Astrid Øyre Slind was beaten by half a minute by Ebba Andersson in Reistadløpet on Saturday, where it quickly became clear that the battle for victory would be between the two arch-rivals.

Both athletes made their long-distance racing season debut on Saturday. The Swede arrived at Reistadløpet with three fresh gold medals from the World Championships in Trondheim. Slind, on the other hand, came into the race after a disappointing home World Championships, where she was beaten by Andersson in all four events in Trondheim.

However, Slind had decisively beaten Andersson in the last two World Cup rounds. First in the 20 km race in Holmenkollen and then in the 50 km in Lahti last weekend. Both were in classic technique.

This time, however, the duel ended in a clear victory for Andersson.

Skis Ruined the Race: “Unfair Competition”

The Norwegian 36-year-old is certain that her skis were the reason she lost in Reistadløpet on Saturday, where she was aiming for her third consecutive victory in the prestigious race.

“I had bad skis. There wasn’t much I could do about it. I noticed it quite early. But as long as it was just the two of us, it went okay because then she had to take some snow too. But then a male skier came and increased the pace. And I couldn’t keep up in the draft, even though we were both in a tuck,” Slind told NRK after the finish.

“I think the race itself was good, but I knew it was a bit of a risk because it wasn’t my best pair of skis. I saw that she was using her World Championship skis, so it became unfair competition,” she summed up.

The Swede Got a Helping Hand

Øyre Slind is also not happy that Andersson was able to draft behind a male skier on a downhill section toward the end of the race.

“That kind of ruined it. In my opinion, he should have stayed behind because it’s very hard to break away when it’s snowing like that. But when he took the snow and then powered ahead, it was just too much for me,” she said.

Slind believes the male skier should have moved aside and let the women settle it between themselves.

“For me, that would have been best, but I’m used to there being an X-factor in long-distance races,” she told NRK.

Behind Ebba Andersson and Astrid Øyre Slind, there was almost a five-minute gap to Silje Øyre Slind, who finished in third place.

Reistadløpet 2025 Results

Top 3 Women, Reistadløpet 46 km

1. Ebba Andersson (Sweden) – 2:27:27.3
2. Astrid Øyre Slind (Team Aker Dæhlie) +29.5
3. Silje Øyre Slind (Team Aker Dæhlie) +5:12.2

Full results available

See the Men’s Results Here