Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

Page 474 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Libertine Seguros

Libertine Seguros

Feb 20, 2010
33,063
15,252
28,180
1200px-Ice_Hockey_celebration_Helsinki_2011.jpg
 
  • Haha
Reactions: DenisMenchov
Eddy Evenepoel

Eddy Evenepoel

Aug 31, 2019
3,448
6,219
14,180
Mayomaniac said:
Honestly, if Sundling wasn't sick at the start of the season she would have been up there in the fight for the overall world cup.
Click to expand...
I think there is no way she will ever be racing every weekend through a season. Shes always having periods of sickness and bigger sways in form than other overall contenders.

And I think this says a lot about the level of the performances of Diggins and Svahn this season: Sundling missed 6 races in Gallivare, Östersund and Trondheim. Even with 600 more points (equals 6 wins in these 6 races) Sundling would still be behind Svahn in the overall.
 
D

dobrien

Jul 10, 2009
1,065
2,034
13,680
Eddy Evenepoel said:
I think there is no way she will ever be racing every weekend through a season. Shes always having periods of sickness and bigger sways in form than other overall contenders.

And I think this says a lot about the level of the performances of Diggins and Svahn this season: Sundling missed 6 races in Gallivare, Östersund and Trondheim. Even with 600 more points (equals 6 wins in these 6 races) Sundling would still be behind Svahn in the overall.
Click to expand...
Ahh, the voice of reason. I had not really done the math on that; for me it's more just that when she's firing on all cylinders it's hard to imagine her NOT being able to be in the overall fight!
 
Mayomaniac

Mayomaniac

Apr 10, 2019
12,065
15,984
23,180
Pellegrino actually benefits from conditions that force you to diagonal stride more and is a lighter guy. Still, a top 10 result in a classic individual start is a great result for him.

Vermeulen finishing 6th, only 30 sec behind the winner and just a few seconds behind the podium also shows you how hard the race was (and that the Austrians had great skis).
 
D

dobrien

Jul 10, 2009
1,065
2,034
13,680
KZD said:
Without Bolshunov racing and without Niskanen being in top shape, Klæbo is nearly unbeatable in these 10k classic races.

Matintalo doing a very strong late part of the season.
Click to expand...
Politics aside, the Russians are sorely missed; the racing would be so much more interesting for both men and women.

Matintalo really has looked fantastic, love seeing it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KZD
Eddy Evenepoel

Eddy Evenepoel

Aug 31, 2019
3,448
6,219
14,180
kingjr said:
Is Niskanen one of those athletes who is only in top shape when he wins?
Click to expand...
Niskanen has not been that good the last two years, i dont think thats controversial. Hes far behind his 2022 level for example and now that hes 32 we might never see the best of him again.

Klæbo is amazing and I dont think it really takes anything away from him that Niskanen is a level below his old self and Bolshunov is not here. You can only beat those who are at the start line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mayomaniac and dobrien
K

kingjr

Sep 9, 2012
5,269
2,486
20,680
Eddy Evenepoel said:
Niskanen has not been that good the last two years, i dont think thats controversial. Hes far behind his 2022 level for example and now that hes 32 we might never see the best of him again.

Klæbo is amazing and I dont think it really takes anything away from him that Niskanen is a level below his old self and Bolshunov is not here. You can only beat those who are at the start line.
Click to expand...
2022 seems to have been a bit of a one-off, where everything came together. Maybe this is just normal.
 
KZD

KZD

Feb 21, 2019
4,339
6,960
16,180
kingjr said:
Is Niskanen one of those athletes who is only in top shape when he wins?
Click to expand...

No, but in a 10k race it is always difficult for him to beat Klaebo, however if he was in his 2022 shape, he would have had a decent chance even in this course.

Speaking about Klaebo, if we had the old points system in place, he would have easily won this World Cup even without going to the Tour de Ski. But credit to Amundsen, he did his best season so far and avoided to get sick which is key nowadays.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miss Violet Smith, dobrien and kingjr
Libertine Seguros

Libertine Seguros

Feb 20, 2010
33,063
15,252
28,180
kingjr said:
Is Niskanen one of those athletes who is only in top shape when he wins?
Click to expand...
Niskanen is kind of one of those low floor high ceiling type athletes. He knows what his niche is and targets those races accordingly, but it does seem like he doesn't hold form as well as many and also his popularity as a result of his role within the sport leads many to overly romanticise him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kingjr and dobrien
Mayomaniac

Mayomaniac

Apr 10, 2019
12,065
15,984
23,180
KZD said:
No, but in a 10k race it is always difficult for him to beat Klaebo, however if he was in his 2022 shape, he would have had a decent chance even in this course.

Speaking about Klaebo, if we had the old points system in place, he would have easily won this World Cup even without going to the Tour de Ski. But credit to Amundsen, he did his best season so far and avoided to get sick which is key nowadays.
Click to expand...
Yeah, not a big fan of the new points system.
 
B

BullsFan22

Jun 22, 2010
5,017
1,103
20,680
It’s just not the same without the Russians. If Scandinavian led FIS wants more intriguing races, especially for the men, then they’ll do well to get them back next season. Though when I read zombified comments like Erik Røste’s or the mayor of Trondheim, hard to see that happening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom