Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[BullsFan22]

It’s always hard to compare with people not on the start line, but I think only Bolshunov of the Russians would be good enough to potentially beat Klæbo on a course like this, when Klæbo is obviously in great form and super well prepared + the home advantage for the waxing team.

Bolshunov and Niskanen on top form and with good skiis could definitively win such a race, but they could also been slightly beaten. Impossible to say. In my eyes Niskanen has the highest level, but in a 10k Bolshunov and Klæbo are not far behind if behind at all.

Agreed. I think as far as a classic distance racing is concerned, in top form, besides Bolshunov, I believe that Korostelev could challenge for medals. He’s only 21, but he dominated the world Junior classic 10km in Lygna 3 years ago and he’s consistently one of the best in Russia. We’ll see what happens when he and the others get on the WC. He actually hasn’t done a senior race in Europe, yet.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Stadlober? Where on earth did this come from?

The Austrian skiing mafia is running wild.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Well done Ebba!

What a race.

 

[KZD]

After Planica and now these two golds, Andersson is stablishing herself as the best female skier in the world.

Too bad that Stadlober couldn't get a medal.

 

[Mayomaniac]

First Swedish individual start gold since Kalla!

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Stadlober profited a lot on the first lap from the late start position. In the section from 2-5 kilometer with a lot of downhills she (and Weng who started a minute earlier) had no snow in the air while the others did this section with snow. On the last loop everyone did that one basically without snow in the air and then she had no chance. I don’t think her performance was really much better than Slind/Hennig.

 

[BigCoward]

After Planica and now these two golds, Andersson is stablishing herself as the best female skier in the world.

Too bad that Stadlober couldn't get a medal.

She is 1.3 seconds better than Johaug over 30km. I'd hardly call that a coronation. But good for her, nice to mix it up.
Though I'd imagine Johaug is going to put everyone in the hurt locker in the 50km now .

 

[Mayomaniac]

Stadlober profited a lot on the first lap from the late start position. In the section from 2-5 kilometer with a lot of downhills she (and Weng who started a minute earlier) had no snow in the air while the others did this section with snow. On the last loop everyone did that one basically without snow in the air and then she had no chance. I don’t think her performance was really much better than Slind/Hennig.

Had Karlsson started that late...

 

[Mayomaniac]

They managed to make Stadlober's brother on commentary with his annoying, whiny voice shut up, who was badmouthing Andersson for celebrating too early.

Do you start Karlsson in the team sprint, so that she finally gets a gold medal to help her mentally?

Best Swedish skis in wet snowfall that I can remember.

 

[DenisMenchov]

They managed to make Stadlober's brother on commentary with his annoying, whiny voice shut up, who was badmouthing Andersson for celebrating too early.

Do you start Karlsson in the team sprint, so that she finally gets a gold medal to help her mentally?

Best Swedish skis in wet snowfall that I can remember.

I think you have to, I see no downside of choosing her. For sure she'll not get gaped, and potentially could put Sundling in pole position before final leg.

 

[DonAragona]

Ebba now putting daylight between herself and media darling Karlsson.

4-0 Gold medals

2-0 at the same age.

Guarantee to be World Cup Queen...that must sting for Johaug who rejected the idea that the other girls had improved whilst she was away.

 

[BullsFan22]

Andersson is a strong classic skier, but she’s better in skate. To edge Johaug, twice, in a span of a couple days on Norwegian snow, in front of thousands of fans must feel nice. To put it mildly.

 

[KZD]

She is 1.3 seconds better than Johaug over 30km. I'd hardly call that a coronation. But good for her, nice to mix it up.
Though I'd imagine Johaug is going to put everyone in the hurt locker in the 50km now .

Well, first and second are often decided by a very slim margin yet gold is very different from silver, right now is difficult to argue Andersson is not the best skier but let's see what happens in the 50km.

 

[BullsFan22]

The relay is gonna be fascinating. Hopefully no wax issues and no falls for anyone. I can easily see another race decided in the stadium. If that’s the case, the Norwegians don’t have much of a chance against Sundling. Just a pity Svahn isn’t there. With her on the opening leg, it would have been a dream scenario for the Swedes. Their top 4 skiers racing for gold.

 

[OJRvE]

So Halfvarsson got to do the team sprint because he assured Byström he is in good shape despite the bad results….

Dahlqvist and Sundling up against Skistad and Lotta Weng. Although Germany and Finland may be harder competition.

Seems like Sweden by far have had the best skis in this championship.

 

[search]

Seems like Sweden by far have had the best skis in this championship.

I'd tend to say Switzerland. Tomorrow should also be another good opportunity for them.

edit: Sweden goes Sundling 1st, Dahlqvist 2nd, by the way.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I'd tend to say Switzerland. Tomorrow should also be another good opportunity for them.

edit: Sweden goes Sundling 1st, Dahlqvist 2nd, by the way.

On the men's side Italy starts Graz alongside Pellegrino, after Barp had to go home because of health problems, that's a bit of a surprise to me. Before today there was talk of either De Fabiani or Nöckler skiing with Pellegrino, since Graz is more of a distance skating specialist.

 

[BullsFan22]

So Halfvarsson got to do the team sprint because he assured Byström he is in good shape despite the bad results….

Dahlqvist and Sundling up against Skistad and Lotta Weng. Although Germany and Finland may be harder competition.

Seems like Sweden by far have had the best skis in this championship.

Dahlqvist is a question mark for me. Yes she made the final, and she brought Sweden to gold in 2019, 2021, and silver at the 2022 Olympics, but these conditions don’t suit a power skier like her. Sundling is also a power skier, but she can ski well in anything, and she’s obviously in terrific form. I would have put in Karlsson, but racing less than 24 hours after a tough race today would have been tricky.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

So Halfvarsson got to do the team sprint because he assured Byström he is in good shape despite the bad results….

Which options do they really have? Poromaa would surely do OK, but I assume he doesnt want to as he is preparing for the 50k. Calle was decent at the classic part of the skiathlon, so he cant be that bad even if he struggled today. He is really suited to the team sprint and he was very good in Cogne and was in good form as late as in Falun. I would have definitively picked Calle if I was the Swedish coach.

When it comes to the womens team it is obvious to me that Karlsson and Sundling would have been the best team, but the Dahlqvist have a really high status in the team and they always pick her so I am not surprised at all that they have selected it like this. They picked her over Sundling for the last leg in the real relay two years ago, lol.

 

[DonAragona]

Dahlqvist is a question mark for me. Yes she made the final, and she brought Sweden to gold in 2019, 2021, and silver at the 2022 Olympics, but these conditions don’t suit a power skier like her. Sundling is also a power skier, but she can ski well in anything, and she’s obviously in terrific form. I would have put in Karlsson, but racing less than 24 hours after a tough race today would have been tricky.

I also would have gone with Frida.

Assuming Sundling pushes the pace, then Maja will have to do all the work for at least 3 legs, not really her strength. I think the Swedes may have just left the door slightly open.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Dahlqvist is a question mark for me. Yes she made the final, and she brought Sweden to gold in 2019, 2021, and silver at the 2022 Olympics, but these conditions don’t suit a power skier like her. Sundling is also a power skier, but she can ski well in anything, and she’s obviously in terrific form. I would have put in Karlsson, but racing less than 24 hours after a tough race today would have been tricky.

Same here. I guess the idea is for Sundling to go crazy for 2 laps so that Dahlquist has already a nice gap, but it can be a bit of a gamble.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

On the men's side Italy starts Graz alongside Pellegrino, after Barp had to go home because of health problems, that's a bit of a surprise to me. Before today there was talk of either De Fabiani or Nöckler skiing with Pellegrino, since Graz is more of a distance skating specialist.

Dapra would've been my pick. He was good in the skiathlon, good in Falun and made it to the semis in a classic sprint in the Tour. But it's hard these sprint relay selections, there are some skiers that are just really good at this format and not really good in anything else, maybe Graz can surprise.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Dapra would've been my pick. He was good in the skiathlon, good in Falun and made it to the semis in a classic sprint in the Tour. But it's hard these sprint relay selections, there are some skiers that are just really good at this format and not really good in anything else, maybe Graz can surprise.

Graz is mainly skating guy, so it is a surprise to me. Dapra or Ticco, who did well today and likes snowy conditions would have been my picks.
Then again, maybe Italy is already looking at the relay, seeing that Switzerland and Germany are not in the best shape and Finland lacks Niskanen. On paper Sweden and France are clearly better, but things can happen and you end up with bronze, if all goes right.

 

[OJRvE]

Which options do they really have? Poromaa would surely do OK, but I assume he doesnt want to as he is preparing for the 50k. Calle was decent at the classic part of the skiathlon, so he cant be that bad even if he struggled today. He is really suited to the team sprint and he was very good in Cogne and was in good form as late as in Falun. I would have definitively picked Calle if I was the Swedish coach.

When it comes to the womens team it is obvious to me that Karlsson and Sundling would have been the best team, but the Dahlqvist have a really high status in the team and they always pick her so I am not surprised at all that they have selected it like this. They picked her over Sundling for the last leg in the real relay two years ago, lol.

Poromaa is the only other option. I have no objections that Halfvarsson is doing the team sprint and a relay leg, what I find strange is they allowed him to also race the skiathlon and todays race when they didn’t allow Sundling the same.

For the women’s, there is obviously the political part with Dahlqvist having high status and sprinters always gets to race the team sprint. But the second argument is that this discipline was never in Fridas program and she has not specifically prepared for it. Also I think she wants to fresh for the 50k cause you can tell she really want that gold.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I am very surprised that Ogden has not been selected by the US, he should be really good at Team Sprint, but he also looked horrible today so maybe he‘s sick?