Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[KZD]

Golberg owns Klaebo in long distance classics.

Yup, Klæbo's double polling top speed is not as good as his V2 top speed making him vulnerable against guys like Golberg or Bolshunov in these finishes.

Pellegrino looking better in classic mass starts than sprints these days.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Pellegrino looking better in classic mass starts than sprints these days.

Some years ago (just after Milano got the ‘26 Olympics) Pellegrino said his big goal was to win the 50km on home ground. Probably a bit tongue in cheek and he’s still a bit away from the level needed, but he is getting slowly closer.

 

[BullsFan22]

Some years ago (just after Milano got the ‘26 Olympics) Pellegrino said his big goal was to win the 50km on home ground. Probably a bit tongue in cheek and he’s still a bit away from the level needed, but he is getting slowly closer.

At 35 years old? With Klæbo at 29 and other Norwegians still there, with youngsters coming up, Moch, Poromaa, Russians returning…? I have a very hard time seeing that happening.

 

[DenisMenchov]

At 35 years old? With Klæbo at 29 and other Norwegians still there, with youngsters coming up, Moch, Poromaa, Russians returning…? I have a very hard time seeing that happening.

Where are Russians returning to?!

 

[BullsFan22]

Where are Russians returning to?!

The World Cup and the Olympics, where they belong.

 

[DenisMenchov]

The World Cup and the Olympics, where they belong.

I highly doubt that happening in the near future. Maybe for 2028 Olympics.

 

[BullsFan22]

I highly doubt that happening in the near future. Maybe for 2028 Olympics.

It’ll happen in 2026, with a full team, not just a hodgepodge of ‘neutrals.’

 

[Sciatic]

It’ll happen in 2026, with a full team, not just a hodgepodge of ‘neutrals.’

that makes sense—Tucker Carlson probably arranged a deal to make that happen with Putin last week.

 

[BigCoward]

that makes sense—Tucker Carlson probably arranged a deal to make that happen with Putin last week.

It's hard to negotiate when you are tonguing someone's colon.

 

[BullsFan22]

that makes sense—Tucker Carlson probably arranged a deal to make that happen with Putin last week.

Yet Americans are never suspended for any of their illegal excursions around the world. Why is that?

 

[BigCoward]

Yet Americans are never suspended for any of their illegal excursions around the world. Why is that?

Whataboutism is weak. In that case you should be advocating for an American ban rather than the Russian's being allowed back in.

 

[BullsFan22]

Whataboutism is weak. In that case you should be advocating for an American ban rather than the Russian's being allowed back in.

It’s not whataboutism, especially when it’s been going on for many decades, the American case is far worse. It’s double standards and hypocrisy. I take it you’re British?

I don’t want to advocate banning athletes. Politics shouldn’t be mixed with sport.

 

[DenisMenchov]

It’s not whataboutism, especially when it’s been going on for many decades, the American case is far worse. It’s double standards and hypocrisy. I take it you’re British?

I don’t want to advocate banning athletes. Politics shouldn’t be mixed with sport.

I fully agree with you. But decisions were made, most of modern sports are run by the Westerners and I really don't think they're going to let the Russians back as long as there's a Russian soldier in Ukraine.

 

[search]

things like this don't really help, I guess

the photo itself is manipulated, so no idea if it really happened, but it's from Russian media, so either them or whoever authorized it, clearly isn't willing to split politics from sports either.

 

[YavorD]

It’s not whataboutism, especially when it’s been going on for many decades, the American case is far worse. It’s double standards and hypocrisy. I take it you’re British?

I don’t want to advocate banning athletes. Politics shouldn’t be mixed with sport.

How exactly do you separate politics from sport, when the county/local federation is paying for the preparation and everything? It's not like sports are strictly independable of what happens in the political scene, they are vastly connected, even more so in a country like Russia.

As for the Americans, can't tell for sure but I've heard that CX skiers and biathletes (at least) don't rely on the national federation, but on sponsors and some of them even have to work to pay for their expenses.

I think the latter is the reason why Russian tennis players and cyclists haven't been banned from competition.

 

[BullsFan22]

How exactly do you separate politics from sport, when the county/local federation is paying for the preparation and everything? It's not like sports are strictly independable of what happens in the political scene, they are vastly connected, even more so in a country like Russia.

As for the Americans, can't tell for sure but I've heard that CX skiers and biathletes (at least) don't rely on the national federation, but on sponsors and some of them even have to work to pay for their expenses.

I think the latter is the reason why Russian tennis players and cyclists haven't been banned from competition.

But Americans, regardless who their sponsors are or what their beliefs are, get to compete internationally with their flag and anthem and are free to host events.

And we all know who the tennis players are and where they come from. Banning someone on the basis of their passport is, well…

 

[BigCoward]

Did you feel the same about South Africans under apartheid?

A lot of people going clear at shoot 1. And Simon not got rockets on so far. Edit. Just as I typed that she took the lead at 2nd checkpoint.

 

[titan31]

Tandrevold should get dropped for the single mix relay at this stage. Her standing shoot has gone to complete crap

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Once again, Tandrevold is fortunate that she's not losing WC points to Simon.

Surprisingly big lead for JBB after the first shooting, but I'm not sure she can keep Simon behind her.

 

[BigCoward]

Has a world Cup leader ever had as bad a world champs as this? I know she got silver in the mixed relay, but she has been horrendous in the individual events.

 

[titan31]

Ooh, come on Vitozzi

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Only 19/20 for Simon. It looks like gold for Vittozzi now.

 

[titan31]

Be interesting what Norway do for the single mixed now. Considering how it falls with men's individual tomorrow and the single mixed on Thursday, and then relay itself on Saturday, I feel like their chances are low due to the women's form that you might not put JTB in. Maybe put in whatever of their top 5 you don't intend to race on Saturday.

 

[BigCoward]

At least the French women aren't going to sweep the medals. Though I expect them to divide up the mass start between them. Braisaz Bouchet was fast as f'ck today.
The relay is pretty much a foregone conclusion unless they get at least 2 penalty loops.

 

[BigCoward]

Be interesting what Norway do for the single mixed now. Considering how it falls with men's individual tomorrow and the single mixed on Thursday, and then relay itself on Saturday, I feel like their chances are low due to the women's form that you might not put JTB in. Maybe put in whatever of their top 5 you don't intend to race on Saturday.

Dale deserves a ride if he's getting left out of the men's relay team.
I still think Tandrevold will do better where there is less pressure due to spare rounds.