Urheilu’s skiing expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen speculates on a surprise name for the Finnish women’s World Cup relay in the continuation of Urheilustudio.
Returned to competitions from illness Iivo Niskanen proved in France’s Les Rousses that he is in excellent shape a month before the start of the World Ski Championships in Trondheim.
The Finnish star, who recently turned 33, was second in the 20-kilometer traditional joint start race. Niskanen didn’t pull this time, but was content to observe his fellow skiers and keep his playing cards hidden.
Urheilu’s skiing expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen was impressed by this new kind of Iivo Niskas. According to the expert, the direction of the experienced value race winner towards Trondheim looks very good based on the Les Rousses weekend.
– It was great that he tried a tactic like this. Of course, that was made possible by the fact that we set out to keep a high pace Mika Vermeulen (AUT) and By Hugo Lapalus (FRA) by. The tactic was easy to follow.
Niskanen is at his best on the track in the traditional intermediate start races, where he gets to do his own skiing. It has been challenging for him to achieve a top result in the joint start races, when on many race tracks a large group piles up and the decisions are often left to the last minute.
During the last ten years, Niskanen has often worked in these areas and tried to break up the pack. The 50 km at the 2018 Olympics was the best possible result as he cruised to his first individual Olympic gold.
Niskanen’s assistant was often Russian Alexander Bolshunovlike in the combined race of the previous Olympics, in which the Finn took bronze when the Russian won. When Russia has been closed from international skiing competitions for the past three seasons, Niskanen has had to work alone against the tough Norwegians.
Austria’s Mika Vermeulen has announced that he wants to keep the pace in the joint start race.
– For example Paul Golberg was fully cooked out. For Iivo, he was one of the most dangerous competitors. If it comes down to the final straight, Golberg is very tough. It was a really interesting competition after a long time, Saarinen is happy.
Who flopped?
Saarinen waited Kerttu from Niskase better result. The older Niskanen dropped already at five kilometers Frida Karlsson from the top group of five women.
Niskanen didn’t collapse in terms of ranking, but sixth place was little consolation for the Finn. The Finnish hero put his performance on the back of a weak team.
Saarinen adds that Niskanen did not succeed in the best possible way in the 10-kilometer free time trial, even though he was ninth. It was also sticky in the sprint.
– Maybe the recovery is a bit incomplete. In the sprint, he continued nicely, but there was quite a lot of fencing in the heats.
The 2009 world champion is not worried about his former national teammate.
– This weekend was low-spirited. I think he was aiming for the podium himself. The pace of the weekend was not right, and the equipment caused him to fall off the podium.
Who surprised?
Saarinen gives a thumbs up Vilma Ryytyn for the best World Cup ranking of his career. The 23-year-old Finn was 16th and the second best Finn in Friday’s free race.
Significantly, the winner was only a minute apart to Jessie Diggins.
Saarinen recalls the beginning of his own career, when it was difficult for him to score points.
– It was a really brave bet. I remember how I couldn’t get into the top 30 chess by any means. However, he went to well over 20 checkers.
Saarinen considers Ryyttya a viable name for the much-speculated World Cup relay team.
– He signed up there now. You can be a potential skier if you’re good at it, says Saarinen.
What next?
The cross-country skiing World Cup season continues next weekend in Engadin, Switzerland. Saarinen is expecting a furious Sweden in the near future Frida Karlsson and Norway Therese Johaugin encounter.
Karlsson was completely irresistible in the 20 km race on Sunday. A teammate Ebba Andersson was a minute and a half behind him.
Karlsson and Johaug have only met in two races this season. Johaug won the Tour de Ski at the turn of the year, in which the younger Swede was not involved.
Johaug, on the other hand, was not seen over the weekend in France.
– I follow with great interest Karlsson and Johaug’s next butt-kicking. Overwhelming bets have been seen from both. It will be interesting to see if Kerttu Niskanen will join in, Saarinen refers to Trondheim’s gold rustling.