Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[KZD]

Only minus 7 degrees today. And why a 3,75 Loop? I thought they would at least do a 5km loop.

I believe that will just be for the 50km race.

Niskanen attacked very early and only Bolshunov followed. Let's see hiw things will develop but now Spitsov is attacking behind as well and Klaebo seems to be suffering a bit.

 

[meat puppet]

Niskanen whistles in his head: Skulle kommit längre men räckte inte till.

 

[Bavarianrider]

What an absolute Epic Race. Niskanen totally blows ups. That is real XC skiing racing. No sissy icy flat double poling party.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I hope Niskanen can hold on.
De Fa(ll)biani is looking good.

 

[BullsFan22]

Honestly I didn’t see this coming.

 

[Vroome.exe]

One of the most boring races you could imagine. Unfortunately mens races are looking more and more like womens, with everyone fighting for 2nd place already a few kilometers after the start. Except there's no fight even for podium places.

 

[BullsFan22]

One of the most boring races you could imagine. Unfortunately mens races are looking more and more like womens, with everyone fighting for 2nd place already a few kilometers after the start. Except there's no fight even for podium places.

Men’s races are rarely like this. The brutal course, the slow snow and altitude are all factors for this development.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

It's been twenty years since we saw something like this.

 

[Bavarianrider]

One of the most boring races you could imagine. Unfortunately mens races are looking more and more like womens, with everyone fighting for 2nd place already a few kilometers after the start. Except there's no fight even for podium places.

What are You Smoking. That is an absolutely epic Race. Everyone is absolutely on the edge. Go watch 100m sprints if You can't appreciate a battle like this.

 

[meat puppet]

Men’s races are rarely like this. The brutal course, the slow snow and altitude are all factors for this development.

Yes.

All power to the medalists, but the race is fairly boring.

 

[KZD]

I think this is the last time that we are going to see a 30km skiathlon race in the Olympics. To have these kind of difference a 50km mass-start is enough. A 15/20km pursuit is probably coming to replace this.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Iivo Niskanen having about the most Iivo Niskanen race you could possibly imagine.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Cross Country Skiing at its very finest. What an insane fight. That is what the Sport is all about. The Battle against yourself. Iit is basically an individual race. Hats off to anyone who finishes today.
Performance for the ages by Bolshounov.
Hats off to the mad man that designed these tracks.
Norwegians Not medaling is the icing on the cake.

 

[BullsFan22]

I kind of miss the sprint finish to the line in these mass starts. Hard to believe, I know.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

2022: 1:16:09
2018: 1:16:20
2014: 1:08:15
2010: 1:15:11
2006: 1:17:00

 

[Libertine Seguros]

2022: 1:16:09
2018: 1:16:20
2014: 1:08:15
2010: 1:15:11
2006: 1:17:00

Lol at the Sochi time as an outlier!

This is basically the same kind of situation we see people discussing on women's cycling when the field is shredded by a massive solo by van der Breggen or van Vleuten. Some use it as a stick to beat the sport with, showing lack of depth or development, others praise the epic nature of the race being one man (or woman) against the elements, how the sport used to be.

The problem is, those epic races that we praise from yesteryear often wouldn't exactly have been riveting televisual spectacles (thinking Coppi to Pinerolo, Merckx taking eight minutes when already in yellow and the likes) but the performances are heroic and next level.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Also... after Krueger in Pyeongchang and Bolshunov today, keep your eyes on whoever falls over early in the race in four years' time...

 

[meat puppet]

Well put, LS.

Guess it is a matter of taste to a large degree. I dislike races being decided 1/3 into the duration and/or endurance specialists just grinding everyone into dust. Rvv won by Gilbert was boredom to the max; but nuyens winning after cancellara almost soloing to victory was cool. But if this is anyone's poison, this was a perfect race. And of course the performances are heroic. Dunno how I feel about that.

A reduced group duking it out in an anaerobic standoff is what I dig the most. Gotta have the engine, gotta have the punch, gotta have the smarts.

 

[Bavarianrider]

If You want close mass start races, go watch Ski classics. But today, this is what XC skiing used to be. Mein fighting nature and themselves. Not offending anyone. But If you dont love today's race you have never loved cross country skiing.

 

[BullsFan22]

Lol at the Sochi time as an outlier!

This is basically the same kind of situation we see people discussing on women's cycling when the field is shredded by a massive solo by van der Breggen or van Vleuten. Some use it as a stick to beat the sport with, showing lack of depth or development, others praise the epic nature of the race being one man (or woman) against the elements, how the sport used to be.

The problem is, those epic races that we praise from yesteryear often wouldn't exactly have been riveting televisual spectacles (thinking Coppi to Pinerolo, Merckx taking eight minutes when already in yellow and the likes) but the performances are heroic and next level.

Conditions in Sochi were much different. No wind and fast snow for that skiathlon.

 

[Mayomaniac]

If You want close mass start races, go watch Ski classics. But today, this is what XC skiing used to be. Mein fighting nature and themselves. Not offending anyone. But If you dont love today's race you have never loved cross country skiing.

I really liked it. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing the Skiathlon replaced by a pursuit.

 

[BullsFan22]

If You want close mass start races, go watch Ski classics. But today, this is what XC skiing used to be. Mein fighting nature and themselves. Not offending anyone. But If you dont love today's race you have never loved cross country skiing.

I was being sarcastic. Much rather see some breakaways than Klæbo being dragged to the last 200 meters and then he just sprints away.

 

[BullsFan22]

Very good race from De Fabiani. Cramer’s foreigners doing well so far. Strange that his Russian pupils are struggling. Maltsev started well, and did end up 9th, but I thought he would be fighting for a top 5 the way he started the race, since classic isn’t what he prefers.

Extremely surprising results from Patterson and Vermeulen. Didn’t see those results coming, at all.

Perhaps Ustiugov deciding to skip today’s race was a smart move.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I really hope Bolshounov is smart enough to skip the Sprint.

 

[KZD]

I really hope Bolshounov is smart enough to skip the Sprint.

He should go to the sprint as well, in the shape he is in he will likely get a medal there too.