Johanna Matintalo furiously wins the SM gold – Krista Pärmäkoski’s unprecedented experience: “It doesn’t warm up” | Sport

Johanna Matintalo was able to participate in the North American World Cup after all. However, Finland gives rival countries a handicap in their preparation.

Johanna Matintalo defeated Krista Pärmäkoski In the 20-kilometer traditional skiing race of the Vantaa National Ski Championships, with 21 seconds and a bronze Jasmi to Joensuu in a minute and 20 seconds. Matintalo, who had been ill since the beginning of the season, was surprised how long the trip felt and how long it took.

– In the middle of the race, I realized that the joke is indeed a long way to the finish line. It probably took a good hour for us women to finish, and it’s a really long race, Matintalo laughed.

For Matintalo, the Finnish championship is the fourth in his career. The previous three had come from sprints with traditional skiing.

Matintalo started first of the medal trio, and he thought the position was ungrateful. However, he received intermediate information well and knew how much Pärmäkoski had caught up with him.

– Halfway through I had to find such a little rage to the end that I was able to keep Krista behind.

Defeat win does not warm the mind

Pärmäkoski was in pain during the last four-kilometer run, because his extensors were cramping. That had never happened to him before. But even though the feeling was quite uncomfortable, he didn’t think for a moment about stopping.

– No! I do not, of course. Even with his head in his arms at the finish line, he assured.

– It was competitive skiing weather, it didn’t let go easily. You had to wait for it to come to the end, but it didn’t. I bet on flat sections and I tried to tighten up on them, but in the last lap I couldn’t get out anymore.

Whereas Matintalo got sick with corona right before the Ruka World Cup, Pärmäkoski got sick before the Tour de Ski. He admitted that his condition is by no means what he would like.

– It doesn’t always go the way you want. Defeat win. It doesn’t warm my heart, because it would be nice to win, but I’m still quite satisfied. Championship medal, however.

More puzzle pieces than days

Since Krista Pärmäkoski is not in full swing at the moment, she decided to skip the next World Cup competitions in North America. It opened a place for Johanna Matintalo, who was not initially selected for the team.

Matintalo is satisfied with this, because now that he has been able to run his competition season for a month, his condition is going forward.

– In Canmore, they ski half-high, and I think it suits me. I go there to get the best skis of the season. It would have been sad if the World Cup season had only continued in Lahti.

However, according to Matintalo, the Finnish team’s preparation for the North American tour is not optimal. Many teams or skiers are already preparing in Canada and, for example, the Swedish team is training at high altitude.

However, in Matintalo’s opinion, it is important that Finland’s top skiers take part in the Vantaa SC skis, even if the timing is not favorable to skiers touring the World Cup.

– Some have had the whole package processed, i.e. time difference and altitude, we are low and in Finland. It will be interesting to see how much that affects the results.

The Finnish team travels to Canada on Monday and the first competition is on Friday, but the important traditional skiing competition for Matintalo is not until Sunday. He hopes to have enough time to adapt.

– There are more pieces to the puzzle than days, but this is our team’s travel plan and we have to adapt to it. In the race, we will see who it suits and who it doesn’t.