Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[BullsFan22]

So apparently Bolshunov said that the pair of skis that he would have changed to on the final pit stop were also 'warm' pairs, the same type he was already skiing on, so to change to basically the same pair of skis wouldn't have done him much good. But if that's the case, why wouldn't the servicemen change that? They clearly saw the temperature drop. Actually his skis looked quite good up to that point, but no doubt had he changed, and changed to a 'colder' pair, or slightly stiffer skis, he would have had a better shot. The staff and the service team should have done something. They had the time to assess the situation and very rarely do guys not change skis on the last lap.

 

[BullsFan22]

Re: Re:

Also, Olsson won 'the right way' in 2013. He and Södergren tried to race 'the right way' in Falun, but the conditions were not suited and everybody else was too cowardly to give any help to those moves and it settled down into a "wait for the last kilometre" race.

Northug did win from reduced fields, but by holding on in races of attrition primarily; no, leaving him in top shape is difficult, but all too often when he was badly-placed at the back of the group doing his usual job of picking his way through the stragglers to hang on to the group, which he was exceptional at when on form, people weren't doing anything but skiing tempo up front, giving him the chance to recover once he rejoined on the flat before drifting to the back again on the climb. That's just how Northug raced, but if people had been pushing the pace or making attacks while he was just getting on to the back after making the big effort to fight through those who were dropping to make it back to the group, it would have put more pressure on him, and all too often that didn't happen until too late in the race for it to actually be effective. At Falun you did also have the problem that Vylegzhanin and Bauer rather got in each other's way in the final kilometre when Vylegzhanin wanted to attack up the final step in the Lugnet-Arena.

Bold: I disagree, when olsson and sodergren go all out, people will hang on for dear life, they can’t necessarily contribute. Niskanen and poltoranin didn’t need any help, they just left. You need to be insanely strong, very good skis, right conditions and as someone else mentioned, have the right mentality, no hesitation and bet it all. Lacking that, the best and safest option is to ski a steady tempo, keep in the front group and attack late. Poltoranin also attacked remember, but unsuccessful a got 15th or something even though he was probably top 3 strongest on the day. Should he have gone early or chilled with Harvey and gotten podium? You can’t bet it all like that everytime.

If you are talking about the Falun 50km, that's not true. Poltoranin never attacked. He was in the pack. Finished in 7th.

 

[Kokoso]

Bolshunov looked dead, or just knew he had no chance with those skis? I don't understand why he didn't change skis. They had a huge lead, why risk it? He wasn't going to blow it. Niskanen had to win it, but WON IT ON SKI SPEED.

Or on smarter decision.

 

[BullsFan22]

Bolshunov looked dead, or just knew he had no chance with those skis? I don't understand why he didn't change skis. They had a huge lead, why risk it? He wasn't going to blow it. Niskanen had to win it, but WON IT ON SKI SPEED.

Or on smarter decision.

Niskanen had no choice. He'd been on that pair for quite a bit of the race. Interestingly though, both had excellent skis throughout, but you saw the difference when Niskanen pulled away, the skis were the biggest difference in the end. Niskanen said in his interview that he was going to attack regardless, because, as he said, he had no chance against Bolshunov in the sprint.

 

[Kokoso]

Niskanen was first at the fin(n)ish - after all, he is Finnish so everything is right with this world I dare to say Bolshunov wouldn't be on par with Niskanen even without that wrong decition not to change skis. Niskanen was the one at front for most of the time. We will never know for sure though.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

All you Need is guys who aren't afraid to take risks and tackle mass start racs like an Individual start race.
Mühlegg did it in 2002
Olson did it in 2013
Niskanen did it today.

Everything else where only half hearted tries.

It is not that easy. Lukáš Bauer did that many times in mass starts without every time or almost every time without any succes. Everyone else was too cowardly to help him, including Olsson, Södergren or whoever else. Nobody took turns.

 

[Singer01]

Anybody got any idea who wins tomorrow? I can't see anyone as the standout favourite.

 

[alternator]

Re: Re:

All you Need is guys who aren't afraid to take risks and tackle mass start racs like an Individual start race.
Mühlegg did it in 2002
Olson did it in 2013
Niskanen did it today.

Everything else where only half hearted tries.

It is not that easy. Lukáš Bauer did that many times in mass starts without every time or almost every time without any succes. Everyone else was too cowardly to help him, including Olsson, Södergren or whoever else. Nobody took turns.

Bauer was very strong, but Niskanen has a different type of capacity to attack in classic. He can go for 20-30-40 minutes at a time, extremely hard, especially in diagonal poling uphills, and break anyone not having a great day. Last year's Holmenkollen was a dress rehearsal for today and a pretty similar race for Niskanen - if Sundby was in the same form as then, it would have been a three-way battle for gold.

Also, today there was no wind or snow to prevent attacks - you saw what happened to Niskanen when he tried to do the same thing in the windy opening race of these Olympics.

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

All you Need is guys who aren't afraid to take risks and tackle mass start racs like an Individual start race.
Mühlegg did it in 2002
Olson did it in 2013
Niskanen did it today.

Everything else where only half hearted tries.

It is not that easy. Lukáš Bauer did that many times in mass starts without every time or almost every time without any succes. Everyone else was too cowardly to help him, including Olsson, Södergren or whoever else. Nobody took turns.

Niskanen has a different type of capacity to attack in classic. He can go for 20-30-40 minutes at a time, extremely hard, especially in diagonal poling uphills, and break anyone not having a great day.

No, there is not difference between Bauer and Niskanen in that regard. Bauer could push himself very hard too; classic style or skating (unlike Niskanen).

Lets not be mistaken - Bauer had some pretty dominant performances. His problem was health.

 

[alternator]

Re: Re:

All you Need is guys who aren't afraid to take risks and tackle mass start racs like an Individual start race.
Mühlegg did it in 2002
Olson did it in 2013
Niskanen did it today.

Everything else where only half hearted tries.

It is not that easy. Lukáš Bauer did that many times in mass starts without every time or almost every time without any succes. Everyone else was too cowardly to help him, including Olsson, Södergren or whoever else. Nobody took turns.

Niskanen has a different type of capacity to attack in classic. He can go for 20-30-40 minutes at a time, extremely hard, especially in diagonal poling uphills, and break anyone not having a great day.

No, there is not difference between Bauer and Niskanen in that regard. Bauer could push himself very hard too; classic style or skating (unlike Niskanen).

Lets not be mistaken - Bauer had some pretty dominant performances. His problem was health.

Well, maybe in the Bauer Tour de Ski winning days. I may have forgotten what those were like because he was not in that shape for that long. But the big guy just looks fantastic when he really opens up and gets going. You know everyone behind is suffering...

 

[python]

the ladies 30k start list is posted...among the surprising starters i find stina. not figuring why, as she stands no chance at any glory except a desire to test herself.

as much as i'd wish kalla to win, i feel it is for muscle mamma to lose...she probably wants to end the last olympic event in her life basking in glory. on paper weng should do well at a distance but she hasn't been showing any good form in korea. haga, otoh is in good shape but no one knows if it will extend to her classic. i feel it may,

then we have sedova, parma, niskanen, bjoersen, ebba and a dark horse nepryaeva. i do think she can cause a sensation tomorrow. why ? the u23 world leader showed her physical and mental strength already. she also loves the classic style...kowa is there too, but hardlya factor...she's a tired old horse that should think of a retirement instead of busting her remaining health.

it is exactly 24h to go.

 

[May0maniac]

Don't forget about Teresa Stadlober, she's in great shape and could surprise people.

 

[Oude Geuze]

First time in several years I will actually watch the women’s 30k (or any other distance really), there’s a chance of excitement tomorrow. Although I still think momma Bjorgen will win, she may have to fight for it. Usually there’s about 20sec gap to the Norwegians and Kalla after 3k, but I have high hopes for this one!

 

[meat puppet]

Björgen gone. Pärmä will soon go. Bronze between Niskanen, Kalla and stadlober.

Meh.

 

[Gigs_98]

Nilsson and Östberg are closing the gap. Kalla seems to be gone

 

[Ferminal]

Good race developing for 2nd

 

[Gigs_98]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU*K

Edit: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUU*K

 

[Oude Geuze]

Stadlober breaking new ground in Austrian women’s cross country, literally.

 

[Gigs_98]

What the f*ck is wrong with XC skiing in Austria. Everyone is either complete sh*t or doped, or now suddenly too stupid to know the course. This wasn't only a good good top 10 spot she could have gotten, that was a medal in the waiting which she just threw out of the window.

 

[meat puppet]

Oh dear. What a pity.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Surreal really

 

[python]

a half-man trounced all the lil girls. wow so interesting

stina in the bronze ahead of kalla is my wrongest bet in life. but i like being wrong...

 

[Oude Geuze]

Awesome scene as Stina realizes she got bronze instead of 4th as stadlober was out and Marit confirms Too bad for stadlober though, she lost confidence and made another wrong turn. Would have loved to see her on the podium.

 

[pettero]

Stadlober and Weng skiing the last lap together, it's a wonder they didn't end up in North Korea

 

[Oude Geuze]

Re:

Stadlober and Weng skiing the last lap together, it's a wonder they didn't end up in North Korea

lol yeah, Weng said in the post race interview that she was uncertain several times on which tracks to choose She also reported to have had a lot of fun racing today, cheering on Marit and Ostberg and having great skiis so she could overtake people on the downhills. She actually suspected it might be a personal best for her overtaking on descents, though she admitted, without regret, that she was slower ascending. She stated it as a matter of fact, and without leaving the impression it bothered her in the slightest. I would have thought she was a happy amateur in Marcialonga for the first time, and not a potential podium candidate in the olympics! You have to love Heidi Weng, as quirky as they come