Marit Bjorgen’s press conference comments after winning the World Cup 10-kilometer at Beitostolen
Source: Langrenn.com
“Unbeatable†Marit Bjorgen won the 10-kilometer by 21-seconds over Virpi Kuitunen. The main competition ended far behind. She also increased the Norwegian team’s lead on the last leg of the relay to 21 seconds (from 3-4 seconds) after only 2-kilometer before she seamed to coast to victory.
Bjorgen believes however that the other challengers will ski faster later in the season. But she is not sure who will be the ones who can beat her.
– I don’t know, but I believe that the others will ski faster later in the season, said Bjorgen and is mentioning among others Smigun and Neumanova.
Those skiers didn’t give her any problems on Saturday.
– I was a bit surprised when I caught Neamanova on the first lap. I realized then that I was skiing fast, said Bjorgen.
She was very happy after Saturday’s victory.
-This was lots of fun. It will work out if I can be left alone/not bothered, said Bjorgen.
She has been critical to the media pressure the last couple days.
Want to win skate races
She has set the standard ahead of the Olympics by winning both the Düsseldorf skate sprint and the classic opening race at Beitostolen.
– I will race several World Cup competitions before I travel home and start training after the first weekend in Canada, in order to prepare as well as possible before the Olympics, said Bjorgen.
She believes that she will ski faster as the season progress as well.
— I can still improve considerably since this was only my fourth day on snow (after a three and a half week dryland period), said Bjorgen.
She is hoping that this season will bring her the first World Cup victory in a regular skate race. That seems very possible based upon the season opener.
— I’m winning by 21 seconds. That means that I have done lots of right in my training this summer and fall, said Bjorgen.
Her first chance is next weekend in Kuusamo.
