Cross-country skiing: Frida Karlsson knocked out immediately in Tour de Ski opener: “Dreadful”

The first day of Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy began with the women’s freestyle sprint qualification on Sunday.

Five Swedish skiers advanced, but star names Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson were eliminated in the prologue. Karlsson placed 48th, 10.52 seconds behind the top qualifier Johanna Hagström, and described her effort to SVT Sport as “dreadful,” adding she didn’t have the speed required on this course.

Ebba Andersson finished 64th, 13.35 seconds off Hagström’s time. She noted the Toblach sprint is very fast and doesn’t suit her well, adding she was relieved an individual 10 km race awaited the next day.

Swedish qualification highlights (women): - 1) Johanna Hagström – 2:47.58 - 7) Moa Lundgren +3.26 - 16) Moa Ilar +6.22 - 17) Maja Dahlqvist +6.24 - 26) Emma Ribom +7.37

Other Swedes: - 42) Märta Rosenberg +9.92 - 48) Frida Karlsson +10.52 - 64) Ebba Andersson +13.35 - 67) Lisa Eriksson +13.89 - 73) Evelina Crusell +15.47

Further reactions featured in SVT included comments from Moa Ilar about equipment, Ebba Andersson on her form, and video interviews with Edvin Anger, Alvar Myhlback, William Poromaa, and Emma Ribom related to their Tour de Ski performances.