She is the reigning World Champion in two distances. But the Swedish star Ebba Andersson won’t have the chance to defend her 30km gold – as the World Championships for women in the 50km awaits in Trondheim.

“It will be a challenge, and if you don’t like challenges, you shouldn’t be involved in elite sports,” says Ebba Andersson to Langd.se.

The World Championships courses in Trondheim, at least from a quick look at the results, seem to suit the Swedish traditional cross-country skier.

In the past World Cup season, she won the skiathlon race and finished third in the classic 10km (21 seconds behind the winning German, Victoria Carl). During the Toppidrettsveka on roller skis in mid-August, she finished eighth in the mass start (where she was in the sprint for the win), and in the following pursuit race, she left all competitors behind in the final kilometers and won with a 15-second margin.

Also Read: Ebba Andersson wins Toppidrettsveka pursuit race

“It has been good to refresh my memory and get a reminder of what awaits when it’s time for the World Championships. These are courses with tough climbs and also downhill sections. So, it’s important to toughen up for the downhills,” says Andersson, who enters the championship as the reigning skiathlon champion. This comes after her gold in Planica a year and a half ago.

But she won’t have the chance to defend her 30km gold. This is because women, just like men have done for decades, will now chase World Championships medals in the 50km:

“It’s clear that it’s a challenge. And I like challenges. If you don’t, then you shouldn’t be in elite sports. Because challenges are something we constantly face.”

How have you adjusted your training to be ready for 50km instead of 30km?

“We’ve added a few more high-quality sessions to be prepared for a 50km. I have done 50km before, but only once a year and not in as important a context as the World Championships. So, this will be something completely new,” says Andersson, who is expected to be one of the main favorites when the 50km race in Trondheim takes place.

There, she will face a returning Therese Johaug:

“I can’t say it was a big surprise that she would make a comeback. And it’s just about making sure to be well-prepared to put up a fight. But there’s still a lot of time left and a lot to do, so I haven’t wasted any energy on the fact that Therese is coming back yet. Then again, it’s clear that the challenge is that there will be another strong competitor. On the other hand, I see it as an advantage that there will be another skier who, like me, likes to set a high pace in the races. Because I expect that she, just like me, wants that,” says Ebba Andersson.

Read More: Johaug is back!

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