Norwegian cross-country experts believe that Iivo Niskas has a good chance to achieve his big dream on Sunday at Holmenkollen’s fiftieth.
On Sunday, the most prestigious competition of the Skiing World Cup is coming up, when the men will ski 50 kilometers at Oslo’s Holmenkollen.
Finland’s number one star Iivo Niskanen also pursues his big dream. He is earlier over the years stated that he wants to win the Olympic gold, the world championship and the Holmenkollen 50 km race. The first two can already be found in Niskas, but the third crown is running out.
After this year, Niskasen will not necessarily have as good winning opportunities as this year for a long time. Next year, the Holmenkollen 50 km races were canceled due to the World Championships in Trondheim, accompanied by a big uproar.
In 2026, on the other hand, Holmenkollen will be skied in Niskanen with a weaker free skiing style, because in the Milan-Cortina D’Ampezzo Olympic program, 50 kilometers will be skied in a traditional skiing style.
Probably, after this year, Niskanen would not be able to try for the fiftieth victory in Holmenkollen until 2027 with his better skiing style.
Norway’s TV2 skiing expert Petter Soleng Skinstad sees that Niskas has a good chance of winning this year.
– Iivo has shown that his condition is improving. We know that he is one of the best in the world at fifty kilometers in traditional skiing, Skinstad describes to Urheilu.
– We have also seen that the Finnish maintenance has done a great job in the traditional skiing competitions. They have been able to offer good skis. It is important for a long trip.
The Norwegian broadcaster NRK’s ski commentator agrees Jan Postwho believes that the spirit of Sunday’s competition is “ten Norwegians against Iivo Niskanen”.
– We know that when Iivo decides to win his most important race of the season, he usually succeeds. Lahti World Cup 2017, Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Olympics. We saw it in all of them. We are worried here, Post tells .
You have to beat the toughest Kläbo ever
Skinstad believes that Johannes Hösflot Kläbo is still the biggest favorite. Pål Golberg too can be strong on Sunday according to a Norwegian skiing expert. Last weekend, Golberg skied convincingly in Salpauselä 20 kilometers in the intermediate race of traditional skiing, until his pole broke.
In January, Golberg also won the 20 km traditional skiing competition in Canada at the Canmore World Cup, when he finished 0.2 seconds faster than Kläbo in the final race.
Skinstad reminds of Kläbo’s performances in December in Trondheim and last weekend in Lahti. Kläbo defeated Iivo Niskanen in the 20-kilometer traditional skiing intermediate time trial by no less than 24 seconds in Salpauselä last Saturday.
According to Skinstad, Kläbo was in the worst shape of his life in Trondheim and Lahti.
– Iivo has to beat the best version of Kläbo ever. Iivo must be at his best so that he can challenge Johannes, Skinstad points out.
According to Skinstad, Niskanen should get away from athletes like Kläbo and Golberg before the final straight. According to the Norwegian expert, they would win the Finnish star in the final round.
– Iivo has to keep a fast pace after 20 kilometers and push hard on the uphills. Johannes, Pål and other good sprinters must be tired before the last (eight kilometer) lap, Skinstad, who himself competes in the long-distance Ski Classics series, estimates.
Post is not as sure about Kläbo’s winning chances. In his opinion, the longer distance is Niskanen’s advantage against Kläbo. The narrator also reminds us of the previous competitions of the season. So Kläbo defeated Niskanen’s Finn in Lahti a week ago on the parade route. In the season opener in Ruka, Niskanen also bowed to the traditional Norwegian in his twenties Martin Löwström for Nyenget.
– It is dangerous that Iivo has lost twice this season in Finland to the Norwegians. He must be angry now. He is even more dangerous, Post underlines.
does not have TV rights for the Holmenkollen weekend World Cup competitions. However, follows the competitions moment by moment in the popular winter sports live tracking of the application and Urheilu’s website.
You can also see the highlights of the competitions on the app and Urheilu’s website after the competition. will broadcast next weekend’s World Cup finals live from Falun, Sweden.