Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[Norbea]

Yeah, Norway's selection has been really poor, not to mention that they also could have brought a distance skier instead of Taugboel..

It has become a complete farce. Iversen was promised a place on the 15k after Ruka. Since then his form plummeted. All he has done the past month is to prepare for this race. Now he feels he has been "stabbed in the back". And he will probably not race at all this olympics.

 

[BullsFan22]

It has become a complete farce. Iversen was promised a place on the 15k after Ruka. Since then his form plummeted. All he has done the past month is to prepare for this race. Now he feels he has been "stabbed in the back". And he will probably not race at all this olympics.

He had two good races this season, and they were the first two distance races he took part in, Beitostølen and Ruka. He was also a part of the first team that won the Lillehammer relay, but you can’t read too much into that performance, it was over two months ago now and the course was much easier and so were snow conditions. Even there though, Bolshunov and Niskanen upped that pace anc dropped him as soon as they did. A bit premature of the coaches to pick him so early. I think if only Klæbo ends up winning individual medals for them, Bjervig will be shown the door.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Klaebo is racing? Thats a rather comical decision. No way in hell he has any chance in these conditions in anything but the sprint.
Regarding the track. Why in the world are they only preparing a single classic lane. I dont get it. The tracks are as wide as a highway and they only do single lanes. Very weird.

 

[BullsFan22]

It’s a 7.5 km loop, so he won’t have the benefit of catching a ride from Bolshunov or Niskanen.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen FIS use a 7.5km loop for a 15km.

 

[meat puppet]

Classic should be advantage Niskanen, but bolshunov showed some untapped capacity in the skiathlon second leg. Could go either way, but I say Niskanen. Obviously rooting for the generalist though.

 

[BigCoward]

I really can't stand Bolshunov. And the Niskanen family could use some cheering up after yesterday.

Only -2 today, who benefits from the change in conditions?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Looks like Niskanen is in full Simo Häyhä mode, already 11sec ahead of Bolshunov after 3kms.

 

[BullsFan22]

Typical Niskanen. Starts hard, builds a decent less by the halfway mark and then tries to maintain/survive.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Pretty bad camera work, all over the place.
The Finns are looking good for the relay, could get a medal

 

[BigCoward]

30 seconds at 10.5km. This is over.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Finns flying the flag once more for interval start, for distance and for classic technique.

Praise be to Finland.

 

[Silhouette]

Klaebo is racing? Thats a rather comical decision. No way in hell he has any chance in these conditions in anything but the sprint.

Ummm...

 

[Bavarianrider]

Have to eat my words. Klaebo really strong. The loop suited him better than the 3.7km one. Plus the Norwegians aced the waxing.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Impressive by Klaebo, for all of the media overhyping him (Swiss TV now suggesting he'll be fighting for the win the the 50km skating race, just no) his classic skiing isn't overhyped.
It also looks like the warmer weather really helped him.

 

[BigCoward]

Holund and Goldberg for the classic leg now looks less scary in the relay for Norway.
If Kreuger makes it and is in form that's a strong team. Especially as Bolshunov didn't look as strong as normal.
I wish there was a mixed relay to see how much of an advantage the Niskanen's could build.
Very impressed by Klaebo.

 

[BigCoward]

Impressive by Klaebo, for all of the media overhyping him (Swiss TV now suggesting he'll be fighting for the win the the 50km skating race, just no) his classic skiing isn't overhyped.
It also looks like the warmer weather really helped him.

To be fair we'd have said that before he won/didn't win the WC 50km.

 

[Silhouette]

Klæbo has excellent recovery but I can't see him win the 50k after racing every individual competition and relay at high altitude in these conditions.

 

[titan31]

Looks a bit better for the Norwegians after that. Should be Golberg and Holund on the classic legs now and then hopefully Krueger is ok to start the relay.

In regards the 50k, only way I can see Klaebo having a chance of a medal is if Bolshunov somehow doesn't race it. Without him, there's no one else really to push the pace hard enough and long enough to burn Klaebo off. With Bolshunov though, I'd imagine between himself and Spitsov, they just ski away from the rest at some point.

 

[Mayomaniac]

To be fair we'd have said that before he won/didn't win the WC 50km.

Yes, but at a distance skier he's just way better in classic races.
Holund and Krüger will be the main Norwegians to watch in that race.

 

[Silhouette]

Using Krüger in the relay seems very risky (if it's even possible).

 

[BigCoward]

Using Krüger in the relay seems very risky (if it's even possible).

Better to risk everything for a gold? I don't see any route to victory if Kruger can't race.

 

[KZD]

Got to be happy for Niskanen especially after what happened with his sister yesterday. I wouldn't rule out Finland to get a medal especially for the relay where they seem to be favourite for bronze.

Bolshunov wasn't as good but he still did a very good race, he can't reach 5 golds anymore in these games but 5 medals seem likely (maybe 4 golds!) which should make him the athlete of the games.

Klæbo really strong this time to get his first individual distance medal ever but this is historically his best race so I can't see him getting a medal in the 50km only in the team sprint and in the relay, although Norway will have a hard time for the latter one especially if they don't have Krüger for the third leg.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Røiseland is in destroyer mode today.

 

[BigCoward]

Roiseland shooting clean will take some beating. But it's very early doors.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

This may still be as close as the women's 10 km yesterday.