Kowalczyk knocked resistance in debut – Aftonbladet

MORA. Justyna Kowalczyk knocked endurance racing world when she received crowned in his Vasaloppet debut – after a nightmare introduction.

In one kilometer she had to go without a pole and was a while down among motionärena.

– I was far, far behind the girls, she says.

Justyna Kowalczyk is no longer the world’s best cross-country skiers. After skadebeskymmer she has not been able to compete with the strongest riders in the World Cup.

The 32-year-old looked Vasaloppet as a way to break new boundaries – which she did when she took an overwhelming victory.

– I love skiing, and it was important for me with something new in the head, after a very difficult year.

– This was one of the toughest days of my life, but I can perform at this level is important, she says.

“Terrified”

For a skier who had previously taken a maximum of 60 km Kowalczyk says that she was terrified of the last mile.

– I knew it would be difficult and thought that I needed a head start to make it, she says.

But maybe it was the chaotic start in Berga village that became the biggest challenge for the Vasaloppet debutant, who broke one of its stake.

In one kilometer, she got to go inside and ended up far, far behind.

Kowalczyk was over three minutes behind the leader, Britta Johansson Norgren at eleven kilometers and was ninth lady at the first check in Smågan.

But the 32-year-old worked his way into the race and eventually won in superior style – with over four minutes.

“Clearly, better trained “

Britta Johansson Norgren finished second for the second year in a row – but felt she did not have much to set against the victor, and was still happy with second place.

– She was strongest in the day. It’s really good to not give up and come back after the start, she says Sportbladet.

– She has been practicing so much over many years and is clearly better trained than me. Then she thinks about these slitförena. I think it suits her better than if it had been easily led, as we are accustomed to chart highly favored little.

Kowalczyk now open to run the race again next season.

After success, she can think of to tell other stars, Charlotte Kalla and Marit Björgen, to test.

– of course! But I do not believe that so many athletes want to make life difficult for themselves. The World Cup is totally different with service teams and shorter races. The last mile was the hardest of my life, she says.