Recovery creates problems for Anni Lindroos ahead of the U23 World Cup: “I hope to get in great shape”

Cross-country skier Anni Lindroos has been selected for her second U23 WC, which this year will be held in Canada. The 21-year-old Finnish Swede is proud to represent Finland but is worried that her body will not be able to cope.

Anni Lindroos, who got the season off to a flying start with a third place in the Finnish Cup in November, looked set to have her best season yet.

And it was successful, at least initially. Just one month after she took her first podium in the adult context, she had to make her World Cup debut in Lillehammer. In the sprint in Davos a few weeks later, she also scored her first World Cup points and advanced from the qualifiers.

– It was awesome. There were quite a few participants but I saw it as an opportunity. It was nice to compete with the world’s elite, says Lindroos to Yle Sporten.

After Davos, the Finnish-Swedish cross-country skier has had a considerably more difficult time after all. Being selected to represent Finland in the U23 World Cup was a relief.

– I was a little unsure if I would be selected at all, so it was nice to get that news.

Although Lindroos has worn the blue and white jersey a number of times this season, she is happy to show what she’s all about in Canada.

– It’s always nice to represent Finland. I haven’t had to do that many times before.

The orc has been at stake

The competition season has been marked by difficulties with recovery, something that the skier got to experience concretely during the FM competitions in Tampere a couple of weeks ago. She finished 17th twice more. Results she had not hoped for, but which were expected.

– The sprint was a complete disaster, I was so tired.

Concerns about recovery were present even before the FM competitions. The weekend before the FM, Lindroos had had selection competitions for the U23 WC and then the pattern was identical.

– The first day went perfectly fine, but the second day it was really hard.

In order to be able to perform before the main goal, which is the U23 World Cup, Lindroos has limited the amount of training, but the tight competition schedule has not made matters easier.

– I have tried to train very lightly, but there are always competitions and then I find it difficult to recover in between.

Hopes for super form

In the U23 WC, the Finnish-Swedish skier competes in 20 kilometers classic with mass start and 10 kilometer skate with interval start. Yesterday there was a sprint, but no Lindroos were on the starting line. She admits that it feels strange not to run the sprint as she has always seen herself as a sprinter.

– The level of the classic sprint in my age group has been very high, so I didn’t come.

Lindroo’s special stage is the freestyle sprint, a stage that is not on the competition schedule during the championship. During the training season last year, it was natural to try to practice classically to try to get a place in the sprint team.

An inflammation in the legs put an end to classical training during the autumn. Thus, the expected improvement in the weaker style also failed.

The mile, which is contested in Lindroo’s bravura style, is the distance she is most looking forward to during the championship. The two-mile run takes place just a few days before. Thus, the orc is once again the biggest threat to a successful race. Lindroos says she is more comfortable with ten kilometers than two miles.

– I just have to be able to recover from it.

Although the form is finally a question mark, the skier has not given up on the jump. She has done everything in her power to be able to perform during the highlight of the season.

– I have hope that I can get in super shape.

Yle broadcasts the U23 competitions at the Yle Arena.