Ilkka Herola has found his great skiing blood. Petter Kukkonen highlights the delicious possibility of success at the World Championships in Trondheim.
Ilkka Herola succeeded on Saturday in the combined World Cup race, when he was handsomely second in the scenery of Ramsau, Austria. This is the experienced Finnish athlete’s first podium finish in almost two years.
Herola’s setup for the race was excellent, as it is different from the top name in the hill section in Japan Ryota to Yamamoto was 37 seconds. On the track, Herola kept a strong pace for fourth place and finally found himself in the fight for victory, with Germany’s merited By Vinzenz Geiger with.
Herola’s good condition is evidenced by the fact that he already succeeded in Ruka’s opening weekend. The race in question has usually been difficult for Herola, but this time he was promisingly fourth there.
Herola was also fourth on Friday in the first race in Ramsau.
– He knows that he is in good shape. Ruka’s opening weekend was the best of his career. If last season was difficult, now the right direction has been taken. Now we have seen the kind of Ilkka that we have become accustomed to. He is in the race for awards and if he succeeds he can challenge for the top, Urheilu’s expert Petter Kukkonen swedish
Last season was more difficult for Herola due to, among other things, the building project. Although the skiing was good before, now it has returned to the level it was at in Herola’s best season 2020-2021.
At that time, Herola won the World Championship silver. It is the only prestigious medal of the 29-year-old athlete’s career so far. Kukkonen believes that Herola can fight for a medal again at the February-March World Championships in Trondheim.
– There are two fourth places and one second place from this season, when seven races have been contested. The probability is starting to speak for the fact that a place in the championship is possible.
A World Cup medal?
Kukkonen reminds the Finnish team of the good big picture at the moment. 17 years old Minja Korhonen achieved the second top 3 place of his career with his third place on Friday.
Breed a year younger Heta Hirvonen has been excellent on the hill. When you include the one focused on training Eero HirvonenFinland may also have opportunities in the mixed team competition in Trondheim.
The format in question was for the first time in the World Cup program at the 2023 Planica Games.
– There are starting to be 3–4 good athletes. The mixed team competition can be found in Trondheim. Finland can have its say. It’s nice to see that this isn’t just up to Herola, as there are several that the public can pay attention to, says Kukkonen.
So Hirvonen has not yet competed once this season. Hirvonen and Kukkonen, who coaches him, did a good hill workout on Saturday in Jyväskylä.
– The worst phase is over and a smile can be found on the athlete’s lips again. It was a really promising training. He still has a month to train before the season starts for him, Kukkonen said about Hirvonen’s news.
A great sign
It was a great sign for Herola that he was able to beat tough skiers in the race for the prize in Ramsau. The Germans are known as hard skiers Julian Schmidt and Norway Jens Lurås Oftebro didn’t keep up with Geiger and Herola.
When Herola has been fit, his strength has been a long streak.
– In the last two seasons, he has been a good skier, but underpowered compared to his level. He can be the best skier in the group, as he has been for several seasons. Now it can be seen that the old Ilkka is back. It’s a matter of practice.
Minja Korhonen was eighth in the women’s race on Saturday. Heta Hirvonen took the best World Cup ranking of her career and was 16th. The victory was celebrated by Norway Ida Marie Hagen.