Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[No Excuses]

GOAT with an easy victory.
Has a solid chance to win 5 Gold medals.
Norwegian performance overall a bit underwhelming.

Desloges with a surprise.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Klaebo should thank his lucky stars it's only 20k and the Russians aren't in vdf.

Zero chance he wins Gold on this course on these conditions under the old order.

I wouldn't bet my life on that. These conditions are tailor made for him. Sunny artifiicial snow conditions+ climbs that are simply too short. He can do this really well. Of course 10km more would make it harder for him but you cant compare These conditions to real winter conditions wth a long climb like in Beijing. That being said, it is obviouslya worthless medal.

 

[YavorD]

Will Fis or the Ioc make the call?
Nearly all the good skaters were dropped in the classic part or out of shape, hinestly the weakest Skiathlon top 5 I can remember (on a selective course). Half of the Norwegians blew themself up by setting the pace.

If Klaebo was involved, they would 100%.
Iif it was someone else, probably.
Bring a Russian, although not under Russian flag, I don't know.
But they should IMO. It was his own mistake.

 

[KZD]

First gold medal in an Olympic individual distance race for Klæbo. However the Norwegians didn't look good especially Stenshagen who I guess will only do the 50k after this poor showing and Amundsen that crashed but had time to recover and was unable to do so.

Regarding Desloges, in a way I think its unfair that he loses the medal because of that small mistake but as a matter of preference I would prefer Korostelev up there.

The French looked really strong overall, they should get a medal in the relay, Vermulen was horrible 41st...

 

[Bavarianrider]

GOAT with an easy victory.
Has a solid chance to win 5 Gold medals.
Norwegian performance overall a bit underwhelming.

Desloges with a surprise.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The biggest paper champ in the history of the sport (at least as a distsance skier)

 

[Bavarianrider]

Masterclass by Schlickenrieder's boys. I am sure he is already blaming the "long distance" and "climbs".

 

[meat puppet]

Gonna get some flak for this, and not a fan of kläbo at all, but c'mon. Being the best sprinter and then becoming not only a worthwhile distance racer but actually good is some feat in and of itself (even with the standard clinic and course design disclaimers).

Can't drop him? Well maybe he doesn't suck so bad after all eh?

I dislike him winning everything, sure, but the abilities are kinda undeniable. Which only adds insult to injury.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I don't think much of the hate comes because of him, but from the fact that races are getting tailored towards him. Cutting distances, shorter climbs, joke Trondheim courses... And in fact I think he himself doesn't like that. I honestly think that in 30k he would also win today. Maybe even with Bolshunov in the race. For sure that would be a much bigger feat, but the duel for the ages is gone and we're left with what ifs and diminishing Klaebo for something he has no control of.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I don't think much of the hate comes because of him, but from the fact that races are getting tailored towards him. Cutting distances, shorter climbs, joke Trondheim courses... And in fact I think he himself doesn't like that. I honestly think that in 30k he would also win today. Maybe even with Bolshunov in the race. For sure that would be a much bigger feat, but the duel for the ages is gone and we're left with what ifs and diminishing Klaebo for something he has no control of.

He has spoken out many times against a return of Russian athletes.

 

[DenisMenchov]

He has spoken out many times against a return of Russian athletes.

Yes, but he has no control of it. He was literally congratulated today among first by Saveliy.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Yes, but he has no control of it. He was literally congratulated today among first by Saveliy.

Sure but as a champion you don't call for your rivals to be banned for political reasons. If Norwegians could, they would ban every other Nation. They always want to stack the deck in their favor as much as they can.

 

[BigCoward]

The Norway haters in here are hilarious. How can grown ups be so salty about a sport?

 

[BigCoward]

Sure but as a champion you don't call for your rivals to be banned for political reasons.

Why? Skiers aren't allowed to have a moral position on global attrocities?

 

[esp123]

Sure but as a champion you don't call for your rivals to be banned for political reasons. If Norwegians could, they would ban every other Nation. They always want to stack the deck in their favor as much as they can.

lol this is just not true. Norwegians find it embarrassing that we dominate as much as we do.

 

[BullsFan22]

lol this is just not true. Norwegians find it embarrassing that we dominate as much as we do.

LOL. I am sure you do. 😂

 

[BullsFan22]

Why? Skiers aren't allowed to have a moral position on global attrocities?

Not on all of them, apparently. It’s called hypocrisy and double standards.

 

[BullsFan22]

Gonna get some flak for this, and not a fan of kläbo at all, but c'mon. Being the best sprinter and then becoming not only a worthwhile distance racer but actually good is some feat in and of itself (even with the standard clinic and course design disclaimers).

Can't drop him? Well maybe he doesn't suck so bad after all eh?

I dislike him winning everything, sure, but the abilities are kinda undeniable. Which only adds insult to injury.

Without his biggest rivals it’s kind of a moot point.

 

[BullsFan22]

You can't say Norwegians raced for Klaebo this time. He's just unstoppable for them. The only guy that could drop him was not here, but that's some other issue. Klaebo is the GOAT of XC skiing.

Things would be a lot different if the Russians were allowed to compete.

 

[YavorD]

So they didn't punish Desloges?
Maybe FIS rules are not the same as IBU's in regards to leaving the track.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

So they didn't punish Desloges?
Maybe FIS rules are not the same as IBU's in regards to leaving the track.

He got a yellow card, the usual punishment.

 

[YavorD]

He got a yellow card, the usual punishment.

Okay then, my bad.
Thanks. Find it strange that IBU and FIS apply different rules, but relus are rules.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Time to put Wierer in the Altweibermühle?

 

[DenisMenchov]

Things would be a lot different if the Russians were allowed to compete.

Well yes, like I said the only guy that could possibly drop him is obviously Bolshunov. But we can add 10 more Russians here and I still think Klaebo wins. VDF just suits him perfectly. Whereas Beijing was exact opposite.

 

[Brullnux]

Time to put Wierer in the Altweibermühle?

She looked off it, but France were almost perfect so it didn't really affect the result. Solid silver for her at the end of it, but I don't see her picking up an individual medal. Giacomel and Vittozzi best options for Italy (I'd be very surprised if Giacomel doesn't shoot clean or 90% in at least one race, and if he does I think he wins).