Finland’s women had a rough start in the main event of the non-competitive skiing season. Only one of them passed the sprint qualifying in Toblach. Star women now have a mountain to climb.
Sports expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen didn’t expect miracles when the Tour de Ski on Saturday started in Toblach, Italy with the always difficult free sprint for the Finns.
But of course he expected more after seeing. About Finnish women Kerttu Niskanen (35:s), Krista Pärmäkoski (36:s), Anne Kyllönen (41st) and Vilma Ryytty (61st) packed their things already after the qualifying phase.
This means that Niskas and Pärmäkoski, who were aiming for success in the overall competition, have a mountain to climb, when the difference to the top before Sunday’s 10 km (p) split start already increases to around a minute.
– Unfortunately, this wasn’t even a big surprise when you look at the past season. Such a high-speed platform is technically very difficult for Kertu in the free, and it was also noticeable that he over-tried in his skiing.
– Krista, on the other hand, is coming from sick leave to compete in high altitude, so the starting point was already difficult. But of course they need to be able to qualify in all situations, especially since the Tour has fewer competitors than the World Cup.
At the World Cup in Trondheim in mid-December, Niskanen finished 16th in the free sprint, but under different conditions and on a different track.
The whole Tour worries
– In the official documents, Toblach is located approximately 1,200 meters above sea level, but with the feeling of the lungs, the place corresponds to an altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level. This is especially suitable for Kertu, so yes, such a time trial result causes quite a lot of concern for the entire Tour, says Saarinen, who has both competed and practiced a lot in Toblach.
The last sprint of the Tour, in Davos next Wednesday, will also be free skiing, which is a very negative thing for the Finns.
From the beginning of the season, Finnish cross-country skiers have been seen to have given their competitors equipment leveling during the new, fluorine-free creams. According to Saarinen, this was not what the time trial was about:
– Absolutely not.
Jasmi Joensuu went on as expected from 10th place, 8.37 seconds of Sweden Jonna Sundling slower.
– It made me happy, but I could see from Jasmin’s skiing that the Toblach track, combined with the altitude, is very treacherous. The end was difficult, and the acid accumulated violently. I’m really afraid that the next installment will be a bit too much.
Two Finnish men to continue
In the men’s sprint qualifying, Lauri Vuorinen was 18th and Joni Mäki 23rd. They lost to the qualifier winner, France’s Lucas Chavanat, by about six seconds.
Perttu Hyvärinen, Remi Lindholm, Markus Vuorela and Arsi Ruuskanen were far from the places in the group phase.
The heat stage of the sprint starts at 15:30.
Urheilu follows the Tour de Ski in this article.
Ladies:
1. Jonna Sundling SWE 2.51,48
2. Jessie Diggins USA +2.98
3. Linn Svahn SWE +3.53
4. Nadine Fähndrich SUI +4.85
5. Kristine S. Skistad NOR +6.30
6. Julia Kern USA +7.10
10. Jasmi Joensuu FIN +8.37
35. Krista Pärmäkoski FIN +12.78
36. Kerttu Niskanen FIN +12.97
41. Anne Kyllönen FIN +14.08
61. Vilma Ryytty FIN +20.63
Gentlemen:
1. Lucas Chanavat FRA 2:33,23
2. Janik Riebli SUI +2.12
3. Valerio Grond SUI +2.53
4. Harald Ö. Amundsen’s NOR +2.68
5. Erik Valnes NOR +3.00
6. Edvin Anger SWE +3.28
18. Lauri Vuorinen FIN +5.92
23. Joni Mäki FIN +6.60
54. Perttu Hyvärinen FIN +11.06
76. Remi Lindholm FIN +14.65
81. Markus Vuorela FIN +16.35
93. Arsi Ruuskanen FIN +19.75