Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[Libertine Seguros]

Because this race is long enough to ask all sorts of silly questions.

Also, Mike somehow decided that the correct answer would be, of course, Jess Diggins, because you need somebody who is good in a Team Sprint type environment of multiple shorter efforts, but is strong in distances of around 10k freestyle.

Guys, Einar Hedegart is, like, right there...

 

[dobrien]

Wheels coming off Diggins it seems...

edit: She's got plenty of glide but her kick seems gone, and she's tired.

 

[meat puppet]

Andersson would have given Karlsson a run for her money today.

Kälin's form looks the most relaxed and efficient uphill IMHO from the chase group.

Edit: Rucka-Michalek gonna catch the group.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Wheels coming off Diggins it seems...

The skis are at least still gliding downhill well for her, but that's always been one of her biggest strengths. Every time the trails go uphill she's instantly being gapped a bit though, and really searching for grip out of the tracks.

Dalej Eliza!

 

[dobrien]

The greatest medal of the games imho would be Rucka-Michalek surprising for Bronze.

 

[dobrien]

Ebba still firing

 

[Libertine Seguros]

There are an awful lot of very tired legs there, but there's also quite a few people who cannot sprint who are likely to regret it if they don't definitively drop Diggins, because she's by a considerable margin the best sprinter of those left here.

Ebba on Chiesa.

Eliza making contact just as Diggins loses it - but how long do they keep the impetus up? Edit: not very. This is a key climb but it seems like either everybody has nothing left or they just don't dare risk it, and of course that will come back to bite all but one of them whatever happens.

 

[dobrien]

If they can't drop Diggins definitively on the last climb she is going to rocket that downhill...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

According to the Danish expert commentator Sweden has developed a new super skier called Ebba Karlsson. In one of the earlier races another guy kept talking about Frida Klarsson. I sincerely apologise to all Swedes on here.

 

[Salvarani]

According to the Danish expert commentator Sweden has developed a new super skier called Ebba Karlsson. In one of the earlier races another guy kept talking about Frida Klarsson. I sincerely apologise to all Swedes on here.

Danes gonna dane

 

[dobrien]

A little bow from Heidi to Ebba, that was nice.

 

[Salvarani]

Epic battle for this bronze coming up

 

[Mayomaniac]

Come on Nadja!

 

[dobrien]

Pure sufferfest now

 

[Salvarani]

Diggins is digging deep

 

[Salvarani]

Go Nadja!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Diggins' downhill is the big factor for her here, Kälin attacking here against some poor descenders will really help Jess as she'll be well placed before the last couple of short climbs in the stadium. Can't help but feel a bit of the vibe of Michele Scarponi talking about Ryder Hesjedal will haunt the other chasers here, they had the chance to get rid of her when their skis were pretty fresh and she was dropping like a stone on the climbs, they did not take it and lost all impetus when they settled for bronze, and now they're going to the sprint course against a better sprinter and descender after 49km.

Kerttu and Stadlober being the ones I wanted to see get a medal there and they're the ones that struggle most. Diggins out of the tracks all the way as she has learned that's what she needs on these skis.

Ouch, Diggins slips, could that be the difference that Kälin needs? It is. What a medal!!!

 

[meat puppet]

Yup, Kälin was clearly the strongest. Form seldom lies.

 

[BullsFan22]

Why is the camera on cringe? Andersson won, Weng 2nd and Kälin a fantastic 3rd, yet they’re only showing the actress. Gtfo.

 

[dobrien]

Very nice medal for Kaelin, that was a very compelling race for Bronze.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

9th place for Katharina Hennig-Dotzler having had to do 50k on one set of skis is phenomenal too, btw. I know the men did that yesterday but the conditions today clearly made that far more suboptimal.

 

[BullsFan22]

Shame on the broadcaster

 

[QueenStagiaire]

9th place for Katharina Hennig-Dotzler having had to do 50k on one set of skis is phenomenal too, btw. I know the men did that yesterday but the conditions today clearly made that far more suboptimal.

Hennig did switch skis, they just had to make the skis very hastily.

 

[search]

9th place for Katharina Hennig-Dotzler having had to do 50k on one set of skis is phenomenal too, btw

they were allowed to bring a new pair of skis. The wax technician just sent a message to German Eurosport, saying thanks for notifying them of what happened.

 

[dobrien]

9th place for Katharina Hennig-Dotzler having had to do 50k on one set of skis is phenomenal too, btw. I know the men did that yesterday but the conditions today clearly made that far more suboptimal.

Love her or hate her, Jessie did a pretty good turn on one set over 35k.