The Finnish men’s relay team’s long record without a medal will continue even after this winter. However, Iivo Niskanen will still receive the missing medal in his trophy cabinet, writes Urheilu’s Joel Sippola.
Iivo Niskanen is a great skier who has almost everything. There are three Olympic golds and one world championship. It’s a lot of World Cup success. Last winter, he finally achieved a medal in the combined competition.
However, 31-year-old Niskanen’s trophy cabinet is missing one valuable race medal, which the Finn will definitely want in his collection before the end of his skiing career. It’s a 4 x 10 kilometer relay medal.
Fulfilling this goal has been a difficult task for Finns for years. It has been almost 14 years since the last Finnish men’s relay medal. Sami Jauhojärvi, Matti Heikkinen, Ville Nousiainen and Teemu Kattilakoski brought bronze to Finland from the World Championships in Liberec in 2009.
Niskanen has been competing in adult relay races since 2014. In prize competition messages, the superstar of Finnish sports has almost always beaten the best on the table. Finland has been in the medal fight after the traditional second part skied by Niskanen.
In terms of a medal, one or both of the free sections or both have become the culmination point. Last winter at the Beijing Olympics, Finland fell off the ride already in the opening leg and was already almost a minute and a half short of the medal position.
But just like that, Niskanen made one of the hardest relay races of all time and brought Finland to the exchange just ten seconds behind third place.
Despite the terrible effort, the team was only sixth. Although Perttu Hyvärinen was in the shape of his life in Beijing, his best performance in the relay was badly missed.
Finland hasn’t had a consistent composition in prize contest messages for a long time. It must not leak anywhere.
Sweden raised its profile
When Russia was banned from international competitive skiing, there was a new kind of hope in the air regarding the relay medal. In the current season, however, there has been a reminder of realism.
With Russia absent, Norway is the overwhelming favorite in Planica’s World Cup relay. The object of interest is who are the three who Johannes Kläbon in the anchoring quartet are skiers.
There are alternatives By Pål Golberg, Simen Hegstad Krüger, By Hans Christer Holund, Didrik Tönseth, Sju Röthen and By Martin Nyengeti such as endurance rolls.
France has been a high-quality country of communication for years. Since 2014, seven value competitions have been organized. During that time, France has won relay medals six times.
The team has a lot of width. The newest riser is young Jules Chappazwhich will bring a lot of joy to his country in the future.
The bronze favorite is Sweden, which has raised its profile a lot this season. Became a father in the summer Calle Halfvarsson has returned to the top level after many difficult years. The konkar, known for its hard tension, is an excellent factor for the anchor part.
Halfvarsson, young William Poromaa mixed Jens Burman are all top 5 skiers at their best. Among them, Burman’s early season has been tight, but he is at his best in value races.
Germany was also ahead of Finland in Beijing. Young by Friedrich Moch and by Janosch Brugger star-studded Germany is ready to surprise in Planica.
Niskanen’s helpers
The Planica World Cup starts in a month and a half. Due to the ragged start of the season, Niskanen’s race condition is a big mystery. But even if our star skier is in great shape, Finland’s starting points for the relay are challenging.
Credit officer Cross mat Hakolan the early season has been tinged with health concerns. Hyvärinen has not shown anything special in the early season competitions.
from Remi Lindholm and From Arsi Ruuskas some great flashes have been seen. However, especially for Ruuskanen, the sample is still small enough that you would even dare to put him in Planica’s relay team. It is likely that Finland will be left without a relay medal once again.
However, Niskanen will hardly miss the evening’s relay medal in his career. Finland currently has a lot of talented young endurance guys on the men’s side, such as Lindholm, Ruuskanen and Niko Anttola. Among them, 19-year-old Anttola, especially compared to Niskasee, is a real gold nugget.
At the same time, the trio is the answer to the long-term challenge of the Finnish message. They are all promising freeskiers.
The realization of Niskanen’s relay dream is more realistic in the 2025 World Championships and the 2026 Olympics. The big skier has told of his desire to continue at least until the Olympic Games in Milan.
Then you can already expect results from young skiers. And when Niskanen is involved, he’s fine.
But where can Finland find the anchor that is able to pull an international top-level travel speed, but is equally able to respond to a tough fight?