Nine months ago Kerttu Niskanen lost the Olympic gold For Therese Johaug Only 0.4 seconds in the 10-kilometer traditional cross-country time trial. Now, at the opening of the World Cup in Ruka, he was only tenth on the same trip and a distant winner to Ebba Andersson was more than half a minute.
Niskanen, who kept a good pace until a couple of weeks ago in Olos and last weekend in the Taivalkoski Suomen Cup, admitted that today’s performance was a question mark for him.
– There was absolutely nothing left of it. It was a mysteriously difficult start. Skiing felt really sticky from start to finish. Even as the journey progressed, I couldn’t join the race, Niskanen updated.
– I even laughed at myself that it really was ten, and it felt shockingly bad. Of course, the first games, but you have to think about why it was like that.
Sports experts Ville Nousiainen and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen attracted the attention of the fifth-placed Krista Pärmäkoski and Niskanen’s skiing technique differences. Pärmäkoski’s activity, especially when starting the second round, impressed me, as did his technique in the highlands.
– Kertulla’s push went a little too far in the ascent. Maybe there is a small load in the musculature, in which case the innervation does not work yet, Saarinen stated.
Nousiainen was of the same opinion, according to whom Pärmäkoski was able to ski in the highlands in the same way as in a sprint: Pärmäkoski was very on top of his head and easily made the hold.
– Krista had the patience to be in front and make a shorter push, while Kerttu’s many pushes went really far. That’s where the ski starts to slip when you go into back weight, Nousiainen analysed.
– Kertu’s skiing is really crazy. This must be because he is still loaded and tired from training. When you remove it, the result is completely different.
Women’s coach Jussi Piirainen admitted that he was disappointed with Kerttu Niskanen’s result and considered Krista Pärmäkoski’s result to be an OK bet. However, he is not worried, as many factors could have influenced the result. Niskanen, for example, stated that he might even have too much grip on his skis.
– Everything is in good shape and I know that the women are in good shape. Even better results can be expected from there, assured Piirainen.
Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski were among the early favorites for Saturday’s race, but instead of the Finns, the Swedish duo Ebba Andersson celebrated in Ruka – Frida Karlsson. Finns beat Germany in third place in Olos Katharina Hennig.
– Normally, there would have been times when you would have thrown a ball on that ski, but there are many hard skiers there. As I predicted, it should really be a really good day, Pärmäkoski said about the runner-up battle.
In Nousiainen’s opinion, the day was partly just a bone in the hand, because the traditional 10 kilometer race is usually a journey of success for Finns. However, the results correlate well with the early season competitions.
– The differences are small, when Finnish women get their muscles “freer”, so it’s good to take it a step higher.
On Sunday, a 20-kilometer freestyle pursuit race will be skied. Experts believe that the balance of power will remain more or less the same, but the US skiers will also join.
– Swedish women, (Anne Kjersti) Gnaw, Krista and Kerttu. I believe that these will be top skiers throughout the season, Nousiainen estimates.
– The season is long and there are a lot of competitions. Now you have to be careful that you know how to make the right decisions in practice and competition, Saarinen reminded.