Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[Libertine Seguros]

Depends how motivated he is. He seems a pretty laid-back guy not fussed by records. Neuner could easily have obliterated Forsberg's records if she'd decided to stick around until she was 33-34 too. I'm really getting bored of him now though. Don't get me wrong, it's incredible what he's achieving, but it's really not good for the spectacle.

They talked about how rare it is to see somebody do the Grand Slam of the small globes as well as the large crystal globe, but this year we've got both sexes, the same person will win every globe, they won the first race and never lost the yellow bib at any point, the titles were all sewn up long before Khanty, and both of them only ever lost the leadership of ANY category for one day (Birnbacher won the first Mass Start, then Fourcade took the bib on the second, while after her wins in Oberhof and Ruhpolding Gössner took the red bib for the sprint, then Tora podiumed in Antholz while Gössner finished outside the top 60 to take it back). So the battle for the overall has been chronically poor this year and a real disappointment for the neutral. And while we've had some really good races this year, this was none of them.

 

[jsem94]

LOL, another second place for Simon. I really didn't expect Martin to fail today like he did though. Sumann and Bergman also surprisingly good.

 

[Peccio89]

Insane by Fourcade. This kind of a performance is what makes me think he will match Ole Einar's achievements.

the fact is that i doubt he will have the motivation to stay at a top level for as long as Ole did, so in my opinion he will fall at least 30 races short of Ole record.

 

[jsem94]

That was a great mass start 50KM to be honest. Mostly because Northug was struggling. Legkov deserved a win, but Clara should have gotten a podium - he was really strong.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Decent race for a mass start today.
Will be an interesting fight for the overall world cup now.
Seems like Northug is in the driver seat now. The sprint in Stockholm could become the big problem for Legkov

 

[python]

the 50 k was very interesting. i don't understand what is going on with cologna he missed some wc races to recuperate but clearly was still out of steam. northug was fighting on but could not match his own 2 compatriots and the russians. chernousov was constantly dropped in the last kilometers but still found an impressive finish for the bronze. legkov ? i do not recall him finishing so strong on a relatively non-vertical finish, all after being in the top 3-5 literally all day. he's bull.

 

[zapata]

Seems 50 km mass starts are going to be actual races now, finally. Intriguing action today. But I still think holmenkollen should be interval start.

 

[maltiv]

the 50 k was very interesting. i don't understand what is going on with cologna he missed some wc races to recuperate but clearly was still out of steam. northug was fighting on but could not match his own 2 compatriots and the russians. chernousov was constantly dropped in the last kilometers but still found an impressive finish for the bronze. legkov ? i do not recall him finishing so strong on a relatively non-vertical finish, all after being in the top 3-5 literally all day. he's bull.

Cologna has been sick for a while.

Great to see another 50km filled with action. Seems like the time of 30 man group sprints in 50 kms is finally over.

 

[jsem94]

the 50 k was very interesting. i don't understand what is going on with cologna he missed some wc races to recuperate but clearly was still out of steam. northug was fighting on but could not match his own 2 compatriots and the russians. chernousov was constantly dropped in the last kilometers but still found an impressive finish for the bronze. legkov ? i do not recall him finishing so strong on a relatively non-vertical finish, all after being in the top 3-5 literally all day. he's bull.

Cologna has been battling an illness, that's why he DNS'ed in Lahti.

Legkov was kind of lucky too, because the skiers behind him were messing up each other in the pursuit of Legkov after the last little hill. It's too tight when several skiers are maxing and trying to hit top speed.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Seems 50 km mass starts are going to be actual races now, finally. Intriguing action today. But I still think holmenkollen should be interval start.

Indeed and on the original 16km loop!

 

[Bavarianrider]

Cologna has been battling an illness, that's why he DNS'ed in Lahti.

Legkov was kind of lucky too, because the skiers behind him were messing up each other in the pursuit of Legkov after the last little hill. It's too tight when several skiers are maxing and trying to hit top speed.

Ineed.
Altough Legkov won, i thin his tactics weren't all that good.
DOn't understand why he didn't try to set his final attack a little earlier. After all, Legkov must know that he is not the ebst sprinter.

 

[zapata]

Indeed and on the original 16km loop!

the original loop was in fact 25 kms. Rumor has it it was actually closer to 28..

 

[Bavarianrider]

the original loop was in fact 25 kms. Rumor has it it was actually closer to 28..

Ohh my fault

 

[zapata]

They changed it from 2x25 to 3x16 a long time ago, though, in the nineties i think.

 

[python]

they say the total elevation gain in the 6-loop holmenkollen yesterday was 2000 m (btw, what was the total el. gain when the loom was 25k ?)

that's a lot for a 50k race. i also understand the snow conditions were on the soft side yesterday - another huge tax to their energy reserves.

so it was a real contest in stamina and pacing. this allows me to speculate that had it been an individual start both northug and cologna would likely not poidium yesterday anyway. in fact, the podium would likely be the same except imo sundby would beat legkov b/c he prefers and excels at a more sustained pace.

bavarianrider, the race tactic yesterday of the 'bear-crossed-with-bull', was probably one of smartest he had in his recent racing history. he usually is unimaginative and linear dragging the entire field along. but yesterday he was more patient and benefited immensely from the strong pulls by others including the 2 norges and finally clara. his last jump was also calculated well.

 

[Bavarianrider]

So today should be the Therese Johaug show.
Would be cool if she goes all out like in 2011

 

[Bavarianrider]

Ohhhhhhh my godness, that is simply crazy. Lol, Johaug, what the ****

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, you got your wish! She's going all-out blitz mode.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Fourcade is so boring. Wins easily, never looks even remotely tired, athletes dropping like flies behind him. If he could shoot more like he did in the pursuit more often, this season might have been more interesting. But really, the fights for the crystal globes this season have been mighty depressing for the neutral. I hope Svendsen or Bø can stay healthy next season so that there's actually a race. The women's races Berger has dominated, but she's only been about 4th or 5th fastest all season long; there are plenty of athletes who could beat her if they could just be more consistent. I just don't see a way that Fourcade doesn't dominate.

 

[jsem94]

That's the fruit of being one of the best shooters and the best skier. Really. It is quite boring though, but the races in the World Championships were great - but the good races are far and few between.

Johaug - epic as usual. But it's boring the way that women's races develop with only a few dominants.

 

[TomasC]

http://www4.biathlonworld.com/en/press_releases.html/do/detail?presse=1922

Not very good acting but quite funny. I loved Ferry & Fak.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Did Krystyna Pałka seriously just choke Simon out with glucose?

 

[python]

the last 4 races of the season will start in about 30 minutes with the stockholm sprint qualifiers...the start list was just published. the 3 world cup contenders are among the starters as well as the season's best sprinters. i anticipate surprises with 1-2 big names not making the top 30.

good luck to emil on his home snow !

 

[Bavarianrider]

Damn what a bunch of pussies today cross country skiers are
For god sake, if they can't handle their skies they should just stay at home.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Ok apparently this was lead by the Norwegians, Russians opposed it.
What a bunch of cheaters. They only want to hurt Legkovs chhances.
Norwegian mafia, always the same