Official xc skiing world cup thread

[MustIski]

But why they use techonology that doesn't work? This wasn't the first time and there are different targers available.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Slovenia crossed the line first. They won.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Boy i am ****ed, that north German jerk robbed us of our Gold.
Better go sailing boy

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

Strange men's lineup by Russia. Ustyugov, Makoveev and Garanichev should all be better options than Malyshko and Shipulin in a relay.

Ski times are a bit surprising.

Leg 1

1. MÄKÄRÄINEN Kaisa 15:04.3
2. BERGER Tora +11.6
3. HENKEL Andrea +25.0
4. GEREKOVA Jana +25.4
5. BRUNET Marie Laure +32.1
16. VILUKHINA Olga +1:09.2

Leg 2

1. DOMRACHEVA Darya 14:28.7
2. NEUNER Magdalena +15.3
3. EKHOLM Helena +26.5
4. KUZMINA Anastasiya +32.2
5. SOLEMDAL Synnoeve +37.2
6. GREGORIN Teja +38.2
7. ZAITSEVA Olga +41.4
9. DORIN HABERT Marie +47.6

Leg 3

1. MORAVEC Ondrej 16:53.8
2. BAUER Klemen +4.8
3. FERRY Björn +7.2
4. BIRNBACHER Andreas +9.2
5. BJOERNDALEN Ole Einar +13.8
6. BURKE Tim +15.7
7. MALYSHKO Dmitry +17.8
9. FOURCADE Simon +29.1
12. WEGER Benjamin +33.1

Leg 4

1. SVENDSEN Emil Hegle 16:47.4
2. FOURCADE Martin +2.8
3. HOFER Lukas +12.9
4. SLESINGR Michal +20.8
5. PEIFFER Arnd +25.2
6. FAK Jakov +25.4
7. LINDSTRÖM Fredrik +26.5
9. BAILEY Lowell +42.0
13. SUMANN Christoph +55.8
16. SHIPULIN Anton +1:12.3

Gerekova, Burke and the swedes are the major standouts imo.

 

[roundabout]

Moravec was the fastest skier on leg 3. Burke was 6th fastest.

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

You're right. Not sure what I was looking at... Thanks for correcting me.

I guess Moravec, Gerekova and the swedes (especially Ferry and Ekholm) were the major standouts.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But why they use techonology that doesn't work? This wasn't the first time and there are different targers available.

Don't recall any incidents in the last season, and this season there's only been Peiffer at Nove Mesto.

To tell the truth I'd rather stick with the mechanical targets that have a failure once in a blue moon than go to the laser rounds they used at the Veltins-Arena events, which robs the event of much of its tension as there's no longer fumbled reloads or mechanical error to take into account.

A shame for the Slovenes, for sure, but then it would have been just as much of a shame if not more for the Norwegians had they been robbed of a deserved gold by a mechanical error. Of course, had Arnd Peiffer had a better standing performance then it would all have been academic.

 

[jsem94]

Swedes had epic skis today. Plus, Ekholm looks like she's back in super shape.

What happened to the Fourcades today I wonder..

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It looked to me like Simon had a bit of a technical problem with the rifle? He was fiddling with it, and hadn't even set position by the time Birnbacher had shot all 5 and gone in the prone; think after that he panicked a bit and made a mess of the shoot. The standing mess I would wager was due to him going beyond his level trying to catch up the deficit he'd picked up; Martin by contrast probably saw that medals were out of the question and saved energy for the individual events.

For France perhaps the most significant thing was that Marie-Laure Brunet had a very good showing, and showed some reasonable (for her) ski speed too; she has been criticised for not being able to last out an entire season, and she did herself no justice at Khantiy-Mansiysk last year, but looked very good today.

For the controversy that there was in today's race, at least the competitors knew during the race. It seemed farcical to have Fak cross first and then Svendsen celebrate second, but better to have that than the Slovenes celebrating wildly their unexpected gold only to have it snatched away later.

 

[roundabout]

I think France generally has good skis for spring conditions/soft snow. At least that's what I noticed in Vancouver which was 2 years ago admittedly and with JLC in the NC in Liberec last week.

Swedes did seem to be struggling in Kontiolahti but I guess they were in preparation mode.

 

[python]

norway's women dominate skiathlon - top 4 today and now are top 3 in the world cup.

im lost figuring what happened to justyna ? she was only 12 se behind after the classic....

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Simon Fourcade is skiing 2 seconds off Svendsen, Michael Greis just left the range and Tarjei Bø is fastest after one shoot, Daniel Mesotitsch after two. I notice Elena Khrustaleva has been found under a rock and entered in the women's race later.

Next Maxim Maksimov will turn up having not been entered for a race all season and win his customary medal in the Individual, it's the day of the improbable comeback...

 

[goggalor]

1st and 2nd with two misses. Should be a good pursuit.

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

Great success for the norwegian and french ski prep teams. Epic fail for the germans and russians. It's especially embarrassing for the germans as it's their own backyard.

I hate it when ski prep makes a huge difference.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Great success for the norwegian and french ski prep teams. Epic fail for the germans and russians. It's especially embarrassing for the germans as it's their own backyard.

I hate it when ski prep makes a huge difference.

Indeed, what a wack *** preparation by the Germans. In difficult conditions the home nation usually should have a n adventage. Really a terrible job by the German techs today.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Swedes all coming into form at the right time, very quick for Ekholm compared to the rest of her season.

10/10 for Darya but her lack of shooting speed is hurting her; Dorin leaves the range in equal time to her, and Neuner obliterates everybody in the prone.

 

[roundabout]

I didn't watch the race, but why was Domracheva so slow in the range. Mech problems or just making sure she hit all targets?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Perfect race by Lena, all the other germans totally failed. She handled the pressure like nothing.

What a shame calls it a day in 2 weeks at this very young age.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I didn't watch the race, but why was Domracheva so slow in the range. Mech problems or just making sure she hit all targets?

Guess she just wanted to be really safe.
Tomorrow should bring an epic battle between Neuner and her.

 

[Nielsa]

I didn't watch the race, but why was Domracheva so slow in the range. Mech problems or just making sure she hit all targets?

Some loading problems at the start of the prone shooting, IIRC. And she took her time at the standing.

To tell the truth I'd rather stick with the mechanical targets that have a failure once in a blue moon than go to the laser rounds they used at the Veltins-Arena events, which robs the event of much of its tension as there's no longer fumbled reloads or mechanical error to take into account.

Also, no (real)gunshot sounds, which would suck.
"Tock-pling"
"WHAAY"

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I didn't watch the race, but why was Domracheva so slow in the range. Mech problems or just making sure she hit all targets?

Maybe some problem at the start, but she was generally shooting quite slow, playing it safe. It's quite clear that shooting is going to be where differences are made here, since so many of the top women were shooting clear, so best play it safe I guess.

Perfect race by Lena, all the other germans totally failed. She handled the pressure like nothing.

What a shame calls it a day in 2 weeks at this very young age.

I'd argue that it's quite unfair to describe Franzi Hildebrand's performance as a failure; the woman is not quick at all on the skis, and shot 9/10. She performed to a level more or less where anticipated. Henkel, Bachmann and Gößner underperformed.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Maybe some problem at the start, but she was generally shooting quite slow, playing it safe. It's quite clear that shooting is going to be where differences are made here, since so many of the top women were shooting clear, so best play it safe I guess.

I'd argue that it's quite unfair to describe Franzi Hildebrand's performance as a failure; the woman is not quick at all on the skis, and shot 9/10. She performed to a level more or less where anticipated. Henkel, Bachmann and Gößner underperformed.

Ok that's true. But you know what i mean. Without Neuner, Germany future doesn't look good at all.

 

[meat puppet]

Well that was kinda unspectacular. They shot too damn well! Semerenko's bronze was a bonus though.

If I got it right, Darya was some 13sec faster on the skis than Lena. So she lost ca. 30sec in shooting speed. Quite a bit.

Mäkäräinen said in Finnish TV that her rifle was not optimally aimed at the beginning due to wind conditions during test shootings. Also she does not find the soft track optimal to her. But she took it rather lightly nonetheless. Shoot happens.

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

Proof that mental training works. Neuner would have folded like a cheap tent @ standup shooting in this situation a few years ago. Pretty extraordinary improvement.

Great day for the swedes. I like our chances for another medal tomorrow with 4 athletes in striking distance of the podium.

Maybe some problem at the start, but she was generally shooting quite slow, playing it safe. It's quite clear that shooting is going to be where differences are made here, since so many of the top women were shooting clear, so best play it safe I guess.

If I got it right, Darya was some 13sec faster on the skis than Lena. So she lost ca. 30sec in shooting speed. Quite a bit.

Yep, shooting time decided the outcome of this race. Dasha needs to be a bit more brave on the range. She often loses a lot of time on the fast shooters.

 

[jsem94]

Olsson's fall today. I mean, what was that, it looked like he was gonna fall off that edge or something. Kershaw messed up in that turn which led him to fall like that, it's really sad. He's been in excellent shape and may have been the only threat to Cologna.

And did anyone see Colognas heart rate as he went on the offense? That was masterful.


As for Biathlon today... what a day for the Swedes, and what a performance by Lena. Bergman's wife is going to have a baby any day now too, and it was unclear whether he could actually participate - and it's unclear if he can participate tomorrow. I hope he does start tomorrow. If Emil & Martin crack a little on the shooting range, the Gold is up for grabs for a lot of people.