Who will represent Finland in the traditional sprint at the World Championships in Planica? It has been a question that has been pondered at least once during this season. Especially on the men’s side, the fight for representation has been fierce, but also on the women’s side it is difficult to choose a clear four.
Sports expert Kalle Lassila chose his own candidates for the WC sprint. For both women and men, picking the fourth skier produced the most gray hairs.
Women’s team: Jasmin Kähärä, Jasmi Joensuu, Anne Kyllönen and Johanna Matintalo
Men’s team: Lauri Vuorinen, Niilo Moilanen, Joni Mäki and Ville Ahonen
According to Lassila, the women’s choice was influenced by the fact that Johanna Matintalo and Jasmi Joensuu have already skied such performances in the early stages of this season that they had fairly certain places.
Matintalo, the recent Finnish sprint champion, finished third in the traditional sprint in Beitostölen. Joensuu was fourth in Ruka and was the last to be eliminated from the semifinals in both Beitostölen and Les Rousses.
– Both Krista Pärmäkoski that Kerttu Niskanen would certainly earn a place with their own sprint performances, but I doubt that they will ski sprints in Planica, Lassila said.
– With Saturday’s performance Anne Kyllönen again, very likely to ski in Planica’s sprint.
Katri Lylynperä was eighth two years ago on the same route at the World Championships in Oberstdorf, but this season his going has been sticky. Last weekend he took silver in the WC, but in Les Rousses he was only 20th. Lassila reminds that Lylynperä’s international profile is weaker than that of skiing in the World Youth Championships Jasmin Kähärä. Kähärä finished 13th in Ruka.
Ville Ahonen’s choice is justified
On the men’s side Lauri Vuorinen, Niilo Moilanen and Joni Mäen According to Lassila, the screens are clear. On the other hand, Lassila believes that the selection of the fourth man is really difficult for the coaching management.
– Ville Ahosella is the best international display for that group, Ruka’s 15th place. Based on that, Ahonen’s choice seems justified, Lassila stated.
Cross mat Hakola won the sprint Finnish championship last weekend, but failed to qualify in Les Rousses. However, according to Lassila, Hakola has, in previous years, hit the counter with hard displays specifically from sprinting.
– The coaching staff will definitely look at Hakola’s condition in Sunday’s competition. The choice may also be influenced by what other distances Hakola or Ahonen would possibly ski in the World Championships, Lassila said.
“If you can’t do it with these, you probably won’t do anything”
After Saturday’s sprint race, there were both satisfied and disappointed athletes in the Finnish camp. Katri Lylynperä was thoughtful after her own job.
– I was thinking a bit about whether it would be possible to see people from us skiing in Planica, he said.
There was also the same opinion Olli Ahonen, which at the beginning of the season was at top speed, for example in the Finnish Cup. In France, his ranking was 29th.
– I doubt that’s enough, this one won’t (make) the team. In that, for example, Lauri (Vuorinen) was the kind of man who should have won, Ahonen said.
Vuorinen was the best Finnish man in 10th place. In his opinion, the day was relaxing in terms of results, although there was still a lot to improve in skiing. He admitted that the whole team had big stakes in the race.
– In principle, there were two places shared. Yes, you could see it from the boys, that they all had a little extra swagger. Although everyone was thinking about it quietly in their own heads, because at least it wasn’t spoken to the group, Vuorinen said and stated that he felt confident.
– If you can’t use these screens, then probably nothing.
Ville Ahonen had packed a lot into Saturday’s race. 24th place was his second best international result of the season and it left him on a positive note.
– I gave everything that could be given, it wasn’t enough to make it better. At least I didn’t have anything left to worry about, Ahonen said.
Anne Kyllönen was 11th in the final results, and it was also her second best international result of the season. Kyllönen stated that he would like to ski a traditional sprint in Planica, because his skiing feels really good, especially on traditional.
Think you’re on Planica’s team?
– It’s probably not a matter of faith, Kyllönen laughed.
– Coaches should probably look at the results lists and think about this. My job is to ski and then we’ll see what the future holds.