Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

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Hristova has been a solid prospect for a while, did well in last year's World Championship individual similarly. The Bulgarian team, Todorova aside, is full of decent talents but this is quite the shock. And also why purists love the Individual, it gives the best chance of surprises like this.

Eight years ago, Hanna Oeberg pretty much came out of nowhere to win the individual. Pichler's girls seem to know how to peak.

The Americans on the other hand, somehow seem to have missed their usual super peak this time.

 

[BullsFan22]

And Vasilev was top 20 in ski speed, whereas Todorova had the fastest ski time in her leg during the muxed relay. Although ski speeds in relay legs are a bit skewed, that's impressive from the whole team.

Anyone that knows anything about Bulgarian sports, knows why that is…

 

[Mayomaniac]

Anyone that knows anything about Bulgarian sports, knows why that is…

Bulgarian weightlifting cult eternal!

 

[YavorD]

Anyone that knows anything about Bulgarian sports, knows why that is…

I sure know a fair bit about Bulgarian sport given that I'm bulgarian myself.
Not sure if you imply the things that should be for a different part of the forum (certainly not to be denied), but Bulgaria is usually strong on altitude (probably Belmeken helps a fair bit) and generally has a good results in Antholz. Besides 20km is historically very good for bulgarian biathhlon.

But the way they perform so far can certainly raise some questions.

 

[BullsFan22]

I sure know a fair bit about Bulgarian sport given that I'm bulgarian myself.
Not sure if you imply the things that should be for a different part of the forum (certainly not to be denied), but Bulgaria is usually strong on altitude (probably Belmeken helps a fair bit) and generally has a good results in Antholz. Besides 20km is historically very good for bulgarian biathhlon.

But the way they perform so far can certainly raise some questions.

Think Ivan Lebanov, 1980 Olympics.

 

[KZD]

Vittozzi's issue was the shooting, not the skiing... 80% in an individual just isn't good enough, especially among the women.

Yes, Vittozzi's shooting was the main issue today but her skiing wasn't great either, only 12th fastest. Hopefully she improves for the weekend races.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Todorova has managed podiums before but is stupidly inconsistent, if anything even more so since her return from a baby break. Back a few years ago they had a really good youth women's relay which Hristova and Dimitrova were key to, they were battling with the German one which had Tannheimer and Grotian in it, and a strong Italian one with the likes of Scattolo and Carpella in it. Those Germans have gone on to be very solid World Cup talent, the Italians have been rather stuck at the lower levels due to depth but will probably get some rotations with Passler looking at suspension and Doro retiring. The Bulgarians have been on the World Cup since they were very young as part of the youth movement. A couple of years back Dimitrova looked the best of them but Hristova has come on leaps and bounds in the last two years since Pichler took over and her shooting has always been good and her primary weapon. She's definitely less of a surprise to me to podium an Individual hitting 20/20 than Sonja Leinamo in the first race of the season was.

 

[YavorD]

Still as a medal winner in biathlon, Hristova is the most surprising medalist since at least 2002 (didn't bother to check any further)
Even if we extend it to different sports, how many people have won a medal while never being in top 10 on a world cup level?

As far as the Biathlon goes, Elena Khrutaleva comes close, but she still had a couple of top 10s and was already 5th in the Olympic sprint in Vancouver.

 

[logeardaddy]

Even if we extend it to different sports, how many people have won a medal while never being in top 10 on a world cup level?

Just today, Ryan Cochran-Siegle took the silver in men's super-g; he's ranked 26 in super-g and 17th overall. But I grant it's pretty rare, to the point I don't usually watch the WC speed events past the first 20 starters.

 

[YavorD]

Just today, Ryan Cochran-Siegle took the silver in men's super-g; he's ranked 26 in super-g and 17th overall.

Uhm, Cochran-Siegle was 3rd literally in the last race before the Olympics.
Obviously an unexpected medal but not a massive surprise.

 

[Brullnux]

Yes, Vittozzi's shooting was the main issue today but her skiing wasn't great either, only 12th fastest. Hopefully she improves for the weekend races.

She was going well until she was out of contention because of the misses. I think 6th in the first three laps?

Just read an interview where she confirms she eased up a bit once she'd missed 3, as there wasn't any chance of a medal anymore. I thought her ski form looked better today than in the mixed relay, and tbh compared to most the season.

 

[logeardaddy]

Uhm, Cochran-Siegle was 3rd literally in the last race before the Olympics.
Obviously an unexpected medal but not a massive surprise.

Apologies, I misinterpreted your previous post to mean a top-10 ranking. Alpine skiing does see the occasional race in which the favorites have an off-day while a racer who usually places >15th can have the race of his life; eg Jan Zabystran.

 

[YavorD]

Apologies, I misinterpreted your previous post to mean a top-10 ranking. Alpine skiing does see the occasional race in which the favorites have an off-day while a racer who usually places >15th can have the race of his life; eg Jan Zabystran.

Yes, that's true. Val Gardena in particular often has surprises.
My main point was that very, very rarely we get an Olympic medalists with 0 top 20 placings in a world cup race prior to that medal.