Elian Lehto completely nailed his own performance at the World Championships – “In two years we’ll be on the podium”

Finland’s alpine skiing sensation Elian Lehto was 25th in the Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill.

Lehto roared with disappointment at the finish. Break to the top and the winner To Marco Odermatti came in 1.92 seconds.

– Completing the upper part of the track was number 1 on the priority list. Today it didn’t go as I planned. When it’s flat up there, it shows right away on the watch. I’ve gotten a little bit out of the v-tutu. If something positive, some good guys were left behind, Lehto analyzes for Urheilu after the competition.

However, the Finn ended his comments about the race with a confident statement about the next World Championships.

– In two years we will be on the podium, Lehto said.

Lehto has a tight start at the World Championships. In addition to the downhill competition, three days of downhill training, super slalom and alpine skiing. The super giant slalom came in 22nd place. An interruption was recorded in the Alpine connection.

– I have now counted eight days in a row. It’s probably the toughest sets I’ve done. Use your body and mental capacity to the maximum every day. You can feel it, but it gives you experience and readiness for future challenges, says Lehto.

Lehto could not say whether the World Cup race will be on the positive side.

– I hope it stays. Of course, you always get positive things from calculating the jump through analyses. As a result, however, the races were shit. My expectations were higher, but at least it went better than in the last World Cup. After all, there are some investments, Lehto said.

22-year-old Lehto has grabbed his first World Cup points in the downhill this season. He now set his sights on the next World Cup diving competition at the beginning of March in Aspen, USA.

– Let’s get more World Cup points from Aspen, so we can be more competitive next year. Now so many 15-20 year old customers are closing. Space is available. Let’s attack it, says Lehto.

Papanainen shook the longest from the first jump

Finland’s second representative Jaakko Tapanainen was 36th, 4.36 seconds behind the leader. Sports expert Kalle Palander according to Tapanainen flew the longest from the first jump out of all 41 participants.

– It took a little long. The elastic didn’t work as I planned. However, the jump was in possession. It didn’t cause anything bigger, Tapanainen said.

Patainainen was a little disappointed with his performance, but the result was still not far from what he had hoped for. At the World Championships, Tapanainen mainly gained experience in speed sports. The super mouth slalom took 36th place and the alpine combined took 22nd place.

– Nothing better than this is offered anywhere. The results were not bad. It’s really good to take the next step, Tapanainen stated.

The 21-year-old Finn plans to compete in speed sports in the finals of the European Cup next.

Odermatt scolded Palander

Kalle Palander admired the winner of the competition by Marco Odermatti bet.

– Wow, camoon, Urheilu’s expert Kalle Palander was amazed in the commentary and applauded the performance.

– An incomprehensible bill.

Palander was especially pleased because Odermatt got his own after the disappointment in the super slalom.

– It was a wonderful race. It was great that Marco showed the others where the locker was. He has never even won a World Cup race in diving, but then such a decline hits the World Championships, Palander beamed after the race.

Palander gave a clean bill of the Finns’ performance.

– Lehto was only four tenths of a second behind the top fifteen. Tapanainen was in a tough spot when he participated in the men’s jump for the first time. He performed well in these games, Palander summed up.

Finns received sad news on Sunday, when Riikka Honkanen had to miss the World Cup for health reasons. Honkanen’s absence means that Finland will not be able to assemble a team for the next World Cup event for Tuesday’s team competition.

Alpine Skiing World Championships Courchevel/Meribel FRA (6.–19.2. TV2 and Areena)

Tue 14.2.
at 12:45 team competition, mixed team

Wed 15.2.
at 12.45 pairs competition, men and women

Thu 16.2.
at 10:45 giant slalom, 1st round, women
at 14:15 giant slalom, 2nd round, women

Fri 17.2.
at 10:45 giant slalom, 1st round, men
at 2:15 p.m. giant slalom, 2nd round, men

Sat 18.2.
at 10:55 slalom, 1st round, women
at 14:25 slalom, 2nd round, women

Sun 19.2.
at 10:55 a.m. slalom, 1st round, men
at 14:25 slalom, 2nd round, women