A big loss for Kerttu Niskanen in the opening race of the season – the German winner was surprised by his superiority: “This was a special race”

Germany’s Katharina Hennig skied to an overwhelming victory in the Olos Artillery Games with a traditional ski. Kerttu Niskanen was almost 50 seconds behind the winner and was fifth.

Kerttu Niskanen finished fifth in the first competition of the season in Olos Artillery Championships. Niskanen lost in Muonio by a traditional German winner To Katharina Hennig 47.7 seconds.

Hennig was the overwhelming number one of the day, as the second German star Laura Gimmler lost to Hennig by 41.3 seconds.

Hennig was really surprised by his superiority.

– This was a special competition for all the athletes, because we trained a lot here. We’ll see how it goes in the World Cup, Hennig told Urheilu.

He greatly incensed the circumstances.

– It’s always good to camp here and prepare for the World Cup competition. I like this a lot, Hennig said.

Niskanen described his competition as very tough.

– The season has opened, but it was a tough ten from start to finish, Niskanen described to Urheilu.

Niskanen was not satisfied with his competition.

– I knew that Hennig is tough here. I hear he’s in really good shape. He was tough here last year and then he was also in the World Cup in Ruka. Hennig is fighting for first place in Ruka with this kind of skiing. This clearly needs to be improved so that Ruka can fight for better places, Niskanen said.

The Ruka World Cup is on the program in two weeks. Niskanen, who won the world cup of normal distances last season, stated that he was trying to have a relaxed start in the bitter cold and then increase the speed.

– I felt that a relaxed phase was left behind. I didn’t get a hard ending. It was a bit of a sticky bet. It was a dream place to go after Hennig when he left in front of me. However, he was nowhere to be seen. From the beginning he had a strong pace, Niskanen described the stages of the competition.

Niskanen doesn’t want to worry about his situation.

– However, there is still a little time to ski on the snow and make hard efforts. Let’s take a note of this and hope that the pace will improve, says Niskanen.

– I want to improve the speed of this as quickly as possible. Ruka doesn’t have much time left. After that, the races come off the conveyor belt. I have to join relatively soon.

On Sunday, Niskanen will compete in the 10-kilometer split start on free skiing at the Artillery Games in Olos.