Is there any plausible scenario where tomorrow is worth watching, or do Norway just skate into the distance no matter what?
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- Feb 21, 2019
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Honestly with Krüger in this shape chances are that he drops his rivals even if he starts behind them (which is unlikely to happen anyway).
Sweden disappointed today especially Karlsson with her usual bad day. Another great result for a German relay. I agree with those who say that Niskanen and Hennig are looking really good for the 30k.
As for Johannes Bø, 2.5 months ago he was celebrating his 60th win, today he is celebrating his 70th. Totally unpredecented winning pace.
I wonder if he does a 'fourcade' and retires before beating OEB's record as he feels he is already the greatest, what does he have to prove anymore and wants to spend time with his family.
Fwiw I have OEB > MF > JTB currently in the greatest ranking. However I'd say JTB is clearly the best.
- Feb 21, 2019
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I can't see him retiring before the next Olympic Games. I think he wants to beat or at least equal the 8 Olympic gold medal record that belongs to Bjorndalen. But I was also surprised by Fourcade's decision although in his case he felt that JTB overtook him and I can't see the same thing happening to the Norwegian in the 2/3 years.
And without the Russians, who is gonna drop them? Jouve and Hägstrom are pretty much pure sprinters, Kuchler is inexperienced and in all honesty, not good enough to make anything happen, Hakola was dropped almost immediately when the pace went up in the Olympics last year (which was early in the race). Nöckler? In his prime he was a very solid skier, and has skied good relays for Italy, but I don’t see him troubling Holund. Ben Ogden? He would do well to hang on. Beda Klee? No, without Cologna the Swiss will find it tough to contend. Maybe in a few years as their youngsters get more experience.
Unless the Norwegians have the worst skis they’ve ever had, the only question will be how much will they win by. Do they just fool around and make it interesting and having Klæbo sprint the last 200 m, or do they ski away early.
They could probably get away with putting Iversen in one of the legs and still win.
Also, the Brits won’t be racing. Clugnet got sick and they don’t have replacements.
I just watched the women’s relay. Good race. The top 4 teams were established early. The smaller teams struggled with kick, though I think in Swirbul’s case it was a matter of her technique being awful. Even when the conditions are perfect she struggled to kick.
On paper this is one of Norway’s weakest teams, but they had good skis, especially in the skate legs and skied solid.
Krista doesn’t have the final punch that she once did. Dahlqvist had no problems sprinting away. And it wasn’t really a sprint, but simply a slight punch that Krista had no answer for.
The Swedes didn’t have great skis, that was noticeable, but it didn’t help them that Ebba fell and broke her pole coming into second to the final climb. She didn’t lose a ton of time, only 8 seconds, but it was enough for Karlsson to expend extra energy to catch up and get to the front. She should have waited until the 2nd half to get to the front and try an attack. It was her leg that lost them the relay, just as it was at the Olympics.
Germany has come up big again.
On paper this is one of Norway’s weakest teams, but they had good skis, especially in the skate legs and skied solid.
Krista doesn’t have the final punch that she once did. Dahlqvist had no problems sprinting away. And it wasn’t really a sprint, but simply a slight punch that Krista had no answer for.
The Swedes didn’t have great skis, that was noticeable, but it didn’t help them that Ebba fell and broke her pole coming into second to the final climb. She didn’t lose a ton of time, only 8 seconds, but it was enough for Karlsson to expend extra energy to catch up and get to the front. She should have waited until the 2nd half to get to the front and try an attack. It was her leg that lost them the relay, just as it was at the Olympics.
Germany has come up big again.
- Aug 29, 2009
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Hakola just came back from injury last year, so he normally should be a bit better this time. But yeah, the lack of competition is a problem, of course.
Putting him with Roethe, Amundsen and Toenseth would still get the silver if they were allowed to race.
- Apr 10, 2019
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- Apr 10, 2019
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- Apr 10, 2019
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Ryo attack! He halved the gap.
Sweden not even trying to minimize the gap.
And now Nöckler down after already having bad skis. Nice gesture by the Americans, but I'm pessimistic about italy's chances.
Sweden not even trying to minimize the gap.
And now Nöckler down after already having bad skis. Nice gesture by the Americans, but I'm pessimistic about italy's chances.
- Apr 10, 2019
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Commentators speculating that Norway and possibly Japan are the only ones racing with waxed skis.
- Apr 10, 2019
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- May 29, 2011
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- Apr 10, 2019
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Looks like the ship for an Italian medal has already sailed, sunk and hit the bottom of the ocean.
- Apr 10, 2019
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Finally the Niskanen express has started.
Now De Fa even had to change one ski, that's a full blown Caporetto for Italy...
Now De Fa even had to change one ski, that's a full blown Caporetto for Italy...
- Feb 20, 2010
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To be fair with him it's more about his energy management. He always goes out too hard and blows up, and with his technique he really cannot bluff when he isn't feeling great and tends to fall apart.
This sounds like an Iivo Niskanen thing to do. This sport needs more Iivo Niskanen.
Wonders is the latest American to ski with all heart and no brain. Never ceases to amaze me how they structure their races.
- Feb 20, 2010
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- Apr 10, 2019
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- Aug 29, 2009
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the Slovenians love their ski jumping, and there are no spectators as well. In this case, it's more about the ticket prices, I think
- Apr 10, 2019
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They also increased the hotel prices a ton for the wc.
The ticket cost for a whole family is ridiculous.
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