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Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

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I know there are no Russians, and everyone hates him blah blah blah, but Klaebe is a *** beast.
I used to think Bjoergen had a record that would last 1000 years, now I'm not sure? All time victories he is well over half way there, and just approaching his prime.
Sure, but I think the 'everyone hates him' stuff is not about denying he's a beast (it'd be foolish to, same as with Northug before him). Johannes Thingnes Bø and Jarl Magnus Riiber are both beasts too, if anything more dominant than Klæbo, but they don't seem to generate the same antipathy.
 
Sure, but I think the 'everyone hates him' stuff is not about denying he's a beast (it'd be foolish to, same as with Northug before him). Johannes Thingnes Bø and Jarl Magnus Riiber are both beasts too, if anything more dominant than Klæbo, but they don't seem to generate the same antipathy.
Is it just because he's also handsome? I don't get it, Bolshunov is objectively a much bigger asshat and everybody here loves him.
Nobody is jealous of a ginger, and Riiber is well dorky looking (I'm being facetious clearly).

Nordic combined mixed relay is ridiculous, Norway are far far too strong even without Riiber.
I'd really like to see a 6 person mixed relay NC, CC, Biathlon - Norway v rest of the world.
 
Is it just because he's also handsome? I don't get it, Bolshunov is objectively a much bigger asshat and everybody here loves him.
Nobody is jealous of a ginger, and Riiber is well dorky looking (I'm being facetious clearly).

Nordic combined mixed relay is ridiculous, Norway are far far too strong even without Riiber.
I'd really like to see a 6 person mixed relay NC, CC, Biathlon - Norway v rest of the world.

Maybe becaue he’s arrogant? You can see it in his demeanor so easily. Also the Norwegians have no shame, pushing politics to take away (by far) their main rivals and then celebrate as if nothing happened and saying how ‘concerned’ they are that the sport is losing fans. Short sprints, mass starts, lack of quality, the other Norwegians doing absolutely nothing in the 20km in Oberstdorf, the French and Germans generally pedestrian…..Only Pellegrino has been able to muster up a serious fight and that’s only in skate sprints. Without the Russians and Niskanen, it’s a predictable outcome. Glad I haven’t watched any of the mens races in their entirety.
 
Maybe becaue he’s arrogant? You can see it in his demeanor so easily. Also the Norwegians have no shame, pushing politics to take away (by far) their main rivals and then celebrate as if nothing happened and saying how ‘concerned’ they are that the sport is losing fans. Short sprints, mass starts, lack of quality, the other Norwegians doing absolutely nothing in the 20km in Oberstdorf, the French and Germans generally pedestrian…..Only Pellegrino has been able to muster up a serious fight and that’s only in skate sprints. Without the Russians and Niskanen, it’s a predictable outcome. Glad I haven’t watched any of the mens races in their entirety.
His demeanor, got it. Isn't AB about 10000x a bigger ***? So that argument doesn't really float.
I mean, their biggest rivals engage in state sponsored doping onan industrial scale, and illegal invasions of nation states, are we rally feeling sorry for them?
 
His demeanor, got it. Isn't AB about 10000x a bigger ***? So that argument doesn't really float.
I mean, their biggest rivals engage in state sponsored doping onan industrial scale, and illegal invasions of nation states, are we rally feeling sorry for them?
I don't think many people on here like Sasha for his personality or anything (he's absolutely a tool on the trails, quite apart from anything away from them), but more that it's like a Vino's return in 2010 kind of thing, he's a pantomime villain but his presence improves the spectacle of the races. Klæbo is kind of Petter Northug Jr Jr in his skillset, and he reminds one of certain personality traits from Northug that amplify the audience reaction to him, whether positive or negative, even if he isn't quite as in-your-face about it as Northug was - but I do think he's inherited a bit of residual viewer reaction carried over from Northug as a result of those similarities, as I've noticed that by and large those who liked Northug and his antics also like Klæbo, and those who dislike Klæbo seem to match up largely with those that disliked Northug too. And although it's a minor thing, just like Northug before him again, his style isn't such that you can just watch him ski for the enjoyment of that the way you could sometimes with, say, Martin Johnsrud Sundby, and say no matter how boring watching him race may be, it is a pleasure to watch him ski.

And although like Northug he has shown the capabilities to win individual starts and tougher races, the type of racing that most suits him being mass starts that are kept tight as a bunch where he can use his fast finish on the last hill or in the run to the line mean that he often succeeds in the types of races that are least popular with the fans, so he is received more negatively than other similarly successful skiers, in the same way as Simon Gerrans was perceived more negatively than other puncheurs and classics men simply because the style he used to succeed resulted in less interesting races.
 
Also gamesmanship, for example when he blatantly cut off Ustiugov, twice in the span of a few seconds, in the Seefeld sprint in 2019.

I don’t know how any of these guys are off the trails, but on the trails Klæbo is not an angel.

The Northug episodes of drunk driving, the subsequent accident, the running away from the scene and in more recent years, getting caught with drugs…There’s a lot to be desired, personality wise.
 
Also gamesmanship, for example when he blatantly cut off Ustiugov, twice in the span of a few seconds, in the Seefeld sprint in 2019.

I don’t know how any of these guys are off the trails, but on the trails Klæbo is not an angel.

The Northug episodes of drunk driving, the subsequent accident, the running away from the scene and in more recent years, getting caught with drugs…There’s a lot to be desired, personality wise.
I think projection of Northug's on-trail traits affects people's perception of Klæbo, but we should be mindful not to project any of the off-trail antics. While they may give off vibes of having some similar personality traits, Klæbo has not to the best of my knowledge pulled any of the reprehensible crap like drink-driving and abandoning an injured passenger that Gull Petter got up to, and I don't want to suggest that he would.
 
I think projection of Northug's on-trail traits affects people's perception of Klæbo, but we should be mindful not to project any of the off-trail antics. While they may give off vibes of having some similar personality traits, Klæbo has not to the best of my knowledge pulled any of the reprehensible crap like drink-driving and abandoning an injured passenger that Gull Petter got up to, and I don't want to suggest that he would.

I was specifically talking about Northug
 
So Poromaa earned himself a three minute time penalty after getting two yellow card in one heat - the first for pushing Chappaz (also got a RAL for this not that it matter) and the second for technique violation. I hope this will be a lesson for him since he has done stupid things the other stages aswell. But sadly the Swedish men lead by Calle are hard to like even if I am countrymen.

On womens side, Karlsson made a tactical mistake but she is simply not good at double pooling at high speed. I remember Carl and Hennig pointed that out when they were on training camp together.
 
I think projection of Northug's on-trail traits affects people's perception of Klæbo, but we should be mindful not to project any of the off-trail antics. While they may give off vibes of having some similar personality traits, Klæbo has not to the best of my knowledge pulled any of the reprehensible crap like drink-driving and abandoning an injured passenger that Gull Petter got up to, and I don't want to suggest that he would.
I mean, Northug has a job as a commentator after a 2nd car crash/dui and drugs being found in his car....

About Klaebo, there's no real reason to strongly dislike him, but also no reason to like him. Not to mention the fact that I usually prefer distance specialists.
 
About Klaebo, there's no real reason to strongly dislike him, but also no reason to like him. Not to mention the fact that I usually prefer distance specialists.
Distance specialists, or distance specialists who are good in individual races and can't sprint? That seems to be the badge of honour.
Anyone think rocket Boe yesterday would be easily top 10, maybe top 5 in a 10 individual start at the minute?
 
So Poromaa earned himself a three minute time penalty after getting two yellow card in one heat - the first for pushing Chappaz (also got a RAL for this not that it matter) and the second for technique violation. I hope this will be a lesson for him since he has done stupid things the other stages aswell. But sadly the Swedish men lead by Calle are hard to like even if I am countrymen.

On womens side, Karlsson made a tactical mistake but she is simply not good at double pooling at high speed. I remember Carl and Hennig pointed that out when they were on training camp together.
At least Karlsson's diagonal stride has improved over the last 2 years, way less chicken dance elbows.
Poromaa is just an ass and Calle has already said that he'll go all out right from the start of the Alpe Cermis, so I expect him to blow up badly on the 2nd part of the climb.
A shame, because he seems to be in monster shape.
 
Distance specialists, or distance specialists who are good in individual races and can't sprint? That seems to be the badge of honour.
Anyone think rocket Boe yesterday would be easily top 10, maybe top 5 in a 10 individual start at the minute?
[/QUOTE]

The only skier that I am more or less certain would beat Johannes Boe in a 10k skating individual at the moment is Krüger.

A real shame that Pärmäkoski is out. Given the profile of the last two stages Karlsson should easily win this against Tiril Weng.
 
At least Karlsson's diagonal stride has improved over the last 2 years, way less chicken dance elbows.
Poromaa is just an ass and Calle has already said that he'll go all out right from the start of the Alpe Cermis, so I expect him to blow up badly on the 2nd part of the climb.
A shame, because he seems to be in monster shape.
Yeah, I am sure Karlsson will get it right eventually. And even if she doesn’t high speed double pooling is only important in a few races each season. Of course you have the Olympics in Val di Fiemme so if she wants to target the sprint she need to improve and it may also be important if it comes down to a sprint in the classic masstart.

Swedish mens team is so sad, it feels like they start crying if they things are not going their way, They haven’t preformed as team in years and still they claim unluck and get really pissed when critizied in media. Really embarrassing when Calle was disqualified in Ruka and couldn’t understand he had done wrong.
talking about "a shame"... Pärmäkoski is out of the Tour now with whatever kind of stomach bug
Food poisoning if I got it right. Joensuu had the same problem yesterday.
 
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Distance specialists, or distance specialists who are good in individual races and can't sprint? That seems to be the badge of honour.
You forgot that they ought to be better in Classic too.

Joking aside, though, isn't that kind of to be expected? This is a cycling board, so most people who post about XC here are followers of at least one other endurance sport. And who tend to be the most popular cyclists? Typically those that don't have a sprint weapon and are good in mano a mano circumstances, because they add to the excitement of the event. Riders who sit on and wait for a sprint do not add to the excitement of the event other than as the threat of what happens if everybody else races timidly, so they are often not as popular.

In its most basic form, we watch the sport as entertainment. It's a pastime. Therefore athletes that entertain us tend to be liked, and athletes that bore us tend not to. There are a lot more factors than just that, but that will always play in to the perception of athletes. Bolshunov isn't liked for his personality (he's actually pretty unpopular even with his own teammates), but his strength allied to his often brainless racing style improves how much we are entertained by the races, so for many people the spectacle misses having him there.
 
Hennig with raw, völkisch energy on the finishing stage.
Really happy for her, that said Niskanen probably deserved to win today.
Claudel just outside the top 10 today, I expect at least a podium tomorrow.
Nice to see Steward-Jones in the top 10, she really made a step forward this season.
 
Hennig with raw, völkisch energy on the finishing stage.
Really happy for her, that said Niskanen probably deserved to win today.
Claudel just outside the top 10 today, I expect at least a podium tomorrow.
Nice to see Steward-Jones in the top 10, she really made a step forward this season.

It didn’t hurt Claudel and Stewar Jones that a number of contenders abandoned and a few others weren’t at the starting line to begin with.
 
Felt like it came down to how the skis glided on that last descent. Brennan had looked good going up the hill but as soon as she was having to double pole over the roller when everybody else was gliding through you knew that she wouldn't have it despite being the stronger sprinter of the four on paper (maybe less so in classic). Interesting to see how Niskanen and Hennig do tomorrow and how they approach the task of taking time on Tiril Udnes Weng, who looked pretty cooked toward the end today. None are particularly accomplished in terms of their history on the Alpe, Hennig at least has a couple of lower end top 10s but has the most time to gain. Last year Hennig gained 11" on TUW only, that was the first time Tiril had made it to the final stage since 2019 when she was much younger and so not really representative.

I had to do something to enliven this race, this is just painful. Ban the organisers using the Zorzi climb. Chiesa and Pojer would be a much more selective run-in and hopefully we don't end up with a bunch sprint. I expect Klæbo to win by doing his running thing on Zorzi on the last lap, but I would laugh so hard if Pellegrino wins a 15km distance classic.

Edit: this race is a perfect example of why there is that anti-Klæbo sentiment. This is precisely the type of race that is meant.
 
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Norway having 6 of the top 8 is depressing. The big catch for biathlon was the spread of potential winners from different nations compared to CC.
Yup, but in fairness men's biathlon has consistently had a smaller such spread than women's. Norway, Germany, France and Russia have contributed the vast majority of winners for quite a long time and dominated the relays for a decade now, with Sweden and Austria periodically challenging. Outliers have been few and far between, but there's always been a couple (Moravec, Hofer, Smolksii, Pidruchnyi, Fak), whereas among the women there are fewer teams with top-down strength so countries with a couple of strong athletes are capable of being major relay challengers (Czechs with Vitková and Soukalová, Slovakia with Kuzmina and Fialková, Belarus with Sola and Alimbekava and before them Skardino and Domracheva, Italy with Wierer and Vittozzi).

However, the Russians aren't able to compete due to the ban, the French men just don't seem to have got their mojo this year, Jacquelin didn't even qualify for today and QFM has been nothing on the man he has been the last couple of years, and the German men have been relying on the same core of Peiffer, Lesser, Schempp and Doll for years and three quarters of them are now retired. Their youth pipeline has been getting progressively weaker, with star juniors like Zobel and Riethmüller losing their way before they make it to the top level. Austria have really faded away since their older generation (and Dominik Landertinger) retired and are still alarmingly reliant on 39-year-old Simon Eder; Sweden are more like the women's teams I mention with half a strong team and half mid-tier guys, and of those two big guns they have Ponsiluoma is super inconsistent, and the Ukrainian team that always played stronger than the sum of its parts is for understandable and obvious reasons completely undercooked this season. The Italians might be the team of the future as Giacomel, Bionaz and a number of their junior talents look to be really good prospects, but for the time being they don't half miss Hofer and Dominik Windisch. Put those two in alongside the two youngsters mentioned and that's a threatening relay quartet.

The fact not even one athlete is underperforming to an extent that Endre Strømsheim can earn a spot in the team despite crushing the IBU Cup is miserable though, because the best IBU Cup athletes are Norskies too. And it's not like the Russians where they often dominate the IBU Cup because of vagaries of selection and politics that mean stronger athletes than necessary are at that level while the World Cup team underperforms, either. Maybe the fact their domestic scene is built on trade teams rather than regional squads as is the case in most other major nations is a factor, because it drives competition to a greater extent.
 

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