Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[nhowson]

We do still have a long Classic stage in Lago di Tesero though, right? Please?

Depends if you call 15k/10k long. I don't. 20/15 would be better.

 

[Ferminal]

Norway on target to sweep the top5.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Depends if you call 15k/10k long. I don't. 20/15 would be better.

no, I don't call 15/10 long, but there are so many sprints and short races these days that it may as well be called it. I've had many an argument on these boards because I think there are way too many sprints, and that it's absolutely to the detriment of the sport that we see so many sprints and short distance races that mean aspiring young skiers have far more reason to try to be Kikkan Randall than to try to be Kristin Størmer Steira (these are my default examples, because I see Randall as a sprint specialist with a powerhouse physique who can place decently in short-to-mid length races but is nowhere in the traditional distance events, but can still get higher World Cup overall placements than a traditional distance skier like Steira because of the proliferation of short and sprint events).

Norway on target to sweep the top5.

Not quite, top 4, but Fessel did a very good second half of the course while Østberg faded, the race was perhaps a little too tough for sprinters, what with Johaug being 4th.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Unreal domination by Björgen.
Fessel's performance is quiet interesting.
Jumped outta nowhere in Davos and keeps up the pace here.

 

[Kokoso]

Not quite, top 4, but Fessel did a very good second half of the course while Østberg faded, the race was perhaps a little too tough for sprinters, what with Johaug being 4th.

Johaug is this years sprint revelation. She upped her game in everything. This year we have new Johaug.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Johaug is this years sprint revelation. She upped her game in everything. This year we have new Johaug.

To be fair the track suited her. 2 climbs 2 downhills, hardly any glidings ection at all.

 

[Kokoso]

Not quite, top 4, but Fessel did a very good second half of the course while Østberg faded, the race was perhaps a little too tough for sprinters, what with Johaug being 4th.

Or I got you wrong and you actually mean Johaug was slow? Because either she was slow, or Marit improved.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Or I got you wrong and you actually mean Johaug was slow? Because either she was slow, or Marit improved.

I was comparing Johaug (not a sprinter)'s loss of time in the second half of the course compared to that of Østberg (a sprinter), to point out that though a short course, it was perhaps a bit too tough for the sprinters. You can also see that in that people like Falla and Herrmann had good times at the first intermediate but dropped away, whereas those that made good time on the second half of the course were athletes you would not consider to be specialized in short distance races, such as Elizabeth Stephen or Heidi Weng.

 

[RedheadDane]

Dunno if it's possible but maybe it would be an idea to, you know, update the title of this thread.

 

[Kokoso]

Roethe had to fall somewhere. Shame for him - one of the likable Norwegians (unlike theis leaders Sundby and Northug).

 

[roundabout]

Johaug is this years sprint revelation. She upped her game in everything. This year we have new Johaug.

Except freestyle

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Dunno, I agree Røthe is a likable guy, but Sundby'ss nowhere near as bad as Northug. A strong win by Cologna, considering it seemed like conditions were really deteriorating later on there; considering half the top 10 were late starters it was perhaps not as bad as initially thought, but still there was a definite effect. Baumann's top 10 time was impressive I thought, and Larkov. Hoping for Poltoranin to come through the field tomorrow, he's only 19 seconds down and in a Classic technique pursuit that could suit him.

 

[Bavarianrider]

As expected, Norwegian domination among the men has officially ended.

 

[python]

well, the prologue just ended and, as it was supposed to provide a glimpse into the shape of contenders - IT DID...i wont bother about women, it was boring as expected except i believe some falls (which stayed behind camera) did skew the results...

1. cologna, cologna, cologna !!!!
2. the nowegians, except northug, peformed slightly below expectation. i personally thought that dyrhaug will do much better...
3. the swedes were where they are expected. calle's strengths all season is impressive. marcus is FINALLLLLLY getting 'there' !!!
4. the russians.. they DID surprise me. firstly, larkov's opener 1.8 k has not been bested AND he still placed 7th. chernousov performed WAY beyond this season's norm. his early mark had stayed and stayed...belov simply is not supposed to be in top 10 skaters, yet he was 6th. Vyleg solid. Clearly, the russkies are here give battle...

other impressions...sundby - lovely skate 2, poltoranin's new garb makes him ski slower , jespersen's 27th means to me he's out of podiums this year...

 

[Kokoso]

Dunno, I agree Røthe is a likable guy, but Sundby'ss nowhere near as bad as Northug. A strong win by Cologna, considering it seemed like conditions were really deteriorating later on there; considering half the top 10 were late starters it was perhaps not as bad as initially thought, but still there was a definite effect. Baumann's top 10 time was impressive I thought, and Larkov. Hoping for Poltoranin to come through the field tomorrow, he's only 19 seconds down and in a Classic technique pursuit that could suit him.

He isn't, but Sochi skiathlon Vyleg blocking wasn't nice thing.

Jaks finally in good form? Czech XC is going down current national coach. Best results are making guys preparing on their own like Bauer or Kozisek.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Can someone give a link for live streams of the Tour de Ski please?

 

[RedheadDane]

well, the prologue just ended and, as it was supposed to provide a glimpse into the shape of contenders - IT DID...i wont bother about women, it was boring as expected except i believe some falls (which stayed behind camera) did skew the results...

1. cologna, cologna, cologna !!!!
2. the nowegians, except northug, peformed slightly below expectation. i personally thought that dyrhaug will do much better...
3. the swedes were where they are expected. calle's strengths all season is impressive. marcus is FINALLLLLLY getting 'there' !!!
4. the russians.. they DID surprise me. firstly, larkov's opener 1.8 k has not been bested AND he still placed 7th. chernousov performed WAY beyond this season's norm. his early mark had stayed and stayed...belov simply is not supposed to be in top 10 skaters, yet he was 6th. Vyleg solid. Clearly, the russkies are here give battle...

other impressions...sundby - lovely skate 2, poltoranin's new garb makes him ski slower , jespersen's 27th means to me he's out of podiums this year...

Aren't the Norwegians basically considered slightly below expectations if they don't win?

 

[python]

Aren't the Norwegians basically considered slightly below expectations if they don't win?

i suppose it would depend on the time frame under which your question shall be answered...

taking this season - and only this season - then, yes, it would. they won (we are talking about men since their domination among the ladies is a given) something around 80 to 90% podiums in the world cup 2014-15

taking a longer view back, and partucularly, their performance in all t(s)ds, then the norwegians were not as dominant. in the tours they won only last year.

anyway, i was expecting more norges in the top 10...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Can someone give a link for live streams of the Tour de Ski please?

Not sure if there is one. It's on Eurosport.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This race is so different to the women's race earlier that it's unbelievable. This is a mass start to all intents and purposes.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Oh well, a mass start/ handicap race turns out to be a borefest for the first 95% of the race, who excpected that
And of course they hand Northug the win on a silver plate.

 

[Ferminal]

Anyone but Cav

Hellner looking good again.

 

[jens_attacks]

cheered for de fabiani but he almost fell there
poltoranin slightly below my expectation but i hope for a tremendous peak
boring race overall

 

[python]

compared to the ladies pursuit, the guys delivered.

sundby reminded me again why i respect him the most of all the norges...he is a natural rather than a clown/actor like petter - either when he's in front of the nrk microphones or a raving peloton.

sundby closed the gap singlehandedly and HE lead it most of the time...a horse he is !

surprised belov lost time but glad dyrhaug made up for yesterday. poltoranin is fine. no worries. vyleg is fercking dangerous even to cologna for the overall. noeckler was a devil today raising from the 50's at the start. cherno is also a slight surprise but i think he fell some place...

to end, i still think northug will NOT win the overall...or perhaps that's my wish

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yea, Chernousov fell quite early on. Most people hope Northug doesn't win the overall. He needs quite the gap on Alpe Cermis if he is going to win though, history has shown. Only one sprint, but remains to be seen what the effect the Toblach circuits instead of the point to point pursuit will have.