Skistad has had an inconvenient break at the start of the important WC season. Recently, she underwent abdominal surgery and was sidelined indefinitely.
The 25-year-old is currently training and rehabilitating, but there is still great uncertainty as to when she can be back on the cross-country track.
The consolation is that the definite highlight of the season, the WC in Granåsen, is still several months away. At the same time, Skistad will lose several valuable opportunities to show form and make themselves relevant for the championship in Trondheim.
Lately, however, she has been told by the national team management to take things easy.
– It’s awkward (for her) not being able to participate in the season opener, and I think, and I’ve talked to her about that too, that we have to keep our tongues straight in our mouths and breathe with our stomachs in relation to this. There are many people who know this about withdrawals and the withdrawal situation, and we just have to think a bit smartly, says trainer Sjur Ole Svarstad to NTB.
– We have to take care of her and put together a potential WC squad in the best possible way. We must have good skiers in that squad, and then it is important that we give Kristine time to recover, he adds.
Looking at the history
– Does that mean that Skistad will be able to have a slightly looser rein with regard to what she has to prove in advance to get to the WC?
– You can say it like that, and it’s natural anyway. She has been by far our best sprinter for the past two years, and then it is natural that you have an eye on that development, says Svarstad to NTB.
– Now it became special in the form that she does not run these World Cup races at the start, but that does not mean that she is disqualified from a WC squad, he clarifies.
The World Cup season starts in Ruka next weekend. Then new races await in Lillehammer and in Davos before Christmas. Sprints are on the program at all locations.
There are many indications that Skistad will lose those weekends. The question then becomes whether she will make her season debut in the Tour de Ski. Svarstad would not immediately call that a good idea.
– It sounds a bit brutal. We take it week by week and put health in the driver’s seat. Then we’ll see when she’s ready to join the dance again. It will be a big advantage for her that she gets to run a few races at the highest level before the WC, he says.
Victory machine
After the Tour de Ski, four World Cup rounds remain before the WC: Les Rousses, Engadin, Cogne and Falun. Everywhere there is a sprint. However, only one of them is in the Granåsen style free technique. It is in the Engadin.
In any case, Skistad has good opportunities to test and sharpen her form if she is not ready for competition until the new year.
The NM at Gåsbu near Hamar in mid-January is also an opportunity.
Skistad won the last three World Cup sprints last season. In addition, there was also a win in Canmore in Canada and at Lillehammer.
Last season she also came top in the opening sprint at Beitostølen. The Konnerud runner’s merits speak for themselves and make her an obvious candidate for gold in the WC if she is ready in terms of health.