For Krista Pärmäkoski, who skied second in Oberstdorf’s traditional ten, it was the first pole position of the season. For Kerttu Niskanen, the race was a big disappointment in many ways.
Joel Sippola,
Laura Arffman
16:41•Updated 17:36
The opening weekend of the Tour de Ski was Krista from Pärmäkoski tight, but on Tuesday in Oberstdorf, in the traditional top ten intermediate start race, you could see a completely different mood from the Finnish champion. Pärmäkoski did a great job in second place Frida Karlsson after. The difference to the Swede was 16.6 seconds.
Pärmäkoski narrowly beat Norway thanks to its fine finish Anne Kjesti Kalvån mixed Tiril Undnes Wengin. He was still about two kilometers before the finish in fourth, a couple of seconds away from Weng, who was second.
The prize winner is Pärmäkoski’s first of the season. Pärmäkoski’s going was challenging on Sunday in Val Müstair’s traditional pursuit race, where he was only 18th.
Many might have counted the 32-year-old Finn out of today’s top fight.
– I’ve always known that I was in good shape. But when you have bad luck, wrong ski choices, you wonder if it’s in bad shape. It was good to start today.
– It was a pretty slippery ski today. You meant to leave the party. Then we ran uphill and downhill. I set off hard, Pärmäkoski repeated.
Pärmäkoski received help from Switzerland during the race From Nadine Fändrich, with whom the Finn skied during the second round on the tide. Fändrich has won three sprint races this season.
– I heard that someone is in trouble. He was pulling flat sections and I was pulling uphills. I believe that both benefited from it, Pärmäkoski saw.
In Oberstdorf, on Saturday, a 20-kilometer pursuit is free.
– Now let’s start looking for individual good races. Tomorrow is another chance to succeed or fail. You need a hard finish if you want to be on the ball.
A more difficult day on the neck
On Sunday, he finished second Kerttu in Niskase it was a difficult day. He was still in the top fight at the beginning, but as the race progressed, he fell 40 seconds behind Karlsson and was fifth.
– This day did not go as planned. It’s a shame for tomorrow and for the overall race.
Before Tuesday, Niskanen was in the top group of four skiers in the overall race. With Tuesday’s dip, the gap to Karlsson is 41 seconds. Kalvå and Weng are 20 seconds behind.
– Now I had to give up a good hose, Niskanen stated.
However, Niskanen’s fitness is good.
– There was just no traction, Niskanen said.
Remember the Finns Anne Kyllönen was 18 Jasmi Joensuu 28th, Katri Lylynperä 46th and Jasmin Kähärä 60’s