She has already made two comebacks. This weekend, she was set to do it again, at Birken, just weeks after giving birth. Now comes the news that stops both the comeback and the dream duel.

The 37-year-old retired from her World Cup career for the second time last May after discovering she was pregnant, with a due date in January. But since early autumn, Therese Johaug has repeatedly stated that she wanted to make a comeback at the Birkebeinerrennet on Saturday, March 14, both in her own podcast and in interviews with the media.

The former cross-country star had also gone all in on the challenge. Just one week after giving birth, Johaug was back on skis and again confirmed that the goal was to race the 54km event from Rena to Lillehammer.

But that will not happen.

“Therese Johaug will not race Birken,” confirms her manager Jørn Ernst.

Dream duel cancelled

That also means what could have been one of the weekend’s biggest dream matchups will not happen. At Birkebeinerrennet, Johaug would have faced one of her old World Cup rivals: Stina Nilsson.

The Swedish star competed in traditional cross-country skiing until 2020 and beat Johaug in a 10km World Cup race in 2019. Over the past two seasons, the 31-year-old has focused fully on long-distance skiing for the Aukland brothers’ Pro Team, Team Ragde Charge, with great success.

Last year, in her first season as a long-distance skier, she won Vasaloppet by more than five minutes and Birkebeinerrennet by just over half a minute.

Therese Johaug has previously raced Birkebeinerrennet twice.

The cross-country star debuted in the race with victory and a course record in 2015. The course record of 2:41:46.6 still stands. At that time, she raced with kick wax.

The second time Johaug raced Birken was in 2022, when she competed on double-poling skis. She lost the sprint finish to Astrid Øyre Slind.

Many were curious to see how much Johaug could challenge Nilsson in the 54km race from Rena to Lillehammer, one year after retiring from the World Cup and so soon after giving birth. How competitive could a newly returned mother of two be against a full-time long-distance specialist?

Could have gone far

Viaplay cross-country expert Anna-Karin Strömstedt believes Johaug could have been competitive.

“I see Therese almost every day, and her son is only a few weeks old. So, I wouldn’t say it would be a full comeback, but she always likes to test her limits,” Strömstedt told Sportbibeln.

When Johaug worked for NRK as an expert commentator during the Olympics, just two weeks after giving birth, both colleagues and national team teammates were surprised by her shape.

“She would have done well. I really believe that,” says Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs to Nettavisen.

It is therefore not a lack of form that makes Johaug skip Birkebeinerrennet.

“She is heading to a training camp in Fuerteventura with her training concept Johaug Recharge,” says Ernst.

The comeback is therefore postponed. Johaug’s main goal this season is the Copenhagen Marathon in September, where she aims to run under 1:10 in the half-marathon distance.

Impressed by Nilsson

The Swedish commentator also praised Nilsson and her results since switching to long-distance skiing and Ski Classics ahead of last season.

“It’s incredibly impressive what Stina has achieved. She is constantly looking for new challenges. I recently spoke with Anders (Aukland), and he praised Stina for her focus. She does what it takes, and that’s something I really like about her,” says Strömstedt.

“She has also proven that it’s possible to succeed in another discipline, even if both are cross-country skiing, as long as you put in the time and effort required. Stina can win again this year, provided everything falls into place, and she has skis that work.”

Also Read: All you need to know ahead of Birkebeinerrennet Season XVII