For the first time, Kerttu Niskanen skied among the top three in the freestyle skiing competition.
Roope Visuri,
Kimmo Porttila
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Kerttu Niskanen skied the best freestyle race of his career when he was third in Toblach in the 20 km freestyle intermediate start race.
In his career, Niskanen has never been in the top three in a freestyle skiing competition at the World Cup.
If you don’t count the legendary final ascent of Alpe Cermis, Niskanen had previously been at his best in the freestyle skiing competition three times fifth.
Most recently, he was fifth in the free race in March of this year in Falun in the 20 km joint start race.
The times before that were from 2013. Niskanen was fifth in Davos in December 2013, when they competed as an intermediate start with 15 kilometers of freestyle skiing. In March 2013 in Falun, Niskanen was fifth in the freestyle pursuit competition.
Now in Toblach, the Norwegians were stronger than Niska Astrid A mole Slind and Therese Johaug. Niskanen beat Slind by 20.3 seconds and Johaug by 17.3 seconds.
Slind already won the traditional 20 km joint start race in Davos before the Christmas break. Now Slind took the second World Cup victory of his career.
Slind made a huge climb, as he was more than 15 seconds behind Johaug and Niska at the halfway point of the race.
However, Niskanen narrowed the gap to the top name in the battle for victory in the Tour Jessie to Diggins. He is now 22 seconds behind Diggins. Slind got 10 seconds and Johaug 19 seconds behind Niskas.
– I am a little saddened by Kertu’s bad luck. He had to travel the whole way alone and the long downhill alone. The rest of the top five came in a group. It really helps downhill. He could have fought for the win. This was completely bad luck. No one was hit. The others got it, Finland’s head coach Teemu Badass upset Urheilu.
For example, the winner Slind finished in a big group. He pulled Canada by Katherine Stewart-Jones unexpectedly for shared fourth place Germany Victoria Carlin with.
Kerttu Niskanen was reasonably calm about his day’s performance.
– It was a good day and good skiing. I always tried to ski within my limits. Skiing felt good all the time. It didn’t sour at all. It was nice to ski. Downward I tried to become what I could. I didn’t get traction aids, Niskanen described to Urheilu.
Niskanen received a nice gesture at the finish line from Germany’s Victoria Carl, who helped to remove the skis. Niskanen immediately praised the German.
Just like the traditional 20-kilometer joint start race in Davos, three 36-year-old skiers were seen at the podium party.
– With the girls, it was stated that it is again the age group of 1988. It is not a bad age group, Niskanen threw.
The Tour de Ski continues with a 15-kilometer co-start race on traditional skiing on Wednesday. It will be started based on the results of Tuesday’s race.
– I just heard what the difference is to the bow and what the layout is. Of course, it’s harder to get closer to the top two. Not an optimal situation. On the other hand, you get to ski your own ski and share your own pace, Niskanen described.
He was going to spend the New Year snuggling in his room together with his dog Martta.
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