“Can be in the top three” – Elian Lehto thought his fall was embarrassing

Elian Lehto has dazzled this season in speed sports in the World Cup. Palander says that Lehto can be on the podium in a few years.

This weekend, after a four-year break, the legendary diving competition in Kitzbühel saw a Finn, who made his debut in the World Cup this season Elian Lehto was involved.

Lehto was 33rd on Friday and 36th on Saturday.

Saturday’s bill included Urheilu’s expert Kalle Palander including a lot of mistakes. However, Palander reminded that Lehto had two hard training sessions and there was still another race on Saturday.

– Elian had completely run out of bangs, Palander said.

On Saturday, Lehto came to the finish line with a violent crash. However, the 22-year-old vertigo seemed to survive the situation without major damage.

– Fortunately, nothing happened in the goal. There is a lot of snow in it, so the leg can twist, Palander stated.

Lehto himself described in the release that the count on Saturday was not as he wanted.

– The upper part is really difficult when visibility is poor. I didn’t get to count it like I wanted to. Then I put more rounds in the machine, calculated more directly and with a bigger risk, it seemed to backfire. Finally, there was an embarrassing fall. There was a hole in it that I didn’t notice, Lehto said.

All in all, Palander thought Lehto’s first races in Kitzbühel were good. Earlier this season, Lehto reached the World Cup points in Val Gardena and Wengen. 20th place came in Val Garden and 27th place in Wengen.

Palander is very fond of Lehto.

– He is something completely incomprehensible. He is the first Finnish alpine skier who has everything so perfect in the descent. When you look at other Finns, you wonder when you’re going to get out of hand and swing into the net, Palander described.

The previous Finnish sprint competitor in the World Cup was Andreas Romar. Romar, who ended his career in 2019, was fifth in the fall at the 2013 World Championships.

Palander sees more potential in Lehto than in Romar.

– If Lehto stays healthy, he can be among the three in two or three years. If Finland can achieve such a result in speed sports, it is unimaginable. Wow! Palander sets the mood.

Saturday’s race in Kitzbühel was won by Norway Alexander Aadmot Kilde 0.67 seconds behind France To Johan Clarey. For 42-year-old Clarey, the victory would have been the first in his entire career in the World Cup.

Austria had won the Kitzbühel plunge on Friday Vincent Kriechmayrwhich was now fifth.

Kilde’s countryman on Friday Henrik Röän the leg was broken. Saturday also saw plenty of falls, but everyone got up on their own two feet.