Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[zarnack]

Considering the shooting woes Davidova has had for much of the season wouldn't have expected her to win this event, but well done. Striking at the right moment and only one of the two people to shoot clear. But indeed it's noteworthy that Czech biathlon hopes rely almost entirely on her these days. It doesn't look too promising for either men's or women's relay.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Delighted for Davidova and Tandrevold.

So happy Davidova won it over Oeberg or Hauser.

Found the coverage crap again, I don't think they picked up Davidova or Tandrevold until shooting 4.

And now Eurosport ruining the medal presentation with their audio issues.

They picked up Davidová partway through lap 4, problem was she was with bib 39 coming in not long after the ones who were leading at the time. The Individual is the event which can be hardest to pick up the contenders in because somebody who missed early comes back into it while somebody who looks like a contender for the podium can disappear big time later. Dzhima wasn't picked up until she was already 20/20 a few weeks ago for example. Later on, the camera was able to follow Merkushyna, Mironova and Cadurisch who all kept things interesting to the end, but during the flurry of activity they were following people like Öberg, Lien, Hauser, Preuß and Wierer in later shoots at the same time as Davidová was at her earlier shoots so they didn't pick up that she was still clear until a little later. Tandrevold suffered in both ways, her miss was in the first half of the race so she didn't appear that high up the timing screens until after shooting 3 when Öberg, Wierer and Røiseland started missing, and in going with bib 52, they were following the perceived main contenders' final shoots and finishes while Ingrid was doing her mid-race fight back into contention. It's easier to second-guess though because Lien, Hauser and Røiseland shot themselves out of it in the latter part of the race, taking up coverage while Ingrid was moving into position to shoot for the podium.

However, 2nd fastest ski time and 20/20, just outside the top 10 of the World Cup overall (with today's win she moved into it), you'd have thought they might have picked Markéta up earlier.

 

[tobydawq]

They picked up Davidová partway through lap 4, problem was she was with bib 39 coming in not long after the ones who were leading at the time. The Individual is the event which can be hardest to pick up the contenders in because somebody who missed early comes back into it while somebody who looks like a contender for the podium can disappear big time later. Dzhima wasn't picked up until she was already 20/20 a few weeks ago for example. Later on, the camera was able to follow Merkushyna, Mironova and Cadurisch who all kept things interesting to the end, but during the flurry of activity they were following people like Öberg, Lien, Hauser, Preuß and Wierer in later shoots at the same time as Davidová was at her earlier shoots so they didn't pick up that she was still clear until a little later. Tandrevold suffered in both ways, her miss was in the first half of the race so she didn't appear that high up the timing screens until after shooting 3 when Öberg, Wierer and Røiseland started missing, and in going with bib 52, they were following the perceived main contenders' final shoots and finishes while Ingrid was doing her mid-race fight back into contention. It's easier to second-guess though because Lien, Hauser and Røiseland shot themselves out of it in the latter part of the race, taking up coverage while Ingrid was moving into position to shoot for the podium.

However, 2nd fastest ski time and 20/20, just outside the top 10 of the World Cup overall (with today's win she moved into it), you'd have thought they might have picked Markéta up earlier.

I also think commentators have a hard time tackling the individual event. The main Danish commentator is quite alright in the other events but in the individual he tends to sell medals to everyone among the first ten or fifteen skiers who don't mess up their shooting entirely.

But I do get that it must be quite a bit more difficult to keep track of everything in this event than in a cycling ITT.

 

[roundabout]

There is live timing available on the IBU page with multiple intermediates and various other data.

 

[titan31]

They picked up Davidová partway through lap 4, problem was she was with bib 39 coming in not long after the ones who were leading at the time. The Individual is the event which can be hardest to pick up the contenders in because somebody who missed early comes back into it while somebody who looks like a contender for the podium can disappear big time later. Dzhima wasn't picked up until she was already 20/20 a few weeks ago for example. Later on, the camera was able to follow Merkushyna, Mironova and Cadurisch who all kept things interesting to the end, but during the flurry of activity they were following people like Öberg, Lien, Hauser, Preuß and Wierer in later shoots at the same time as Davidová was at her earlier shoots so they didn't pick up that she was still clear until a little later. Tandrevold suffered in both ways, her miss was in the first half of the race so she didn't appear that high up the timing screens until after shooting 3 when Öberg, Wierer and Røiseland started missing, and in going with bib 52, they were following the perceived main contenders' final shoots and finishes while Ingrid was doing her mid-race fight back into contention. It's easier to second-guess though because Lien, Hauser and Røiseland shot themselves out of it in the latter part of the race, taking up coverage while Ingrid was moving into position to shoot for the podium.

However, 2nd fastest ski time and 20/20, just outside the top 10 of the World Cup overall (with today's win she moved into it), you'd have thought they might have picked Markéta up earlier.

I just found it weird like I understand focusing on likes of Oeberg, Lien, Hauser as they were up there earlier but I found at times the coverage was showing people well down coming into the finish like Lena Haecki or watching Denise Herrmann. Even at one point Eurosport commentators must have been looking at the timings and mentioned that Claire Egan was up there after the 3rd shoot but completely missed that Davidova was there.

Both Davidova and Tandrevold are high level athletes that you'd have arguably in the top 15 favourites if not top 10 before the start of the race. I could understand it a bit more them missing them if they had no chance pre race.

Hopefully men's will be better covered today and no audio issues for once

 

[search]

Both Davidova and Tandrevold are high level athletes that you'd have arguably in the top 15 favourites if not top 10 before the start of the race. I could understand it a bit more them missing them if they had no chance pre race.

to be fair, Tandreveld was ~10th heading to the 3rd shooting, so it's kinda understandable that they missed her. Sure, with with a more detailed look into it someone would have noticed that she was still a threat, but it wasn't that obvious, and it's not like there's too much time to check for things like that.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Spotting Egan and not Davidová is just the typical US-blinders they have though. Even as by that point the television cameras were picking up Markéta and showing her on the course. But as mentioned, there's plenty of people who look like they're the threats when they're 14 or 15/15 but then fall down whereas people who miss early then go 15/15 sometimes slip through the cracks, as Tandrevold did. No excuse for whiffing on Davidová though.

I think they need to just commit in this kind of event to having one guy watch the TV screens and one guy watch the timing screens to keep an eye out for developing stories the cameras are missing, like Selina Gasparin, Tandrevold and yes, even Clare Egan, preferably Mike doing the latter role as he's demonstrated an ability to actually understand what appears on timing screens if he has the time to read them, and they do scan the timing screens from the IBU as they demonstrate in pursuit races.

The audio issues were a mess at the end, we got an interview with all three medalists, but we didn't have any audio for Öberg or Tandrevold and then the commentators talked all over the Davidová interview.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fillon Maillet pipping Thingnes Bø at the line yet again, but it will probably still be a gold medal for the Norwegians.

Edit: And it proved to be so, although Lægreid was struggling on the last lap. Peiffer did a great job and came very close to repeat his victory from two years ago.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Think Peiffer just knew his chance to win was exactly as two years ago - hit 20/20 and do everything in his power and rely on others making mistakes to let the race come to him. And it nearly happened, but Sturla has just been the iceman in the range this season. I noticed he went hard early on and paid for it late with a lot of timeloss, but he'd built up the gap he needed already at that point.

 

[titan31]

Dale did well, especially as I thought this was the race he was least suited to. Tarjei with a disaster though, although I'd assume he pretty much gave up after the first shoot as even his ski speed was well off so I'd assume he didn't push it.

Single mixed will be interesting choices now. I'd assume Norway still go Tiril and JTB but few different options they could with really and still be a favourite.

 

[Bubba]

Fillon Maillet pipping Thingnes Bø at the line yet again, but it will probably still be a gold medal for the Norwegians.

Edit: And it proved to be so, although Lægreid was struggling on the last lap. Peiffer did a great job and came very close to repeat his victory from two years ago.

Have to say I really like Lærgreid.
First season on the national team and just crushing it.
Really humble, not taking anything for granted, always focusing on meditation as the reason he seems so calm in stressful moments.
Untypical for a norwegian as even though decent enough ski pace wise, his strength is really on the shooting range where he is threatening to break records.

Kudos!

 

[zarnack]

With his skillset Lägreid is perfectly suited for the individual. Not the fastest skier, but usually highly accurate, which is what matters. And so JTB has to try to redeem himself as a champion in the mass-start again, just like last year.

Germany finally broke their medal's duck. No major surprises on the podium this time, though Khalili's 6th certainly raises some eyebrows.

 

[search]

yeah, also generally, mostly the usual suspects for an indivudial race up there - even Ol' Moravec and Garanichev managed to somehow come up with a decent result.

Yesterday Olsbu said that she doesn't expect to do the Mixed Relay, so at least Eckhoff should be a given.

Edit: yep, J.T. Boe and Eckhoff are confirmed for Norway, Samuelsson (despite a poor showing today) and Hanna Oeberg for Sweden. In German TV, the commentator assumed that Lesser was saved for tomorrow - this looked unlikely to me, given his horrible shape so far, but now he is in anyway ;D

Vintersport: Öberg och Samuelsson kör singelmixedstafetten för Sverige

Det blir som väntat Hanna Öberg och Sebastian Samuelsson som kör singelmixedstafetten på torsdag. Duon tog ett VM-brons tillsammans i Östersund 2019 i samma disciplin. Under VM i Antholz 2020 kom Öberg och Samuelsson 4:a.

www.svt.se

 

[KZD]

Laegreid is an old school biathlete. Good skier especially in time trial races but not explosive and one of the best shooters in the world. If the World Cup was like 20 years ago he would be the clear winner but even with the pursuit and especially mass start races that don't suit him, he is still fighting for it although it will be really difficult considering that this was the last individual race of the season (IBU should increase its number but I doubt). Glad with Peiffer's silver too.

Johannes Boe did another good race but to win titles in the World Championships he needs more than this. I wonder if Jacquelin was saving energy for tomorrow but his ski speed was quite off, unlike Fillon Maillet.

Surprising win by Davidová is the women and Hauser continues her incredible run. She is my favourite for the mass-start.

 

[titan31]

Bit surprised at some of the single mixed teams.

With the break on Friday I thought more countries would put their strongest two on it, especially some of the smaller nations. Belarus, Switzerland and Czech Republic are 3 I'm looking at wondering where's Bocharnikov, Alimbekava, Haecki, Davidova and Krcmar

 

[Libertine Seguros]

For the Czechs, I would assume that since Krčmář is only just getting back to full health after recovering from Covid (that's why he was at the European Championships before this) they don't want to overwork him, and giiven the Single Mixed heavily favours fast shooting and doesn't give much opportunity to recoup losses on the ski trails, Davidová with her fast skiing but very methodical shooting is not as advantageous as she would be in a more normal relay leg, and if they're not running Krčmář they probably haven't got much of a medal hope on current form, only realistic option is Moravec, so not worth putting Davidová out there when they can rest her up and have her fresh for the mass start and regular relays.

 

[titan31]

True, although I think they'd have had a better shot here than the normal relays where I don't really feel like they have a hope. Swiss women do so I can understand them resting and targeting that, but Czechs don't really feel like they have a shot. Belarus probably have a shot in the women's relay too but just wish more of the smaller teams had gone like Austria, Canada etc and put their their best teams on it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

yeah, also generally, mostly the usual suspects for an indivudial race up there - even Ol' Moravec and Garanichev managed to somehow come up with a decent result.

Yesterday Olsbu said that she doesn't expect to do the Mixed Relay, so at least Eckhoff should be a given.

Edit: yep, J.T. Boe and Eckhoff are confirmed for Norway, Samuelsson (despite a poor showing today) and Hanna Oeberg for Sweden. In German TV, the commentator assumed that Lesser was saved for tomorrow - this looked unlikely to me, given his horrible shape so far, but now he is in anyway ;D

Vintersport: Öberg och Samuelsson kör singelmixedstafetten för Sverige

Det blir som väntat Hanna Öberg och Sebastian Samuelsson som kör singelmixedstafetten på torsdag. Duon tog ett VM-brons tillsammans i Östersund 2019 i samma disciplin. Under VM i Antholz 2020 kom Öberg och Samuelsson 4:a.

www.svt.se

Lesser didn't look good last year either, but he and Preuß still managed to get silver, so I understand why he's been given another chance. He also did fine in the single mixed relay with Hettich in Oberhof.

It'll be an interesting race. I don't think the French can retain the title with Guigonnat in the team, but they can medal.
Austria, Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden should battle it out, so the RBU will probably win instead

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, the Single Mixed characteristics suit Lesser down to the ground. He shoots really quick frequently, and with less distance to ski he's more likely to take the risk on fast shooting, and his poor ski form is less likely to be of any consequence. I'm kind of surprised at the French not putting Guigonnat in the Individual for his skillset, but the same thinking may be behind their including him..

 

[titan31]

Norway again beat by the French on the last lap. They fair need to go away over the summer and work on that as it happens way too often.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't think the French can retain the title with Guigonnat in the team

That poster must really feel like an idiot now

Great last lap by Simon, who obviously hadn't spend as much energy as Eckhoff through the race, but she still had to get rid of her.
Wierer and Eder both and Hauser blew their last shootings and the Ukranians did very well to get fourth place.

 

[zarnack]

I was surprised Jacquelin was not on the French team, but never mind - it worked out anyway. However, maybe Norway should have preferred Lägreid over JTB for this discipline given their skillsets, and JTB did have some trouble in the range.

Wierer fluffed one of Italy's best medal chances in these championships. In the end no surprises really among the medal contenders. Ukraine again close yet far from a medal. But they have one more chance in women's relay.

I'm also wondering whether at some point fatigue could become a factor, because numerous athletes - particularly the ones, who are top athletes in their country - race all 7 events in 12 days. But then again in Antholz 2020 Röiseland and JTB won the mass-start in the end, and both skied all 7 events, so maybe it doesn't make much of a difference or it's individual. After all, taking a rest from individual didn't help Lesser and Russians here in SMR.

 

[titan31]

Stupid bloody Eurosport with the commentary issues again. It's like the two can't hear each other as they're just talking over each other.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Stupid bloody Eurosport with the commentary issues again. It's like the two can't hear each other as they're just talking over each other.

They aren't in the same place, are they?
They weren't before the winter break.

 

[titan31]

They aren't in the same place, are they?
They weren't before the winter break.

Nope, done remote, but don't get anywhere near the same issues in th cycling and that's remote. They mess up every time in biathlon coverage.

I find it mind boggling they havent figured out a fix since it happens every time.