Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[BullsFan22]

Well, it's a better course than Seefeld, since the problem there was that it was so obvious where you didn't want to lead that all the anchors went and held trackstands are rendered the rest of the race pointless. Joni Mäki with some sweet, sweet retribution.

Mäki is a dirtbag, blatantly obstructed Bolshunov in Lahti and didn’t even get a verbal warning.

Retivykh shouldn’t have raced the team sprint. It was obvious before the race even started. A healthy Ustiugov doesn’t let a gap of 4 or 5 seconds deteriorate like that.

 

[BullsFan22]

That last climb by Klaebo was something special. Incredible uphill sprint by him. I kept saying Retyvikh was a bad choice, because this race is only called the sprint, but when it's raced hard like today, it's much much tougher.

The choice of Nepryaeva is another shot in the foot. She was having a pretty bad season by her standars, broke a hand just one month ago, yet they put her in all 3 races so far....

Putting Retivykh and Nepryaeva was not just a risk it was stupid. Neither in form. Nepryaeva at least has a very legitimate excuse with a fractured hand, which is both dangerous and stupid. They had Matsokina who is more fresh and has good form coming in.

Retivykh just can’t ski these races very well. Putting Terentjev or a distance skier that can sprint very well like Maltsev would have been a better choice.

The Russians lost two medals today, at least a silver in the men’s and for sure at least a bronze in the women’s. If Nepryaeva was healthy and in good form they no doubt have a shot at the gold.

 

[bambino]

Mäki is a dirtbag, blatantly obstructed Bolshunov in Lahti and didn’t even get a verbal warning.

Get over it. The Skiers have as well.

Maki and especially Hakola were sublime today, big surprise. I'm sure it felt good.

Bolshunov did what he could, Klaebo was just too much in the final. I think it would have been the same with Ustiugov, Sergey's stamina to run sprints to the end has not been on the level of past years, due to health problems of course.

 

[KZD]

Yes, the Russians' team choice was questionable to say the least, Neprayeva is clearly not at her best, so all Stupak's work was unrewarded, Sorina despite being better in classic could have gotten a medal. As for the men's, without Ustiugov available they didn't have an easy choice but Maltsev or Spitsov could have done a bit better although I think that even with that team the title would have been impossible because Klaebo was too strong. Still, Bolshunov will likely end up the Championships as the most decorated athlete.

Sweden doing what was expected from team and a surprising maiden podium for Switzerland too, however despite their terrible result, I don't think that the Norwegians had bad skis but rather Falla had a bad day. The other Weng sister or even Heidi could have done a bit better but podium would have been impossible.

 

[BullsFan22]

With a different skiers order Russia probably would have had more than a single bronze

Exactly. Valnes wasn’t impressive today. I think a distance skier would have dropped him today if the pace was high from the start. Pity Ustiugov wasn’t healthy.

 

[BullsFan22]

Get over it. The Skiers have as well.

Maki and especially Hakola were sublime today, big surprise. I'm sure it felt good.

Bolshunov did what he could, Klaebo was just too much in the final. I think it would have been the same with Ustiugov, Sergey's stamina to run sprints to the end has not been on the level of past years, due to health problems of course.

Really? Mäki said he was glad that Bolshunov was given an ultimatum of sorts a day before the sprints.

 

[kingjr]

Putting Retivykh and Nepryaeva was not just a risk it was stupid. Neither in form. Nepryaeva at least has a very legitimate excuse with a fractured hand, which is both dangerous and stupid. They had Matsokina who is more fresh and has good form coming in.

Retivykh just can’t ski these races very well. Putting Terentjev or a distance skier that can sprint very well like Maltsev would have been a better choice.

The Russians lost two medals today, at least a silver in the men’s and for sure at least a bronze in the women’s. If Nepryaeva was healthy and in good form they no doubt have a shot at the gold.

Terentev would surely have faltered on the 3rd leg

 

[Erwin]

Really? Mäki said he was glad that Bolshunov was given an ultimatum of sorts a day before the sprints.

He was glad that the issue was finally dealt with. Obviously, he wished that it would have been done much quicker, already after Lahti. Blame FIS for being too slow.

 

[BullsFan22]

But I am happy for Slovenia. Two medals from Lampič. Urevc barely survived, just enough to give Anamarija a shot. Of course an injured Nepryaeva helped, but I am happy for Slovenia.

If the Russians put Nepryaeva in the 10km I am officially done with Välbe. The should have sat her out yesterday if they planned on putting her in the team sprint. Sorina would have given them a medal, even Matsokina would have been better. Just throwing away perfect opportunities for medals for no reason.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yeah, let us put the Woman who just suffred an broken thumb about a month ago in the team sprint, it's not like that could be a serious problem when they accelerate on the climbs or anything like that...
Someone like Marcus Cramer must also be frustrated with all the politics going on inside the Russian team. I guess they are paying him really well, but it has to be frustrating to work under these conditions...

 

[BullsFan22]

He was glad that the issue was finally dealt with. Obviously, he wished that it would have been done much quicker, already after Lahti. Blame FIS for being too slow.

No FIS did that to throw away Bolshunov off guard and to put pressure on him mentally. Not giving Mäki at least a verbal warning for blatant obstruction was the mistake. You can’t just veer over from one side of the course to the other to impede someone’s progress cause you know they have higher speed. That’s where FIS made the mistake.

 

[roundabout]

way too easy for Norway in the NoCo again

I mean they fully deserve it, but it looks like the race was decided way too early

 

[BullsFan22]

Yeah, let us put the Woman who just suffred an broken thumb about a month ago in the team sprint, it's not like that could be a serious problem when they accelerate on the climbs or anything like that...
Someone like Marcus Cramer must also be frustrated with all the politics going on inside the Russian team. I guess they are paying him really well, but it has to be frustrating to work under these conditions...

I think his contract ends after the Olympics next season. I wouldn’t blame him at all if he left, I would do the same thing. Välbe likes Borodavko more than any other coach on that team. Giving Nepryaeva that many races after such an injury is a bit disrespectful to the other skiers. If I was Stupak I would be very upset. All that work and no medal.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

No FIS did that to throw away Bolshunov off guard and to put pressure on him mentally. Not giving Mäki at least a verbal warning for blatant obstruction was the mistake. You can’t just veer over from one side of the course to the other to impede someone’s progress cause you know they have higher speed. That’s where FIS made the mistake.

The course in Lahti was the biggest problem there. That final corner is too close to the finish on that side of the stadium, it meant that coming out of that corner you have a very short amount of time to get into the sprinting lanes. Mäki gave himself the best chance by leading into the right hand hairpin at the top of the hill, meaning he was in front and could choose the inside line for the hairpin. Bolshunov had to come round the outside, so Mäki decided to cover that by picking up the right hand lane. With the start of the sprinting lanes so soon after the corner, in order to pick up the right hand lane before the start of the sprinting lane he veered right across Bolshunov and cut him off. Ironically if he'd done a safer move to pick up that line he would probably have got demoted because he wouldn't have got into his chosen lane quickly enough. Should have been a verbal warning but no more imo. I mean, even a relegation wouldn't have mattered once Bolshunov reacted because Russia I being DQed meant Finland would have reacquired that 2nd place they were relegated from anyway.

Nepryaeva is Russia's best female skier, sure, but she's clearly in no state to do this many races back to back. Give her a break, for crying out loud.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Bolshunov's last lap - 2:26.6
Klaebo's last lap - 2:33.7

I think Klaebo didn't lose 7 seconds during his celebration. Now that Sasha's lap looks even more impressive. He's must feel super strong going into the 15km skating.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Nepryaeva is Russia's best female skier, sure, but she's clearly in no state to do this many races back to back. Give her a break, for crying out loud.

And Vyablbe says: She'll run the full program.

I just can't understand them...

 

[roundabout]

Bolshunov's last lap - 2:26.6
Klaebo's last lap - 2:33.7

I think Klaebo didn't lose 7 seconds during his celebration. Now that Sasha's lap looks even more impressive. He's must feel super strong going into the 15km skating.

I think the last lap is slightly longer as the finish line seems to be further out than the exchange zone.

 

[roundabout]

And Vyablbe says: She'll run the full program.

I just can't understand them...

I suppose the idea is to build up form for the 30 by doing the races . Not sure that I agree, but that's the only explanation I can think of.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I suppose the idea is to build up form for the 30 by doing the races . Not sure that I agree, but that's the only explanation I can think of.

I think Russian selectors' history of deliberate trolling of the concepts of logic and reason is the Occam's Razor explanation.

 

[zarnack]

I was surprised it was possible to create gaps on that team sprint, I thought it would be a group finish. Still think sprint courses should be harder, and not flat half of the time. Otherwise they'll pull a Dresden layout for world championships one day.

Sweden and Norway delivered on their "favourite" status. For some countries these races were a rare medal chance. Switzerland delivered, Italy didn't. France will have one more shot in 4x10 relay. Finland of course another addition to XC medal countries here.

Of course some countries will have a reason to scratch their heads whether they made a good decision with regards to line-up. But for most countries line-ups are a compromise. Falla's collapse was a surprise, but she has been so rarely performing well recently anyway, so maybe she had gunpowder for individual sprint only. Makes me wonder, what will Kalla do in 10 km and relay, and whether skiathlon's impression was a one-off.

way too easy for Norway in the NoCo again

I mean they fully deserve it, but it looks like the race was decided way too early

Well, that's the state of affairs in NoCo these days. In a team event you can measure the gaps between teams with a calendar. Maybe if Rydzek was in good form and they didn't need to replace him with Weber, Germany could have challenged Norway, but that's about it.

 

[roundabout]

I think Russian selectors' history of deliberate trolling of the concepts of logic and reason is the Occam's Razor explanation.

Heh.

There is also probably some internal politics with all the different training groups playing a role.

 

[roundabout]

Well, that's the state of affairs in NoCo these days. In a team event you can measure the gaps between teams with a calendar. Maybe if Rydzek was in good form and they didn't need to replace him with Weber, Germany could have challenged Norway, but that's about it.

That's true. But I was kind of hoping that Bjoernstad would have a harder time of it against Weber. Once Norway got that gap on Germany after leg 1, it was mostly over.

 

[kingjr]

Bolshunov's last lap - 2:26.6
Klaebo's last lap - 2:33.7

I think Klaebo didn't lose 7 seconds during his celebration. Now that Sasha's lap looks even more impressive. He's must feel super strong going into the 15km skating.

Bolshunov had maybe the best skis I have ever seen.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The hosts got off the mark with the NoCo team event earlier, and they're in the win column now in the Mixed Team Ski Jumping. They are really good at raising their game in this event, Anna Rupprecht in particular pullled out one of her best ever performances in the second round (Althaus has been hitting form here and there's a clear improvement from her from the NH to the team to the Mixed Team). Eisi rather puts yesterday's disappointment behind him. I guess the bonus was the pressure being off after the Slovenes and Japanese didn't bring their A-game, Ema Klinec rather recovered in the second round but she had a poor first jump which meant Slovenia were fighting a losing battle to stay in contention.

 

[zarnack]

So far all golds in ski jumping have gone to different countries (SLO, POL, AUT, GER), which is somewhat different compared to XC and NoCo more one-sided competitions. And Norway still without gold in jumping and could easily join in one of the upcoming events as well. Also first jumping event in which Slovenia doesn't medal!