Kerttu Niskanen has won the cup of normal distances in skiing. The victory was secured in the final race of the World Cup of the standard distances Cup in Salpauselka. In the women’s 20 km traditional race, Niskanen finished fifth.
Norway skied to win the competition Anne Kjersti Kalvåwhich defeated Sweden in the final straight Jonna Sundling and Germany by Katharina Hennig.
Niskanen struggled to win the standard distance Cup for the United States Jessie Diggins with. When starting the competition, the difference between the two was only 22 points.
Niskanen started to keep up the pace at about seven and a half kilometers and grabbed a full 15 points from both kirimaals. Diggins finished 22nd in the race and in the end the difference between the two increased to 94 points.
– This victory in the distance cup is certainly one of the best things in my career, in addition to those prestigious race medals. It’s amazing to be the best normal distance skier. Then you have to ski very free and control very traditional, Niskanen said after the victory.
Niskanen is the third Finnish winner of the standard distance Cup. Virpi Sarasvuo (nee Kuitunen) won the Cup twice in a row in the 2006–2008 seasons. Iivo Niskanen celebrated the victory of the normal journeys Cup and the third place of the World Cup last season.
Kerttu Niskanen finished third in the overall competition of the World Cup. Tiril Udnes Weng practically ensured the overall victory of the World Cup already in Saturday’s sprint race. Second place overall went to Jessie Diggins.
Niskanen would have hoped that Ebba Andersson and Frida Karlsson would have kept a faster cruising speed. In the beginning, we skied quietly.
– For a long time, I too had the driving responsibility on my shoulders, but of course I couldn’t be at the forefront myself all the time. There are really piles of bills here, even though there are good pieces of work and you can get some differences in them.
In addition, the new snow that fell during the night caused challenges when skiing in the stadium area. On the last lap, Karlsson was still close to colliding with Niskanen.
– A bit of a similar situation to Iivo’s sometimes in the World Cup, that I thought I would go wrong, but I didn’t. It was quite a bumpy ride at the end, but in that sense it was warmed up by the fact that Diggins was behind, Niskanen assessed the competition.
A positive conclusion to Pärmäkoski’s season
Krista Pärmäkoski skied with the main group for a long time and finished eighth. Good skiing brought light to Pärmäkoski, who started the Salpausselkä Games from difficult starting points. Below was a case of coronavirus disease and the death of a long-time pet.
– There was a winning ski today. My condition wasn’t quite there yet, but there was clearly much better to do than yesterday and my mood was better today.
Pärmäkoski is having a difficult season and, among other things, the Tour de Ski was interrupted due to stomach disease. In Sunday’s competition, Pärmäkoski was able to enjoy competitive skiing again.
– At the end of the day, for better or for worse, this is just sport and work. Even important things in life. I did my best and I don’t regret anything, that I have put everything in the hole, Pärmäkoski said.
Pärmäkoski is not going to make a decision on its termination yet and this season there are several domestic competitions ahead. However, changes are expected in the national team, as the maintenance manager Mika Venäläinen has announced that he is leaving his position. The Russian has also worked as Niskaste’s personal ski lubricator.
– I don’t want to give up on Mika quitting. Iivo and I are still trying to talk him around. Greetings to Kat at home, don’t be so strict there. Yes, we need him.
– There is no better man to apply creams. I don’t want Mika to stop, Kerttu Niskanen said emotionally.
Women’s 20 kilometers (p)
1. Anne Kjersti Kalvå NOR 51.04,3
2. Jonna Sundling SWE + 0.9
3. Katharina Hennig GER + 1.1
4. Ebba Andersson SWE + 1.3
5. Kerttu Niskanen FIN + 3.3
6. Frida Karlsson SWE + 4.6
7. Heidi Weng NOR + 23.6
8. Krista Pärmäkoski FIN + 26.4
9. Laura Gimmler GER + 35.0
10. Anne Kyllönen FIN + 37.3
…
14. Johanna Matintalo FIN + 42.8
17. Eveliina Piippo FIN + 45.6
42. Emmi Lämsä FIN + 4.06,8
43. Vilma Ryytty FIN + 4.17,7
44. Oona Kettunen FIN + 4.21,2
45. Anni Kainulainen FIN + 4.46.2
47. Elsa Torvinen FIN + 5.06,6
49. Rebecca Immonen FIN + 5.44,6
50. Tiia Olkkonen FIN + 5.56,2