Training has been disrupted by infections and viruses.
However, infantry Perseus Karlström, 32, is ready for the World Cup with two of his fiercest victories ever.
Outside the championship, this is my biggest victory, he says after beating almost the entire world elite at 10km in Madrid today.
There was Olympic champion Massimo Stano, World Cup bronze medalist Caio Bonfim, several top-tier Chinese and also the local race from Spain with the five Olympians and organizer Diego Garcia in the lead.
Perseus Karlstrom He defeated them for around ten kilometers in the middle of Parade Street in Madrid’s Gran Via.
Big feather in the hat. The only ones who are not here are the Japanese. Outside of the championship, this is probably the best race of the year with the strongest opposition, says Karlstrom.
“Hurt”
Ten kilometers was half the shortest race of the championship, the time of victory was 38.42.
– On the slope, there is a threshold all the time. It hurts already from the second and third kilometer and after that it is hard.
This victory is the second major victory in two months. At the beginning of March, the WC team won the new championship distance of 35 kilometers. But he is not worried about any early peak during the summer tournament with both the World Cup and the European Championship. On the contrary.
After the Olympics, I had a long-term infection in the back of my thigh and then contracted the virus in January. I haven’t been able to drive at high power so far in April and feel the body responding. Before that, it was very painful, he said.
“The best ever”
The third World Cup from Doha changed the coach to Irishman Robert Heffernan and described this among the problems he trained in a completely new way with new types of hard exercises and a completely different structure.
Looks like it should be out of place before the World Cup?
– Yes sure. I don’t think I’ve been able to do a lot of good training yet. There is a lot to boot.
He plans to double in the World Cup if all goes well at both the 20 and 35 kilometres. But, despite the victories, he wants to bypass the favorite of the Japanese national team.
– They still have the Olympic silver medalist World Champion, so they are happy to take the favorites. But it looks so cool, so far this is my best season ever.