Also hypothetical to not criticise Bolshunov when you criticised Maki for it.
Also hypothetical to not criticise Bolshunov when you criticised Maki for it.
What Mäki did and Bolshunov did today is within the rules while Klæbo deserves the DQ. But you can't do what MäkiBolshunov did and not expect a collision.
- Feb 21, 2019
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I think that Russians will regret this, the Norwegians will make Bolshunov's life a hell everytime that he races and this kind of decisions only contribute to make cross-country skiing more unpopular. Anyway Iversen is more a worthy winner than Bolshunov as he worked more and finished on front of him.
As for the biathlon, the fight continues, Johannes Boe recovered today finishing only behind his brother Tarjei while Laegreid was fifth, the outcome of the World Cup overall will really depend on JTB's shooting in the remaining races
As for the biathlon, the fight continues, Johannes Boe recovered today finishing only behind his brother Tarjei while Laegreid was fifth, the outcome of the World Cup overall will really depend on JTB's shooting in the remaining races
- May 5, 2009
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- Apr 7, 2011
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It will be really interesting to see what will happen nex year. Anyone with the slightest common sense will follow the Norwegian example next year and skip a good junk of the WC, including the TDS. The long term effect of these championchips could be massive.
There is really no point in hating Bolshunov for this, I'm almost sure that any athlete/team in that position would have protested. They have to, you need to have these situations officially clarified in an important race like this.
They really should get on with life, decision has been made, nothing's gonna change it now.
Olympics are earlier than the world's too so no chance anyone going to TDS will be in good shape. I reckon most will skip it and probably do the races up to it and maybe one after the TDS.
- Apr 10, 2019
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I wasn't a fan of Mäki's move and after rewatching it Bolshunov's move was pretty similar. That said, Klaebo tried to force his way on that side.
The funny thing right now is that Ustiugov is probably running around with a big smile and sending his buddy Iversen memes.
The funny thing right now is that Ustiugov is probably running around with a big smile and sending his buddy Iversen memes.
- May 5, 2009
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Bolshunov:
“Today either Johannes or I should have been the winner, but definitely not Iversen. He is a good athlete.
The disqualification of Klebo did not satisfy me at all, because it makes no sense to me, ”
“Today either Johannes or I should have been the winner, but definitely not Iversen. He is a good athlete.
The disqualification of Klebo did not satisfy me at all, because it makes no sense to me, ”
- Feb 20, 2010
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FIS have been accused many a time of kowtowing to the Norwegians and allowing all kinds of technique violations, obstructions etc. go unimpeded and the feeling of one team dominating the sport more thoroughly than Dutch speed-skaters has been seen as one of the greatest impediments to increased popularity of the sport and helping lead to the drain of talents to other sports like biathlon, so it's actually weird both from a regulation and a business standpoint to see a decision like this, but then the jury have been making some very strange decisions this season overall (the Lampič DQ in the Tour de Ski is the standout headscratcher there).
Hard to say whether Iversen is a more worthy winner for "finishing in front of (Bolshunov)", because obviously Bolshunov was sprinting with one pole so it wasn't a fair fight in the finishing straight. I agree that Iversen did more work to earn the right to contest the sprint though.
- May 5, 2009
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Such an obvious obstruction.
Sounds like he sees the similarity with the Mäki situation, and find it difficult to be too upset at Klaebo for this.
Feel bad for Bolshunov for ending up in another incident. Understandably he ends quite bitter. That being said, if he even just went straight into the outer lane this would probably ended better.
I dont blame Bolshunov for his maneuvering, nor do I blame the Russians for protesting, but the jury decision just seems wrong. No one should be disqualified. This should be considered a race incident and Klæbo could even get a warning, even though I don't think he does anything wrong.
- Apr 7, 2011
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A bit of a different topic. But why are these kind of skating steps that You can se from both Klaebo and Bolshunov actually allowed. These are obvious skating motions and should be sanctioned in the First place.
- May 29, 2011
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On reflection and review of the rules, the decision was the right one. But I still think the rule is not very good.
- Jun 7, 2010
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Bolshunov "did a Mäki". I don't understand, why Kläbo was disqualified. He had nowhere to go, just like Bolshunov in Lahti.
Anyway, in my eyes the winner is Kläbo. I didn't expect him to have such impressive endurance over 50km race. Well done.
Anyway, in my eyes the winner is Kläbo. I didn't expect him to have such impressive endurance over 50km race. Well done.
These days "turning techniques " seems to mean "skate as much as possible wherever there are no tracks, and if there are tracks make sure you switch from one to another as often as possible so you can skate then too". It's diluting the classic style.
- Jun 7, 2010
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I think there is a rule against changing tracks in the classic too often.
310.2.2.4 Where there are one or more set tracks, repeatedly changing or stepping in and out of tracks is not allowed.
But yeah, it's not really well written too nor do I think it is very much enforced.
310.2.2.4 Where there are one or more set tracks, repeatedly changing or stepping in and out of tracks is not allowed.
But yeah, it's not really well written too nor do I think it is very much enforced.
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Anyway, leaving aside all the drama in the end, I thought the second half of the race was quite entertaining. It was interesting to see a guy like Iversen, who usually avoids doing work and relies on sprinting, trying to pull away from others for a while. And then Krüger caught back a 40-second deficit on the final lap. One could even half-wonder whether his team-mates were waiting for him to then attack together in the end?
And poor old Niskanen, who does a lot of work on uphill sections, but seemingly didn't have good enough skis downhill to compete with the best in the end. Burman had a good race. And also with the emergence of 20-y-o Poromaa I'd say it's been a few years since Swedish men skiing shows at least some positive signs after having been in doldrums for years.
Oh, and other Russians apart from Bolshunov were nowhere. Even Semikov, who was targetting this race.
And poor old Niskanen, who does a lot of work on uphill sections, but seemingly didn't have good enough skis downhill to compete with the best in the end. Burman had a good race. And also with the emergence of 20-y-o Poromaa I'd say it's been a few years since Swedish men skiing shows at least some positive signs after having been in doldrums for years.
Oh, and other Russians apart from Bolshunov were nowhere. Even Semikov, who was targetting this race.
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At least Bolshunov is now a confirmed dirty competitor. He did exactly the same thing he hated that was done against himself (by Mäki). He knows he doesn't have a chance against a skier, who would beat him in every sprint (Kläbo), so playing dirty is his only option.
- Apr 10, 2019
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I think he's the one guy on the Russian team who could get green lights to do that after having won the overall WC and the Tour de Ski 2 years in a row.
I guess some training groups like Kramer's will probably want to skip the Tour, but will the Russian Skiing federation allow that or demand results so that they can get a spot on the team? They
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