Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[DenisMenchov]

Everything is working according to plan. They wanted a close finish and they wanted Klæbo to win.

No Bolshunov, shortened distance and horrible course. Looks like I'm watching WWE

 

[Libertine Seguros]

No Bolshunov, shortened distance and horrible course. Looks like I'm watching WWE

Nah, the basic concept of WWE means that in theory at least people should be rewarded for being entertaining. This is just regular stage managing of results, no different to when 12 flat stages emerged in the Giro when Cipollini and Petacchi were at their peak, or how all the mountains disappeared from the Tour de Suisse and long ITTs appeared when Cancellara was at his peak.

 

[Mayomaniac]

This crappy skating course almost counts as race fixing for the golden boy...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Mike Dixon "they're all tired because this has been an incredible skiathlon so far".

With the obvious expectation that this is all for Klæbo, essentially other than him, the only ones who can emerge from this with dignity intact are Musgrave, Nyenget and Lapalus.

 

[DenisMenchov]

What a joke of the race. By far the worst skiathlon ever at a major event. Basically a glorified sprint.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

What a horrible course, how are you supposed to do anything.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Mike Dixon "they're all tired because this has been an incredible skiathlon so far".

With the obvious expectation that this is all for Klæbo, essentially other than him, the only ones who can emerge from this with dignity intact are Musgrave, Nyenget and Lapalus.

That couse was race fixing in all but name, *** race.
At least it's gonna backfire in the women's race.
Waiting for the Norwegian NC to once again not nominate Krüger for the 50km to give the golden boy a better chance.

 

[DonAragona]

What a joke of race, not worthy of a World Championship

 

[OJRvE]

Surprised to see that condition were so hard today. Wouldn’t surprise me if they salted the course for Klaebo today

 

[KZD]

Finally Klæbo wins an individual distance world title.

The fact that the defending World Champion finished 12th shows how easy this race was.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Congrats Trondheim, you managed to gift the posterboy a distance gold that isn't worth more than his sprint ones...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That couse was race fixing in all but name, *** race.
At least it's gonna backfire in the women's race.
Waiting for the Norwegian NC to once again not nominate Krüger for the 50km to give the golden boy a better chance.

FIS will probably be happy because it will likely mean their chosen one wins, but the Norwegian organisers' chosen one doesn't.

Sundling might be our best hope for a saviour.

I never thought I'd say this, but the sport NEEDS a new Sundby.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Surprised to see that condition were so hard today. Wouldn’t surprise me if they salted the course for Klaebo today

We both know that they did...

 

[Mayomaniac]

FIS will probably be happy because it will likely mean their chosen one wins, but the Norwegian organisers' chosen one doesn't.

Sundling might be our best hope for a saviour.

I never thought I'd say this, but the sport NEEDS a new Sundby.

Nah, Sunby's dominance was the reason why organizers moved away from proper distance races (mainly in the Tour de Ski). I'll just say this, as a spectator I hope that the war ends soon...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Nah, Sunby's dominance was the reason why organizers moved away from proper distance races (mainly in the Tour de Ski). I'll just say this, as a spectator I hope that the war ends soon...

But if the Norwegians have somebody who wins as comfortably in tough races as Klæbo wins in easy ones, they might start designing some proper courses again.

 

[DonAragona]

I don't care how hard the Norwegians try to tell us otherwise deep down they know that today was not real Gold particularly when the lineal Olympic and World Champion is banned (as well as his teammates.) Let's get these Championships over with so we can focus on genuine title races next Winter.

ps I can't see how Johaug beats Karlsson on that course tomorrow, the skate section is an insult to the Scandanvian Cup never mind a Championship.

 

[OJRvE]

ps I can't see how Johaug beats Karlsson on that course tomorrow, the skate section is an insult to the Scandanvian Cup never mind a Championship.

For tomorrow Norway will change the condition so it gets a lot softer benefiting ligthweighters such as Johaug

 

[Silhouette]

Nyenget: "It's impossible to get tired in this course".

 

[QueenStagiaire]

For tomorrow Norway will change the condition so it gets a lot softer benefiting ligthweighters such as Johaug

They will save on course manipulation by having about sixteen hours of pouring rain before the race. I don‘t think that‘s the Norwegians‘ fault.

 

[BullsFan22]

Didn't bother to watch the race. The results were exactly as I suspected. A mickey mouse skate lap and the 'competition' not able (or willing, perhaps) to do much.

Meanwhile, Bolshunov wins the skiathlon at the Russian nationals. Ustiugov coming back to form, finishes 4th. The guy has more natural talent than Bolshunov. Just a shame his had health issues, plus the 2018 Olympic absence and obviously the last 3 seasons.

If the muppets at FIS have any marbles left upstairs, they'll allow the Russians to compete next season. If not, it'll be more of the same at the WC and Olympics.

 

[BigCoward]

Putting entertainment before morals is weird.

 

[DonAragona]

Putting entertainment before morals is weird.

I find fake morals even weirder.

I'll take the banning of Russians seriously when NATO countries are banned for supplying bombs to drop on babies in Gaza...and if FIS really are concerned about wars/invasion when are they going to ban the United States?

 

[BigCoward]

I find fake morals even weirder.

I'll take the banning of Russians seriously when NATO countries are banned for supplying bombs to drop on babies in Gaza...and if FIS really are concerned about wars/invasion when are they going to ban the United States?

Whataboutism is gash. They should be banned for state sponsored clinic issues, AND, the war.
Either way they shouldn't be involved. Whether others also should be punished is irrelevant, but there's no argument that anyone else should be banned as much as the Russians

 

[BullsFan22]

Whataboutism is gash. They should be banned for state sponsored clinic issues, AND, the war.
Either way they shouldn't be involved. Whether others also should be punished is irrelevant, but there's no argument that anyone else should be banned as much as the Russians

So nothing has happened in the Middle East in the last 30 years? Is that what you’re saying?

 

[BullsFan22]

Putting entertainment before morals is weird.

Why don’t you go there yourself, if you feel so morally superior?