- May 29, 2011
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- Feb 20, 2010
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A lot depends on how much energy Chervotkin has left to stretch people out. Not many dropping now.
- Apr 17, 2013
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Surely Sundby will do one full-out attack on the last lap now. I think Harvey can go with him, but I'm not sure about Ustiugov
- Apr 17, 2013
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Harvey takes it! That was super deserved 
In the end the conditions proved too easy for Sundby and it also looked like Harvey had super skis on the last stretch.
In the end the conditions proved too easy for Sundby and it also looked like Harvey had super skis on the last stretch.- Jun 16, 2015
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Well, Sundby couldn't drop Ustiugov, but he did open the door to Harvey and the Canadian was on some stunning form, and I don't think Ustiugov had it to beat him in the final sprint anyway. Great finish from Heikkinen, composed through the descent down on the terrace and through the right hander into the stadium to take the bronze while Sundby was fading. I know he then eased up which allowed Musgrave to pip him for fourth (how about that?) but amazed to see him without even a medal after they broke it down to just him, Harvey and Ustiugov, I thought that trio would mean he'd get the bronze if he couldn't drop them, but nevertheless...
- Jun 22, 2010
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Not a fan of Alex Harvey. Never was. The guy is super arrogant and is a hypocrite. "Strongly" anti-doping, yet was in Norway to train with Sundby and take selfies with him. The only thing I am surprised about is that he took a few turns at the front today.
Ustiugov-super strong. I don't know if he was the strongest guy today, but he was at the front, he was in the middle and he was at the back of the leading group in the latter stages of the race. I thought the work he and Chervotkin did to close in and eventually catch Gloersen would take it out of him and he would fade later, but that wasn't the case. The conditions were fast and the course skied really well. Such a far cry from the relay two days ago. This enabled guys like Northug to hang on the entire race. Surprised no further attacks came after Gloersen was caught. Sundby waited far too long to attack, maybe he was afraid to attack early, maybe he wasn't as strong today. Excellent race for Chervotkin, not a lot of experience at this level and he led way too much in the first portion(s) of the race and was fortunate when the pace slowed down, otherwise I think he would have been at the back of that lead group at the finish. Let's see how much he learns from this going forward. Shame for Sedov. To fall, get up quickly, and then get taken out again (thankfully no injuries!) looked depressing and must have been mentally draining. Hats off to him for continuing and actually picking off more than half the field after being well back. Another disappointing outing for the Swedes. Hellner was solid, but not good enough. I thought he may have been one of the guys to attack early, but no hint of it. Olsson was never in the races, and he changed skis but he was too far back at that point to make a comeback. Will he retire after this season? Excellent conclusion for the Finns with Heikkinen getting bronze. He deserved that after falling in the last meters of the relay. He may not have beaten Halfvarsson in the sprint, but still so tough to fall when you have a chance at a medal at home. This should ease that pain. No sympathy for Norwegians. After Bjoergen and the women dominated all championship and especially yesterday, it's good that the men were left off the podium.
Ustiugov-super strong. I don't know if he was the strongest guy today, but he was at the front, he was in the middle and he was at the back of the leading group in the latter stages of the race. I thought the work he and Chervotkin did to close in and eventually catch Gloersen would take it out of him and he would fade later, but that wasn't the case. The conditions were fast and the course skied really well. Such a far cry from the relay two days ago. This enabled guys like Northug to hang on the entire race. Surprised no further attacks came after Gloersen was caught. Sundby waited far too long to attack, maybe he was afraid to attack early, maybe he wasn't as strong today. Excellent race for Chervotkin, not a lot of experience at this level and he led way too much in the first portion(s) of the race and was fortunate when the pace slowed down, otherwise I think he would have been at the back of that lead group at the finish. Let's see how much he learns from this going forward. Shame for Sedov. To fall, get up quickly, and then get taken out again (thankfully no injuries!) looked depressing and must have been mentally draining. Hats off to him for continuing and actually picking off more than half the field after being well back. Another disappointing outing for the Swedes. Hellner was solid, but not good enough. I thought he may have been one of the guys to attack early, but no hint of it. Olsson was never in the races, and he changed skis but he was too far back at that point to make a comeback. Will he retire after this season? Excellent conclusion for the Finns with Heikkinen getting bronze. He deserved that after falling in the last meters of the relay. He may not have beaten Halfvarsson in the sprint, but still so tough to fall when you have a chance at a medal at home. This should ease that pain. No sympathy for Norwegians. After Bjoergen and the women dominated all championship and especially yesterday, it's good that the men were left off the podium.
- Sep 25, 2009
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bullsfan:
i hear a whisper they want to offer ustiougov a citizenship, like the kazakkhs once unsuccessfully tried (just kidding, except the kazakhs).
what the swedes should really do is - in stead of wasting energy on 'the independent norge commissions' is to invite serhey and markus for a seminar with all expenses paid as to how a SINGLE, 24 yo non asthmatic gets more and better world medals than the entire norge men's team full of the very sick astma dudes. :lol:
not to worry
i hear a whisper they want to offer ustiougov a citizenship, like the kazakkhs once unsuccessfully tried (just kidding, except the kazakhs).what the swedes should really do is - in stead of wasting energy on 'the independent norge commissions' is to invite serhey and markus for a seminar with all expenses paid as to how a SINGLE, 24 yo non asthmatic gets more and better world medals than the entire norge men's team full of the very sick astma dudes. :lol:
- Apr 3, 2016
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Really disappointed by the swedes, was looking forward to Olsson and Hellener. Norwegians were strong, Northug lacking only about 5% shape and he would have taken this! Northug will collect a gold this season yet though, he's looking hungry and good now.
The Russians are back on top Sochi form, really good team effort and Sergey best overall skier this wc .
I was really happy with Harvey, heikkinen and musgrave, talented skiers and cool dudes. Canada and GB ftw!
The Russians are back on top Sochi form, really good team effort and Sergey best overall skier this wc .
I was really happy with Harvey, heikkinen and musgrave, talented skiers and cool dudes. Canada and GB ftw!
- Sep 25, 2009
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Re: Re:
the reasons for my position, besides the traditional proclivity, is that the proper and efficient classic style while quite dependent on on power and strength, requires more skill to master and at the end requires (and develops) higher VO2. that's everything an endurance sport is and should be about.
not only the classic style should thrive, they should also re-introduce it into the biathlon by creating an alternative competition discipline. Just as it was in the original format. though, I am not against the double-poling as a variation of a classic style, I would limit the use of skating gear...Discgear said:I'm conservative and a fan of classical style. I think if dropped, they could also carry a rifle and go into biathlon.MrRoboto said:
the reasons for my position, besides the traditional proclivity, is that the proper and efficient classic style while quite dependent on on power and strength, requires more skill to master and at the end requires (and develops) higher VO2. that's everything an endurance sport is and should be about.
- Feb 20, 2010
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Re:
They have done biathlon in classic a couple of times on the Russian national calendar, but it's long since extinct in the pro world. It might also be a way to shake up the Nordic Combined, which has become a very repetitive sport since pretty much every race follows the same format over varying distances. Doing some races in Classic also might break up a bit of the German dominance, since classic has more traction in Scandinavia. An old interval-start ski race followed by the jump to break up the endless list of Gundersens would do wonders as well, given that the penalty race didn't really work, the relays have too few teams to make them worthwhile competitions and the team sprints are execrable.
Even 90k won't necessarily automatically make it selective. Look at the finish of the Vasaloppet yesterday. The 50k is the marquee event, but it is becoming, like the Worldloppet calendar, more a race of attrition in many circumstances. At least it was a lot better than Falun, where pretty much everybody who entered should hang their head in shame except Södergren and maybe Bauer. A bunch sprint on a race that goes over Mördarbacken five times, I ask you.sworks said:
Absolutely keep classic. It adds variety to the calendar as well as adding a bit more depth to the field because you have people who can be more competitive in classic than skate and vice versa.MrRoboto said:
They have done biathlon in classic a couple of times on the Russian national calendar, but it's long since extinct in the pro world. It might also be a way to shake up the Nordic Combined, which has become a very repetitive sport since pretty much every race follows the same format over varying distances. Doing some races in Classic also might break up a bit of the German dominance, since classic has more traction in Scandinavia. An old interval-start ski race followed by the jump to break up the endless list of Gundersens would do wonders as well, given that the penalty race didn't really work, the relays have too few teams to make them worthwhile competitions and the team sprints are execrable.
Re: Re:
I don't disagree, i'm just curious what all you guys think about it. It seems kind of inevitable that it will go at some point, with the direction skiing is taking. Short laps and mass starts with wide tracks.Discgear said:I'm conservative and a fan of classical style. I think if dropped, they could also carry a rifle and go into biathlon.MrRoboto said:
Re: Re:
Agree.python said:
Dunno, but more likely disagree. I'd say for some is more complicated to master skating and for others classic style.
Re: Re:
But anyway, is having the same format necessarily bad thing? I mean, almost everybody here including you liked xc skiing most when there were only interval races and Gundersen here and there (and relay) and wants interval races and Gunderesen and nothing else in xc skiing - no sprints, no team sprints, no mass starts. So it surprises me to hear such words from you.
There's individual race, team sprint and relay. As was said number of times regarding team sprint (but you don't seem to get it even when many told you) is that it's pesonal taste. No race has inherited value. You give the value. I would add that especially for nordic combined it's good format since smaller countries don't have enough athletes or decent enough athletes for relay thus team sprint is another chances for success and improves competition (that's valid for xc skiing to the lesser extent too). In Lahti there were eleven relay teams, that seems sufficient to me. You omit that what changes in Nordic combined is jump - you don't have this variable in xc skiing. I agree that interval ski race followed by jump would be nice.Libertine Seguros said:
But anyway, is having the same format necessarily bad thing? I mean, almost everybody here including you liked xc skiing most when there were only interval races and Gundersen here and there (and relay) and wants interval races and Gunderesen and nothing else in xc skiing - no sprints, no team sprints, no mass starts. So it surprises me to hear such words from you.
- Jun 7, 2010
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They should drop skiathlon in favour of far superior and more flexible two-legged pursuit format which was used before. It can be held either over two days or one, lenght and difficulty of both legs can vary depending on snow and track conditions. Also they can alternate which style is used on which leg over the season and between World Championships/Olympics. First leg individual race should be longer than the pursuit leg, to establish caps that require full on racing in second leg and minimize group rides and waiting games.Skiathlon have been the biggest failure of those new formats, it adds nothing new to the calender, just another mass start under a different name. When executed properly, a two-legged pursuit format is a much more attractive, intresting and TV-friendly than the skiathlon has been during its existance.
They should rotate 50k races in Worlds between mass and individual start and classic and skate style from championship to championship. Olympics 50k races and Holmenkollen 50k should always be individual start, with only style these are being skied in being alternated. Worlds should include one additional distance race (20k to women, 30 to men) which would be rotated between mass and individual start from championship to championship.
Nowhere has been said that an athlete must be able to participate and be competitive in every race there is. So an additional race days wouldn't make the championships drag on longer, instead it would force athletes and teams to make choices and pick their targets more carefully.
Agree with the notion that the use of skating skiiis should he prohibited in classic races.Obviously tougher courses for classic legs that make it unpractical to rely solely on double poling is another obvious solution. The latter though is dependent on weather conditions, which have been increasingly unreliable during last years.
Bringing back classic style into Nordic Combined and Biathlon would offer good variety and significantly different challenges for athletes. The downside is that it would drive up the costs of waxing, and skew the competition even more in favour of larger, richer teams (countries). It could be specially troublesome in a small and relatively poor sport like NC which is already being completely dominated by one country. Though the latter might be a good reason to try and mix it up anyway
They should rotate 50k races in Worlds between mass and individual start and classic and skate style from championship to championship. Olympics 50k races and Holmenkollen 50k should always be individual start, with only style these are being skied in being alternated. Worlds should include one additional distance race (20k to women, 30 to men) which would be rotated between mass and individual start from championship to championship.
Nowhere has been said that an athlete must be able to participate and be competitive in every race there is. So an additional race days wouldn't make the championships drag on longer, instead it would force athletes and teams to make choices and pick their targets more carefully.
Agree with the notion that the use of skating skiiis should he prohibited in classic races.Obviously tougher courses for classic legs that make it unpractical to rely solely on double poling is another obvious solution. The latter though is dependent on weather conditions, which have been increasingly unreliable during last years.
Bringing back classic style into Nordic Combined and Biathlon would offer good variety and significantly different challenges for athletes. The downside is that it would drive up the costs of waxing, and skew the competition even more in favour of larger, richer teams (countries). It could be specially troublesome in a small and relatively poor sport like NC which is already being completely dominated by one country. Though the latter might be a good reason to try and mix it up anyway
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