Cross-country skier Vermeulen

“The next logical step is to win the World Cup”

Mika Vermeulen (l.) was on the road to success.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

This year, cross-country skier Mika Vermeulen achieved the best result by an Austrian in the World Cup for a quarter of a century. But that was just the beginning, promises the 24-year-old Ramsauer in an interview.

"Krone": Mika, with your first podium finish, a good Tour de Ski and a finish in the top 10 of the overall World Cup, you have achieved all the goals you set yourself before the start of the season. Are you completely satisfied with that?
Mika Vermeulen: Yes, I am. You couldn't wish for more. My first podium, plus two fourth, one fifth and one sixth place. And seventh place in the overall World Cup.

That's the best result since Mikhail Botvinov's second place in 1998/99. What does this historic success mean to you?
Wow! It definitely makes me very proud. But above all it gives me even more motivation, because I know that there is still more to come. It makes me proud, but above all it makes me hungry.

How do you have to do it in the summer so that you can satisfy your hunger for more next winter?
I need to do a bit better in all areas than I did this winter. But I probably need to focus on the classic style. That's where I have the most catching up to do, so don't be fooled by my sixth place at the final in Falun. If you don't do well in the classic style, you give up your chances in half of the races. If I can manage that, there's very little I can't achieve.

Vermeulen took his first podium finish in Canmore, Canada

(Bild: THE CANADIAN PRESS)

So you're aiming for your first World Cup win next year?
Definitely! It's the next logical step on my journey. It is certainly the hardest and most difficult step, but I am one hundred percent convinced that I have what it takes if I train and work even more consistently, better and more professionally.

Why did things go so much better this year than in previous years?
I've had very few illnesses and we've made an incredible leap in service. Because in the World Cup you have to have top skis on a day when you feel great. This year I was able to make the most of all my good days thanks to good equipment.

Why did the service go so much better?
Because we set up a new service team, and we didn't cut any corners financially. If you have good service people behind you, then you go into the competitions much more relaxed.

But I thought to myself: I don't give a f***, I'll take the risk! And the risk paid off.

Langläufer Mika Vermeulen

What was your most difficult moment of the winter?
Thank goodness there weren't any really difficult moments or setbacks. But when I fell ill before the Tour de Ski on Christmas Eve, I wasn't exactly deeply relaxed. But I thought to myself: I don't give a f***, I'll take the risk! And the risk paid off.

Did you draw additional motivation for the rest of the season from your good result at the Tour and especially your fourth place at the "Final Climb"?
Additional motivation and a bit more security for the future. The day will come when I fall ill just before a major event. Now I know that this doesn't automatically mean that you can no longer achieve your goals.

Teresa Stadlober and you have given the sport of cross-country skiing a real boost with your good results. Do your successes motivate you even more?
Absolutely! Although "Teri" can bite herself in the ass a bit with so many fourth places. Her successes motivate me and I think it's the same the other way round. The whole cross-country team is in a good mood at the moment.

What does your schedule look like for the coming weeks?
I'm at the Austrian Championships in Galtür this weekend. After that, I'm going on vacation to Sri Lanka for two weeks on Tuesday. And then I'll be flying back to Norway relatively soon, because I've got a lot planned for next year.