the way to a sprint final. Once there, he initially fought for it before eventually losing power and finishing last in the final field, over 10 seconds behind the dominant Norwegian Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
A bit disappointed, of course. I do everything extremely well until the last hill. Then my strength doesn't last, unfortunately. My legs become completely exhausted over the last crest. So it's a bit disappointing, says Grate.
"Sixth place is tough"
He continues:
But this is the first time I'm really competing for it in a final. I'm controlling the race and taking the placings I want. So it's still a step forward. But damn... sixth place is tough, anyway.
Before this season, Grate received the news that he would be dropped from the A-national team after four years and instead be relegated to the development team Team Bauhaus.
Against that background, the final spot pleased him a little extra.
It proves what level I'm at, and which I had already last year. But I didn't get it out last year, only. So it was very fun to show it directly. It gives me more confidence that I got to strike back a bit and show that I should have had that A-team spot actually. But in the end, it doesn't matter for the result whether you're in the A- or B-team, he says.
Likes the situation
He says that he thrives as a cross-country skier when it's a bit of a pressured situation.
I like these situations when it's a bit more knife to the throat. You're a bit up against the wall. I sharpen myself then and become focused on what I'm supposed to do, says Grate.
