After the sensation, cross-country skier Vermeulen is “even hungrier”

Cross-country skiers Mika Vermeulen draws on his second place at the Ski Tour a lot of self-confidence and is already setting his sights on the next highlights. The Styrian wants to reach for the stars at the World Cup in his adopted home of Norway in a few weeks and also in the Overall World Cup have a say in the top ranks. First of all, the 25-year-old will have a short recovery phase in Ramsau.

Vermeulen is very proud of his performance on the tour. “At first it’s a pure satisfaction that all the hard work is bearing fruit. It’s amazing and very beautiful,” said Vermeulen on Monday during a car wash in his home country WHAT.

Second place on the prestigious tour behind Topstar Johannes Hösflot Kläbowith whom he can now converse fluently in Norwegian, gives him a lot of encouragement. “It spurs me on again and makes me even hungrier at the same time. And this in a year where I still see potential for improvement in the preparation. I still don’t feel like I’ve reached my full potential. That motivates me even more.”

“I want to win someday”

The fact that he has not yet achieved the first World Cup victory he dreamed of is irrelevant at the moment. “The goal remains the same, I want to win at some point. I always talk big, but I’m also humble. I know what it means to be second in the Tour de Ski. Of course I don’t underestimate that, that makes me proud.”

The World Cup in Trondheim from the end of February is of course also a goal; Vermeulen wants to compete in all World Cups beforehand. “The main focus is to stay healthy, get back into training fairly quickly and then race, race, race. Of course, I hope that one day the stars will align.” Another goal is the top five in the overall World Cup ranking.

Vermeulen is the only Austrian to appear on the podium of the tour, which is taking place for the 19th time. 2013/14 stood with Johannes Dürr An ÖSV athlete was already on the podium in third place, but the Lower Austrian was named a few weeks after the tour at the Olympic Games in Sochi EPO doping offenders transferred and later subsequently removed from the tour result lists.