By Johan Trygg
Emil Persson, Lager 157 Ski Team, achieved a lot this past weekend in Vålådalen. Victory at Saturday's Vålådalsrennet, victory at Sunday's Tåssåsen Criterium 64 powered by Visma. A close to secured victory in the Champion competition. Secured victory in Sprint and Youth competition. He is also the youngest athlete to become a Visma Ski Classics Legend, with at least five event victories.
"It feels fantastic that it happened so fast; I took my first victory last season, says Emil Persson.
You can look back on a fantastic weekend in Vålådalen with two victories. How was that possible?
"Yes, it's unbelievable that I succeeded," says Emil.
What was it like to race two long events two days in a row?
"I was very motivated for the task the days before, but after the finish on Saturday, it felt in another way. I was tired and had to force to eat enough food and get the right amount of energy. At that time, I was not super excited to compete the next day. I also had a hard time sleeping at night, but with a new day and a new race, I was ready to fight again."
If we go back to Saturday. How did you experience Vålådalsrennet?
"It was a brutal race for me the first 20 km. I had a body that didn't want to work for me. Then I started to feel better on the second lap up to the climb point. When I managed to be in the group passing the highest point, I got a different feeling. Then I felt that it could be possible to win."
"The last 17 km were special. It was only possible to go in the track after the snowmobile. If you tried to go on the side it just stopped. I took it easy back in the peloton for a few kilometers and then moved up to a good position. In the end, everything was perfect on the back of Anton's (Karlsson) skis. He skied fast enough, so no one wanted to pass him."
"The last 500 meters were quite tough up against the finish area, but I came with good speed into the final stretch and had the upper hand."
Sunday's race, Tåssåsen Criterium 64 powered by Visma, got off to a different start with a changed course and a delayed start due to difficult wind conditions.
How did you cope with the start being moved forward and the course changed?
"I was ready to start, but then it was time to rest for another hour on the bed. I didn't focus on this because it's nothing I could control."
How did you experience Sunday's race on the three-lap course?
"There was a lot on and off in the pace of the race. For a while I thought we were going to be a small group, but it gathered on the downhills again. If it's had been a 30 seconds longer climb somewhere, it might have been a smaller group in the end."
"In the last 4-5 km, it was hard to get a good position. When Karstein (Johaug) did a breakaway, I waited a few seconds, but then I realized that I had to close the gap. Then it became perfect when Tord (Asle Gjerdalen) and Oskar (Kardin) came, and I got the third position when the group was stretched out.
In the end, Persson was in front again, but this time he was really hard challenged by Morten Eide Pedersen towards the finish line.
"Morten came with high speed at the end, and I had to put in a higher gear, but I think I still had control," says Emil.
Emil Persson in the sprint fight with Morten Eide Pedersen.
With this weekend's two wins, Emil has basically secured the overall victory in the Champion competition. Emil has 1420 points, and Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Team XPND Fuel of Norway, has 1230 points ahead of Årefjällsloppet 100 km on Saturday, March 27. A victory gives 200 points, so if Gjerdalen wins, Emil needs at least 11 points equal to 50th place.
"Yes, it looks good, but we will have to do the last race as well. My goal for the weekend's two races was to expand the lead, and it succeeded," says Emil.
However, Emil has already secured the green Sprint bib and the pink Youth bib. In the Sprint competition, he has an impregnable lead ahead of Maxim Vylegshaninm Russian Winter Team. In the Youth competition, he has won because the points calculation comes from the Champion points.
This weekend's two victories were Emil's fifth and sixth event wins, and he steps into the exclusive group of Legends with five victories or more and becomes part of the Visma Ski Classics Hall of Fame. 25-year-old Emil is also the youngest athlete to become a Legend.
"It feels fantastic that I am the youngest to become a legend. It happened so fast; I took my first victory last winter," says Emil.
Emil's teammate Britta Johansson Norgren is the one with the most victories, 21.
"I have to aim for that now. I have lots of years ahead of me in the Pro Tour."
How do you see the future with this fantastic season behind you? What goals should you set for the future?
"There is a lot to aim for the coming seasons. To win Vasaloppet, to complete a Grand Slam and much more," Emil concludes.
