Bjoergen, barely alive, fell in front of Kowalczyk. Norway is still in shock today

The rivalry between Justyna Kowalczyk and Marit Bjoergen has fueled interest in cross-country skiing for many years. Not only in Poland or Norway. Two excellent, tough and tough female athletes were driving each other. They raced on the rails, they cut short in the media. Bjoergen and her “legal doping” – as Polish fans called the asthma medications taken by the Norwegian fans – used to be our winter enemy number 1.

And it was Kowalczyk who was driving. – It was great to win with Marit – said Justyna right after winning the gold medal at the Olympics in Vancvouver. A moment earlier Bjoergen’s victory came after an exciting finish. In retrospect, it is hard to believe, but the Pole did not defeat the Norwegian in a direct duel for almost the next two years. Until the memorable Tour de Ski in 2012 – 10 years have just passed since one of the greatest battles in the history of women’s cross-country skiing.

Kowalczyk was winning because Bjoergen allowed her?

The time between the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Kowalczyk’s next victory over Bjoergen seemed to drag on forever. All the more so as the emotions were enormous, and it all started at the games in Canada. “Marit came here to inhale, then run, and let her take care of it, instead of challenging the jury’s decision. She feels visibly threatened, because she knows well that without her “helpers” she would not have much to do with me and other girls – the Polish woman blurted out after a combined race, in which she won an Olympic bronze, despite Norwegian protests. The discussion about the legality of Bjoergen’s use of asthma medications marked their competition for years.

A year after the Games in Vancouver, in 2011, Kowalczyk lost to the Norwegian World Championships in Oslo. She left there with three medals, but still had Bjoergen, and once even Therese Johaug. The anger grew from start to finish, and the discussion about the asthma medications that Bjoergen was using again broke out in the Norwegian capital. It also meant that Polish fans lived less with the brown and silver rings of the Polish runner, and more with accusations of “legal doping” of the Norwegian champion. Bjoergen has become almost a national enemy that must be defeated at all costs.

It was successful in general classifications. Kowalczyk won the Crystal Balls from 2009 to 2011, three times in a row. It also triumphed year after year in the Tour de Ski. Each time, however, she had to listen to the voices that her main rival gave up many starts and that she was the winner at the world championships. So Kowalczyk won because Bjoergen allowed her.

But for a time.

“I was, I am and will be one of the candidates for victory”

No championship event was planned for the 2011/2012 season. It was known that the World Cup classification and the prestigious Tour de Ski would be the most important for the runners. This second event, then a win for Kowalczyk twice in a row, aroused the greatest emotions of the fans. Because for the first time in three years it decided to participate. The Norwegians were convinced that the Pole had no chance against their compatriot. They most often emphasized that Kowalczyk won at Alpe Cermis only because Marit was missing.

Kowalczyk won the 3,100 meter freestyle prologue. 0.4 seconds ahead of Bjoergen. And it was a huge surprise, because while in the classic style, a Pole could be among the favorites, in “live” rather not. – I was, I am and will be one of the candidates for the victory. If someone has won this event for two years in a row, he has this status, said the Polish woman after the prologue in Oberhof was over. Then Kowalczyk interrupted her losing streak with Bjoergen, defeating her for the first time in 650 days in a direct duel. The Norwegians did not believe it.

But it was only the first racing blow delivered by Kowalczyk. The next 10 km race was the chaser race. And here there was a greater surprise. Kowalczyk triumphed, but Bjoergen was not behind her at all. Just 0.2 sec. she lost to a Polish woman. Our runner’s greatest rival was third. “She had bad skis today, and she must have them well chosen to run fast,” explained coach Egil Kristiansen.

For the sprint, the runners moved to Oberstdorf and again Kowalczyk was on top. She scored a hattrick and led the entire Tour de Ski by 22.2 seconds. in front of Bjoergen. The Norwegian, however, still had aces in hand – two freestyle runs. 2011 changed in 2012 and the roles were reversed – Bjoergen won the combined race, sprint and the 15k freestyle competition successively. And she became the new leader of the cycle.

Kowalczyk was sweating like a rat

The time has come for some decisive clashes. The day before the final climb, already in Val di Fiemme, the 10 km classic race was held with a joint start. And the well-disposed Kowalczyk won in an impressive style! Her advantage over Bjoergen was 11 seconds. – The fight was very good, but I didn’t have to give 110% of myself. – said the Pole after the run. Meanwhile, Bjoergen was exhausted and could not believe the failure. Kowalczyk became the leader of the cycle and it was known that she would go on Alpe Cermis by 11.5 seconds. in front of her biggest rival.

The decisive start took place on January 8, 2012. The stress of the Polish runner was infecting from the morning. And she got up very early. – She sang or hummed songs to herself. When he does that, it means he is scared – said coach Kowalczyk later. She herself added later that she was not afraid of rivals, but of the great mountain. And this is indeed a great challenge, because the slope of the ascent can reach even 28%. A few years later, Kowalczyk felt it on her own body – in 2015 she fainted and instead of going to the Alpe Cermis summit, she was hospitalized. In 2012, however, she fought for victory.

Kowalczyk waited for Bjoergen, and they ran together on the uphill stretch. High temperature, sunny aura and two champions climbing the slope, which are usually used by alpine skiers. The Polish woman first threw off her glasses, and then the headband. Anything to make climbing easier. – I was sweating like a rat, excuse me – said the runner from Kasina Wielka.

“One hundred years!” at the finish line, Kowalczyk first!

The pain on the players’ faces was evident. The heart rate reached 180 beats per minute, just like the fans. In the middle of the ascent, Kowalczyk and Bjoergen were still climbing together. Suddenly, the Pole began to break away from her Norwegian rival. Five, seven, 10, 15 meters … – It’s on! – TVP commentator Marek Jó¼wik shouted into the microphone. – Kowalczyk is running, Bjoergen is coming – he assessed.

– I heard on the radio that Justyna is starting to leave Bjoergen, and she looks fresh. The Norwegian woman was bent and was looking at her feet. Then I knew it would be fine – said Wierietielny. The Polish woman brilliantly overcame the next meters of a steep ascent of 3650 meters with an elevation of 420 meters. She was calmly running up the hill, while Bjoergen looked as if she was skiing. And to the accompaniment of “Happy Birthday!” Sung by Polish fans, Kowalczyk was the first to finish! She defeated Bjoergen at the highlight of the season!

Rywalka almost reached the finish line. 30 seconds after our competitor. – Marit couldn’t keep up with my pace. It was so tiring that it was enough to develop a safe advantage – said the happy Kowalczyk. Bjoergen had fallen into snow before her. Barely alive, with shaky legs. She was shocked. She succumbed to the great power of the runner, whose staff was at least four times smaller. She lost a clash that she had no right to lose. – Well, Kowalczyk was better today – a still surprised Norwegian woman commented a dozen or so minutes after the run. Later she assured that the second place was a success for her. But her eyes said something else entirely. – I still dream of a triumph in the Tour de Ski – added Bjoergen.

The best Polish woman in the history of Tour de Ski

This time she didn’t say that “it was fun to beat Marit”. She surprised and said what motivated her to win. – I thought before the race that first you have to win the whole World Cup in March. Then you have to win the plebiscite of “Przegląd Sportowy” and TVP, and then you have to win for the next day of Tour de Ski. This is already a tradition – she joked in an interview with Onet. She was bursting with joy. And it was not surprising, because she waited for such a moment for almost two years. Even today this fight is remembered by the Norwegians.

– The duel between Kowalczyk and Bjoergen was the most exciting women’s cross-country skiing experience in my life – and probably ever. I really miss this duel, says today Oeyvind Godoe, a well-known Norwegian journalist from Dagbladet. – At that time, women’s cross-country skiing reached its culmination. It was a real competition with great prestige and at the highest level thanks to these two legends. Later, Therese Johaug challenged them, so it was a fierce battle between the three greatest legends of the sport of all time: Kowalczyk, Bjoergen and Johaug – she adds.

A year later Bjoergen gave up Tour de Ski. Kowalczyk won again. And today it is a Pole who is the most titled competitor in the history of this event. It was the only one to achieve four triumphs, year after year. And the Norwegian woman realized her dream of winning the prestigious cycle only in 2015. And it was the only time she ran on Alpe Cermis first.