Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[BullsFan22]

The course in Lahti was the biggest problem there. That final corner is too close to the finish on that side of the stadium, it meant that coming out of that corner you have a very short amount of time to get into the sprinting lanes. Mäki gave himself the best chance by leading into the right hand hairpin at the top of the hill, meaning he was in front and could choose the inside line for the hairpin. Bolshunov had to come round the outside, so Mäki decided to cover that by picking up the right hand lane. With the start of the sprinting lanes so soon after the corner, in order to pick up the right hand lane before the start of the sprinting lane he veered right across Bolshunov and cut him off. Ironically if he'd done a safer move to pick up that line he would probably have got demoted because he wouldn't have got into his chosen lane quickly enough. Should have been a verbal warning but no more imo. I mean, even a relegation wouldn't have mattered once Bolshunov reacted because Russia I being DQed meant Finland would have reacquired that 2nd place they were relegated from anyway.

Nepryaeva is Russia's best female skier, sure, but she's clearly in no state to do this many races back to back. Give her a break, for crying out loud.

I think the DQ for Bolshunov for the relay is perfectly fine. What I don’t understand is the extra curricular activity by FIS, especially a month after the fact. I think they were pressured by certain teams and they felt they needed to say that ‘here, we took action...’. As for Mäki, I think not giving him any sort of warning, even with Bolshunov’s actions was wrong. Even if Bolshunov didn’t do anything, the Russians wouldn’t have won an appeal, they rarely do. FIS especially won’t punish a home team.

Oh I agree that she’s the most universal skier and has been since the start of a the 2017/2018 season, and without the injury, it’s almost a no brainer that she should be put on the team sprint, but she’s injured and not in form. She only started using both poles just days before Oberstdorf. I am not criticizing her efforts in any of the races, especially today’s, what I criticize is the coaches. Honestly the best thing they could have done is to not rush things and let the injury heal. The next best thing was to rest her and give her more time buy not racing any of the races before the relay, keep her fresh and ski the 5km to the best of her current abilities. Then the next best would have been to not do the first two races, especially not the skiathlon. You need to keep at least one athlete completely fresh. She could have easily re-injured that hand and then have future problems. Now they don’t even get a medal out of that event and do not only is she physically down she’s mentally down as well. Poor decision making by the coaches. Maybe if they get a medal in the relay it’ll rejuvenate her but I can imagine the disappointment. They looked very distraught at the finish. Stupak deserved a medal after the effort she put in. I hope she gets something out of these championships.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think the DQ for Bolshunov for the relay is perfectly fine. What I don’t understand is the extra curricular activity by FIS, especially a month after the fact. I think they were pressured by certain teams and they felt they needed to say that ‘here, we took action...’. As for Mäki, I think not giving him any sort of warning, even with Bolshunov’s actions was wrong. Even if Bolshunov didn’t do anything, the Russians wouldn’t have won an appeal, they rarely do. FIS especially won’t punish a home team.

Oh I agree that she’s the most universal skier and has been since the start of a the 2017/2018 season, and without the injury, it’s almost a no brainer that she should be put on the team sprint, but she’s injured and not in form. She only started using both poles just days before Oberstdorf. I am not criticizing her efforts in any of the races, especially today’s, what I criticize is the coaches. Honestly the best thing they could have done is to not rush things and let the injury heal. The next best thing was to rest her and give her more time buy not racing any of the races before the relay, keep her fresh and ski the 5km to the best of her current abilities. Then the next best would have been to not do the first two races, especially not the skiathlon. You need to keep at least one athlete completely fresh. She could have easily re-injured that hand and then have future problems. Now they don’t even get a medal out of that event and do not only is she physically down she’s mentally down as well. Poor decision making by the coaches. Maybe if they get a medal in the relay it’ll rejuvenate her but I can imagine the disappointment. They looked very distraught at the finish. Stupak deserved a medal after the effort she put in. I hope she gets something out of these championships.

The bit about Nepryaeva with the "give her a break, for crying out loud" bit was directed at Välbe and the coaching committee, not intended at you. I didn't think your comments on the selection was intended as anything personal against Natasha or a criticism of her performance as in the circumstances her being at less than 100% is hardly surprising.

 

[zarnack]

Maybe if they get a medal in the relay it’ll rejuvenate her but I can imagine the disappointment.

Going by the form book, Russia will probably get third place in 4x5 relay. They had all 4 women inside top 16 in skiathlon. However, USA or Finland could threaten them for podium on their day.

 

[BullsFan22]

The bit about Nepryaeva with the "give her a break, for crying out loud" bit was directed at Välbe and the coaching committee, not intended at you. I didn't think your comments on the selection was intended as anything personal against Natasha or a criticism of her performance as in the circumstances her being at less than 100% is hardly surprising.

And I was agreeing with you. Välbe does need to give Natasha a break, both in terms of not racing the 10km and for criticizing her first for not training well enough during summer and fall and for her results this season, especially in Germany. She’s way too talented and tough to be getting these sort of results.

 

[BullsFan22]

Going by the form book, Russia will probably get third place in 4x5 relay. They had all 4 women inside top 16 in skiathlon. However, USA or Finland could threaten them for podium on their day.

It really depends who they put on the second leg. Kirpichenko likely the first leg. Sorina 3rd and Stupak 4. Zhambalova or Nepryaeva?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Well the German team was dog *** yet again. Bute surely, it was on all the skies, again.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Well the German team was dog *** yet again. Bute surely, it was on all the skies, again.

Yeah, the German team kinda looks like a mess.

 

[DenisMenchov]

And today Spitsov fractured his left hand on the training as well. What a horrible series of events in the Russian camp.

I wonder if Diggins can medal tomorrow. She performed the worse all year in skiathlon. But this has to be her biggest chance at this WC.

 

[Mayomaniac]

And today Spitsov fractured his left hand on the training as well. What a horrible series of events in the Russian camp.

I wonder if Diggins can medal tomorrow. She performed the worse all year in skiathlon. But this has to be her biggest chance at this WC.

Nooo, not Denis!
I hope that it's not as bad as the injury that Bing had after crashing in Toblach while training for the 2019 WC. He had multiple open fractures, the fact that he's able to compete again is a big success, from what I've heard the local surgeons (who have lots of experience with alpine skiing related leg injuries) dismissed his chances of making a comeback.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Nooo, not Denis!
I hope that it's not as bad as the injury that Bing had after crashing in Toblach while training for the 2019 WC. He had multiple open fractures, the fact that he's able to compete again is a big success, from what I've heard the local surgeons (who have lots of experience with alpine skiing related leg injuries) dismissed his chances of making a comeback.

It's one of the small bones in his hand, at first they thought it was just a bruise, but X ray showed there's a fracture. I think it's not too serious, but surely his season is over.

 

[BullsFan22]

It was going to be tough to beat the Norwegians in the relay anyway, now with two top candidates for the relay out it’s even tougher.

 

[zarnack]

It was going to be tough to beat the Norwegians in the relay anyway, now with two top candidates for the relay out it’s even tougher.

Norway would lose the 4x10 relay only if they have terrible skis. They can even afford a bad leg (unless it's Kläbo) and the other three would still pull them back into contention. In Pyeongchang '18 Norway had two subpar classic legs, but Krüger's effort was enough to put them back to top and still win.

The only question is who will get bronze in the relay.

 

[Mayomaniac]

So apparently they only decided to use Salt on certain parts of the lap really late. With the conditions that we have today starting earlier could be an advantage.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Diggins is rocking the shorts again. As if we needed any more reasons to root against her.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Funny, nordic world championchips in Germany and todays race isnt even shown on german TV. I guess the FIS dogma to change the sport in order to please German TV audience did not turn out all that well.

 

[zarnack]

Johaug won by almost a minute, oh well. Top3 the same as in skiathlon, which I guess isn't a surprise.

Diggins far better than in skiathlon, but agonizingly 4th just like in Seefeld 30 km. So the only US medal chance left is 4x5 relay. In Seefeld they left without a medal too...

42-y-o Roponen in top10 and the best Finn... Well, you couldn't make it up.

Claudel couldn't repeat her skiathlon surprise.

 

[roundabout]

So apparently they only decided to use Salt on certain parts of the lap really late. With the conditions that we have today starting earlier could be an advantage.

Looked pretty compact today again, so the conditions were fine all things considered

 

[zarnack]

So basically the next intrigue is the potential Norway v Sweden showdown in 4x5 relay and whether it would be decided at finish again just like their previous relay battles in 2018 and 2019.

Norway will have to weigh whether to add Haga to freestyle leg or keep TU Weng in the opening classic.

Sweden will have to ponder whether they trust Sundling's stamina to put her to 4th leg or they try to "hide" her on the first leg, where the time loss should be smaller, but without the benefit of having an advantage over the last 200 meters if necessary.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Looked pretty compact today again, so the conditions were fine all things considered

Yes, it looked better than expected. They probably should start earlier tomorrow (but they won't). I understand that you can do that on the weekend when you have lots of other sports on TV, but on a normal week day you could start earlier.
The should be a bit of snowfall on Friday and decent weather, but lower temperatures on the WE.

 

[kingjr]

Diggins is rocking the shorts again. As if we needed any more reasons to root against her.

I'm not a fan either, but who are you speaking for exactly?

 

[Bubba]

I'm not a fan either, but who are you speaking for exactly?

Not for all of us atleast.

I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I actually some what like Diggins. I also think it's cool that the US have some success in XC skiing as the sport desperately need more nations to be competitive.
.
As to skiers using shorts if they prefer, I honestly can't see what the problem is.

 

[roundabout]

+14 today. Seemed like a completely reasonable decision to use shorts.

 

[BullsFan22]

I am not a fan of FIS having the races at 1:15 in the afternoon, especially when it’s been above 10 degrees almost every day for the last 15 days. Where’s common sense and respect for the athletes??

 

[Bubba]

I am not a fan of FIS having the races at 1:15 in the afternoon, especially when it’s been above 10 degrees almost every day for the last 15 days. Where’s common sense and respect for the athletes??

The course looked fine, so what's disrespectful?
Saying XC skiers shouldn't compete when in's 10+ degrees as they might overheat or something?
Another problem I don't understand I guess.

 

[BullsFan22]

The course looked fine, so what's disrespectful?
Saying XC skiers shouldn't compete when in's 10+ degrees as they might overheat or something?
Another problem I don't understand I guess.

It looked ok considering the warm temperatures, but why not move it down to say 11:15 and have be in even better shape?