Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[python]

It's a long Olympic program. No point expending more energy than you need to in the win. I presume that's the reason for some of the disappointing results like Tchekaleva ....

of course, the optimum way to save energy for later, as is done all the time at any olympics, would be...NOT entering a race where everyone knows you'd be lucky to get in top 10. isn't it ?

but then, i can see how some girls had to run, for a number of reasons including because that's what their coaching staff has ordered, perhaps to test different individual performances for a later relay selection...

so, as if i wore a coach hat, i checked the splits published on the fis site. some results are interesting..in the last stretch that included the monster hill (km 13.3 to 15) justyna and chekaleva went ski to ski, dropping only 19 seconds to the leading 4. other top 15, except wiken, were slow just on that stretch by at least 40 seconds...

also jessica diggins performed exceptionally well at the finish losing only 23 sec there..

what does it tell me ? that the top norwegian girls with kalla and saarinen, were head and shoulder above everyone in skating, and that justyna and chekaleva are 2nd echelon (keep in mind that justyna lost 7 seconds changing skis)...chekaleva should do better and better as the games warm up...

 

[Christian]

Hello, does anyone know the schedule for the Olympic biathlon competitions? I really like it, but I don't have a channel that broadcasts the normal world cup races. So now I hope to take advantage of this opportunity because I have a channel that shows the Olympics! Thanks!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Hello, does anyone know the schedule for the Olympic biathlon competitions? I really like it, but I don't have a channel that broadcasts the normal world cup races. So now I hope to take advantage of this opportunity because I have a channel that shows the Olympics! Thanks!

bithlon in 30 min

 

[the sceptic]

Hello, does anyone know the schedule for the Olympic biathlon competitions? I really like it, but I don't have a channel that broadcasts the normal world cup races. So now I hope to take advantage of this opportunity because I have a channel that shows the Olympics! Thanks!

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/biathlon-schedule-and-results

 

[Christian]

Thanks! Appreciate it

 

[Cance > TheRest]

... Svendsen crashed or something???? He came in 29sec after Bjørndalens time with the same amount of penalties (1).

 

[jsem94]

Man, this further cements Ole Einar's status as a legend.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hello, does anyone know the schedule for the Olympic biathlon competitions? I really like it, but I don't have a channel that broadcasts the normal world cup races. So now I hope to take advantage of this opportunity because I have a channel that shows the Olympics! Thanks!

Just use the IBU's official site for regular World Cup races. You can watch full length replays of every World Cup race since the start of 2011-12 on there, and stream all events live, just lacking commentary.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

the greatest winter olympier surely??

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Man, this further cements Ole Einar's status as a legend.

Showing MFourcade and Svendsen how its done! It seems like he disposed his race very well, knowing that he could go very fast on the last steep hill. The toughness of the course seems to favour him, which is a good thing!

 

[jens_attacks]

from the little biathlon races i watched these last years, i can't stand the french fourcade guys so i'm happy he didn't take it.

i admit i dropped a tear for poor shipulin. last target god damn it

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Showing MFourcade and Svendsen how its done! It seems like he disposed his race very well, knowing that he could go very fast on the last steep hill. The toughness of the course seems to favour him, which is a good thing!

The toughness of the course favours Fourcade too though, as we saw from the test events, and from how in the similar Ruhpolding course (lots of difficult trails, big steep climb then a long and easy descent in to the range) how Fourcade destroyed all comers in 2012 and 2013. Martin just wasn't at his best and OEB was. First win since 2011 or something like that for Bjørndalen, no?

 

[jsem94]

Also, the pursuit is going to be interesting. 8 guys within 15 seconds, 23 guys within a minute.

 

[Kokoso]

This is really, really great result for Soukup after all that horrible health problems he had to withstand. Also very humble guy, great personality.

 

[Bavarianrider]

the greatest winter olympier surely??

Dahlie >>>>> Björndalen

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Will be cheering for Rastorgujevs in the pursuit. Difficult ski loops, and he's good at gaining places in the pursuits... very compressed field... come on Andrejs!

Looking forward to the men's skiathlon and the women's biathlon tomorrow. Today's races had a narrower field of what I would call realistic potential winners... the level is very close in men's biathlon but only a handful of supertalents take the majority of the wins, whereas since Neuner's retirement and as Berger's not been on superform this season there are a wider range of potential medallists from a wider range of countries among the women' whereas in the XC there is simply a much deeper men's field than women's and the race ought to be very interesting as a result.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

The toughness of the course favours Fourcade too though, as we saw from the test events, and from how in the similar Ruhpolding course (lots of difficult trails, big steep climb then a long and easy descent in to the range) how Fourcade destroyed all comers in 2012 and 2013. Martin just wasn't at his best and OEB was. First win since 2011 or something like that for Bjørndalen, no?

since 2012 Kontiolahti. And yes, the course is good for Fourcade too.
To say something about how well the different biathletes are at climbing, it would also make sense to examine some of the results of the Lysebotn Opp events, where a mix of xc skiers and biathletes race up "Lysefjordsveien", a 9k 9.5% climb. As I recall, Bjørndalen has always done pretty well there, better than MFourcade in 2013 for instance. Ofcourse the various athletes have different motivations and form, but it's still a decent indicator.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

since 2012 Kontiolahti. And yes, the course is good for Fourcade too.
To say something about how well the different biathletes are at climbing, it would also make sense to examine some of the results of the Lysebotn Opp events, where a mix of xc skiers and biathletes race up "Lysefjordsveien", a 9k 9.5% climb. As I recall, Bjørndalen has always done pretty well there, better than MFourcade in 2013 for instance. Ofcourse the various athletes have different motivations and form, but it's still a decent indicator.

They only climb as far as the lookout station at Øygardstøl, so it's more like 6,5-7km at that, but yes. Unfortunately it being a summer event it's hard to judge. Kaisa Mäkäräinen won it last year I recall, but most of the top XC athletes weren't there. I think she was 4th behind Johaug, Weng and Liz Stephen one year though. Berger was pretty good at it as well. Svendsen's normally up there in it but last year was miles off the pace so I think he was sandbagging.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Dahlie >>>>> Björndalen

I guess you could argue that Bjoerndalen has won quite alot of medals against weaker competition than Dhaelie yes (If we look away from Poiree and perhpas Fischer)

 

[python]

a fairly good review of the coming skiathlon with a detailed table of the favourites' historical performances:
http://worldofxc.com/blog/2014/02/07/race-preview-xc-predictions-olympic-skiathlon/

if the most recent record had a predictive value, it will be cologna standing atop in 6.5+ hours.

not only, cologna is the most complete all-rounder in todays skiing elite, but he may have 2 more things going his way: his excellent form proven in toblach just a week ago and a shrewd tactical win against almost the same main rivals on the same tough course 1 year ago.

if an all-rounder is favoured today, i would then add vyleg and sundby.

my money is on sundby and vyleg... this season sundby is in the shape of his life and surely he's super motivated to get out of northug's shadow. there could be though questions about his peaking to early. vyleg, otoh, raced very little and is a very good tactician.

legkov can medal today if he races smart and was lucky. i can see clara, hellner and chernousov being aggressive at the front in the skating leg trying to tire out or disconnect northug early on.

too bad, the peloton, as usual, is likely to stay relatively compact until the last 3.75 km loop. but we may also see attacks on the last before last hill into the stadium. that would be the most welcome spice

the far out break away ala olllson has 1% of success on this course and thus wont be tried by a real favourite.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, it's a last 5km loop so we might be lucky enough to get a bit more action, but sadly it looks like despite Poltoranin's best efforts the Classic leg is not likely to produce any great effect on the result, though a couple of key names may have a few seconds to make up, the péloton will still be tight enough for them to retain contact I think.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I guess you could argue that Bjoerndalen has won quite alot of medals against weaker competition than Dhaelie yes (If we look away from Poiree and perhpas Fischer)

Dhaelies win/medal percentage is lightyears ahead of Björndalen

 

[Kokoso]

Sundby and Soedergren have similar style, looks like they have something unbending in their backs.

 

[Bavarianrider]

So everyone is waiting for the final 2km again, what a suprise

 

[Bavarianrider]

Dürr looking extremly strong