Urheilu’s expert Jussi Piirainen sees that based on Saturday, Iivo Niskanen has a long way to go to win the World Cup in Lahti.
Joel Sippola,
Riku Salminen
Iivo Niskanen a clear loss for the 21-year-old To Niko Anttola was a clear topic of discussion at the Kuopio Suomen Cup. The number one name in Finnish men’s skiing lost 14 seconds to the winner in the free 12 kilometer intermediate start race and was only fourth.
They also wedged themselves in between Arsi Ruuskanen as well Lauri Lepistö. Sports experts Kalle Lassila and Jussi Piirainen were amazed at Niskanen’s sticky performance on his home track. He was expected to win.
Niskanen’s clear main goals for the rest of the season are next week’s 20-kilometer traditional intermediate start race, as well as the Holmenkollen 50-kilometer race in two weeks.
– The day races are coming. His skiing was a complete disappointment today. A tougher performance is certainly expected at this point in the season, Lassila stated.
Even though Anttola and Ruuskanen made a difference, it wasn’t about the top speeds of the international level.
– Today’s skiing did not give positive signals about the future either. Tomorrow, Iivo gets to ski in the traditional relay, but this did not raise very high expectations, Piirainen states.
Niskasen doesn’t have any free races from this season. However, Lassila and Piirainen remind us that when they are in top condition, they have also passed the free time at a good level.
– Iivo is in his best condition, even if he hasn’t done any hard work in the free time. He has been tough in those situations, Lassila points out.
– We clearly need to improve for next weekend in order to be among the top contenders in Lahti, Piirainen sees.
A new kind of situation in Finland
There was a very exciting fight for the victory of the men’s race. At the beginning of his career, Niskanen was challenged Sami Jauhojärven and Matti Heikkinen from the likes of konkars, but after that he has gone to the national games as a sovereign favorite. In recent years, Niskanen has dominated national standard distance races almost every time he has participated.
Now Niskanen is an experienced star skier in a new situation in Finland. If before, even a weaker performance was enough to win, now the competition is different.
Perttu HyvärinenAnttola, Remi Lindholm and Ruuskanen are skiers who, at their best, can give Finland’s number one a shot.
– It’s a very good thing that young guys have also come on endurance trips and are able to challenge us. It often happens that young guys come to sprint first and then they develop into good standard distance skiers, says Piirainen.
Last winter, Anttola, who won gold and silver in the World Youth Skiing Championships, was promoted to the A national team last summer.
Anttola’s season has been difficult so far, but good bets can be expected from him in the World Cup competitions at the end of the season. On the other hand, Ruuskanen, who crashed violently in last year’s World Championships, has improved during the season. In the Tour de Skill, he was ninth in the tough final climb of Alpe Cermis.
Anttola pointed out that his goal at Salpauselä is the 20 kilometer traditional intermediate start race.
– If he could ski in the top 20, it would be a good achievement. That has not yet happened in his career. Arsi has skied around ten places on the traditional. Such places are possible for him.