Ebba Andersson: "It has been a demanding tour"

Ebba Andersson: "It has been a demanding tour"

Updated today at 17:08
Published today at 17:07

Ebba Andersson became the best Swedish skier in the Tour de Ski. Afterwards, she admitted that it had at times been very tough.
– Of course, my confidence has taken a little hit at times, she told SVT Sport.

Check out the video clip above where Ebba Andersson discusses how the Tour de Ski affects her feelings and goals ahead of the World Championships in Trondheim.

Andersson was the fifth skier up the Alpe Cermis on the final stage of the Tour de Ski. This meant she finished sixth overall, making her the best of the Swedish competitors.

– I really tried to give it a shot and was far up at the bottom of the hill. I did many things right, but towards the end, the last bit of energy just ran out, Andersson said.

When the Norwegian leaders made their move, Andersson couldn’t respond. In the end, she was 44.4 seconds behind Therese Johaug, who won both the stage and the overall title.

Regarding the tour as a whole, Andersson said this:
– It has been a demanding tour. It has been so for me and many of my teammates as well. We’ve really tried to help and support each other to still make it up that hill. In the end, three of us managed it, and we are satisfied with that.

Andersson had a particularly tough day during the 20 km race in Toblach, where she placed 33rd. She describes that race as, "the big, big blunder" during this season's edition of the Tour de Ski.

– I have had stable performances in the distance races, except for that 20-kilometer race in Toblach... but that had its explanations, and that race truly was the big, big blunder for me in this tour. I feel that the base level is acceptable, but I currently lack that last peak, Andersson said.

The other Swedish participants in the final stage included Moa Ilar in 21st place and Linn Svahn in 24th place. In the overall standings, Ilar was 14th and Svahn was 18th.