Iivo Niskanen was fourth in the Holmenkollen 50-kilometer traditional skiing competition. According to Sports expert Toni Roponen, Niskanen skied tactically just as it should.
Iivo Niskanen went on Holmenkollen’s kingship as a pre-favorite, but crossed the finish line after just over two hours of touring in fourth. The Finnish star witnessed the closeness of the Norwegians Martin Löwström dating in Nyengetin, Sjur Röthen and Didrik Tönsethin triple victory in front of the home crowd.
After the race, Niskanen revealed that his trainers had cramped during the last ten kilometers, and the Finn was unable to finish as planned.
– Maybe you can wonder if it made sense to hit the hill tactically in each round. It was hard when everyone assumed I was keeping up the pace. Expenditure was passivated in many rounds. In his own fifth round, he could have saved more, Niskanen pondered after the race.
Sports Expert Toni Roponen was on the same lines. He thought Niskanen’s tactics were good.
– He tried to drop in virtually every lap by skiing the hard end of the hill and reducing the crowd. In retrospect, it is easy to say that it would not have been worth trying to take any letters and it would have been worth saving energy, Roponen reflected.
– The Norwegians were so tough today that it would have been better not to try the World Cup bonus points.
Roponen thought Niskanen’s tactics were good because he tried to utilize his strengths. When the cramps came, nothing could be done anymore.
– Cramps in the end are quite common for everyone except Iivo in these tough races in general, Roponen said.
– Usually, if there are cramps in the hands at the end, it is still difficult to get the body in such a state that you would be able to get the same endings as the Norwegians saw today. As Iivo himself said, he went on to act a bit in the final round. At that point, he realized he couldn’t break away from the gang.
An overwhelming pre-favorite
Niskanen went to the race as an overwhelming pre-favorite. Russian Alexander Bolshunovikaan was not challenging a Finn, as the Russians are no longer seen in the competitions towards the end of the season.
Norway was the first to finish in the 50 km race at the Obertdsdorf World Championships last spring, but was abandoned due to a crash. John Hösflot Kläbokin was at home putting on a corona.
– Iivo is so superior that he had made himself the only favorite winner in the competition. When you are the only favorite of the winner, it is easy for others to come to challenge without pressure. That’s what happened now that the Norwegians were pretty strong today, Roponen sums up.
At the Beijing Olympics, Norway grabbed six gold, one silver and two bronze medals. However, the team of the Russian Olympic Committee toiled more medals: four gold, four silver and three bronze.
For yet another week of cross-country skiing before the parprints and longer finals, the Russians topped the medal table and Norway had the worst races running during the current skiing value program since Turin in 2006.
The headlines were already shining about the Norwegian cross-country skiing crisis.
– Norway is by no means to be forgotten. It must be remembered that the Olympics were in special circumstances. Norwegians had to travel there later due to corona infections. I strongly believe that next year the Norwegians will be really tough and hard to beat, Roponen assures.
Korona left Beijing to win Olympic gold in Pyoengchang Simen Hegstad Krüger as well as an important piece of messaging Heidi Weng.
“Great performance from Ville Ahonen”
After Niskanen, the best Finn was Perttu Hyvärinen, who was nineteenth. The winner Löwström from Nyenget was just over three and a half minutes away.
– Perttu tried to ski for the highest possible performance and hung in the main group for as long as possible. In that sense, good performance. The ranking will certainly not satisfy him by any means after the Olympics, but he is also not a 50-kilometer specialist, Roponen sums up.
Of the other Finns, Roponen points out the 22nd skier Ville Ahosen. Ahonen, 27, was just over four minutes away.
– Absolutely great performance! Too bad he was in a bit of a bad spot when the top group stood out. He might have had bangs longer to stay in the final group. The final disposal is really good and it gives faith in the future, Roponen ponders.
– Yes, there was little suspicion about going to the race. I had never skied in my traditional fifties to the finish line. I couldn’t wait to be so high, Ahonen rejoiced.
Ristomatti Hakola was 28th (+5.50.8) and Lauri Lepistö 38: s (+6.40.5). Remi Lindholm interrupted due to back problems. The World Cross Country Skiing Cup will end next weekend in Falun.