Aino-Kaisa Saarinen’s promising assessment of the superior Iivo Niskas – only one thing can take the victory in the Ruka World Cup

Sports studio’s broadcast of the alpine skiing world cup from Levi starts on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. on TV2, Areena and the app. During the day’s broadcast and the weekend’s live coverage, the events of the Olos Artillery Games are followed closely.

Iivo Niskanen gave a storm warning to the others in his opening race of the season at Olos Artillery Games. Niskanen won the ten-kilometer traditional cross-country race with a difference of no less than 24.2 seconds to the second-placed Norwegian Mattis to Stenshagen.

Already at the halfway point, the difference was 22.9 seconds. Niskanen described to Urheilu after the race how he had to take on the Italian who left before him Federico Pellegrino first catch and then take a moment in peace behind him. However, Niskanen quickly passed Pellegrino.

Urheilu’s skiing expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen was impressed by Iivo Niskanen’s departure.

– Iivo’s skiing looked good. It seemed like he had the urge to go. Iivo seems to be fine. His mind and body are fine when he dares and wants to go hard right away, Saarinen incenses.

To top it all off, Niskanen stated in an interview with Urheilu that Saturday’s skiing is enough for any race, as long as there are no back packs.

Saarinen was on the same lines. In two weeks, Ruka will have the same distance on the program at the World Cup on Saturday, 10 kilometers as a traditional skiing intermediate start.

– Others can be careful. Corona or in general getting sick is the only thing that can prevent Iivo from winning in Ruka, Saarinen’s line.

History also speaks well for Iivo Niskanen. In 2019 and 2021, Niskanen won the ten-kilometer time trial in Muonio with traditional skiing and a few weeks later also in Ruka. In 2021, Niskanen won with a difference of no less than 39.8 seconds to Aleksandr Bolshunov.

Saarinen, a 15-time medalist in the prestigious competition, feels that success in the first competition of the season is of great importance. Especially when the competitions in Olos are of a high standard with many foreign names.

– After all, everyone goes to the line with a little uncertainty. Even if it felt good in training, that result is not there yet. Now you can restore black to white. It increases self-confidence and certainty that we are on schedule and the right things have been done, Saarinen states.

Kimmo Porttila, Kalle Lassila and Laura Arffman covered the hottest topics of the ski season in Urheilu’s podcast, which predicted the start of the ski season. The podcast also explains what the 2024 dream skier is like.

Kerttu Niskanen’s skiing is far from finished

Kerttu Niskanen on the other hand, finished fifth in their opening race, when the women also skied ten kilometers with a traditional skiing intermediate start. Niskanen remained the German winner To Katharina Hennig up to 47.7 seconds. Second place and Laura Gimmler was only 6.4 seconds away though.

– Kertu’s skiing looked sticky. It showed a training load. Kertu’s skiing is by no means finished. Hennig’s skiing was relaxed and powerful from the beginning, Saarinen described.

Saarinen thinks that Kerttu Niskanen should do some lighter training before the World Cup in Ruka. Then he would have his competition condition brought out with the help of an expert.

According to Saarinen, however, there is no need to worry about Kerttu Niskas just yet.

– Yes, there is enough time for Ruka here. Of course, there is still work to be done in skiing, but there is no need to worry too much just yet. If Ruka has today’s type of skiing, then you can be a little worried, says Saarinen.

Olos has also heard a little worse news from Norway, the great country of the sport. The corona pandemic has tormented Norwegians. The Norwegian Ski Federation said on Friday that Didrik Tönseth, Håvard Solås Taugböl and Sjur Röthe have to travel home from Muonio after contracting the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the national team coach did the same To Arild Monsen and to the head of the ski team Per Elias to Kalfoss.

Norwegians have had worries about getting sick before. Johannes Hösflot Kläbo and Tiril Udnes Weng told about the corona infection, the number one man in the combined Jarl-Magnus Riiber from his rhinovirus.

– Let’s hope that Corona doesn’t spoil anyone’s path and when the World Cup starts, everyone will be healthy at the starting line, Saarinen reflects.

The high-level Cannon Races culminate in the free ten-kilometer intermediate start races in Olos on Sunday. Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen are at the starting line again. Also one of the top names in Finland Krista Pärmäkoski start their season.

Saarinen believes that the setup will remain as it was on Saturday. Iivo Niskanes will see lively skiing again and Kerttu Niskanen’s situation will not change overnight. Saarinen is looking forward to Pärmäkoski’s season opening.

– Let’s hope that there will be cheerful Christmas skiing. Krista has usually been fine in Olos when she has been fine in general, Saarinen said.