If there was a women’s pursuit race at the Äänekoski SM skiing Kerttu Niskanen superiority, the same can be said Perttu from Hyväris in the men’s 15 km (p) course.
We don’t talk about equally big differences, because at the end of the women’s 10 kilometer (p) pursuit race, Niskanen’s difference Krista Pärmäkoski was closer to two minutes. Of course, Pärmäkoski said that he had saved up for Sunday’s message.
In the men’s race, Hyvärinen beat Cross mat Hakolan in 48.3 seconds. Lost about 50 seconds to the top Markus Vuorela and Arsi Ruuskanen twisted tightly from bronze. In the end, Vuorela was one second better.
The men set off on Saturday based on Friday’s 10 km freestyle skiing race. Yesterday Hyvärinen won with a difference of 17.8 seconds over Vuorela. Next were Hakola and Ruuskanen, about 25 seconds away from Hyvärinen.
On Saturday, Hyvärinen forged a gap of about half a minute more. The gap between Hyvärinen and Hakola was already 50 seconds after five kilometers, so at the end Hyvärinen had time to calm down.
Hyvärinen also caused an extra program for herself by falling in six kilometers. However, he was able to continue with his equipment intact.
Already on Friday, Hyvärinen explained that the victory came by accident.
– It wasn’t meant to be, it just slipped.
– The speed section also failed completely, I skied too hard at the beginning and I was about to freeze. It went against the coach’s instructions. A failed day at that. Fortunately, now the victory is warming.
Hyvärinen has emphasized that the SC skiing has a great atmosphere and the SC medals warm you up, but the main work is in the World Cup. From there, the rest of the season was left to dig, when illness ruined, for example, the Salpausselkä games.
Hyvärinen continued on the same line on Saturday, when he was asked about his tough spring fitness.
– I do not know. For some reason, by accident, it is now only in good spring condition. It’s nice to ski these SC championships. It was good skiing today too.
However, in the second round, the snowfall was a surprise. That’s why Hyvärinen “pulled the lip” forward on the uphill when the ski stuck.
– Quite nice. The men didn’t have much juice to ski hard. The split times sounded nice enough that it was nice to ski.
How much has the hard spring fitness surprised you?
– Well. Pretty much. Yes, this is a big disappointment that it’s okay now. You can’t really do anything anymore at this point in the season. It would have been nice to be in better shape even a month ago.
Hyvärinen created a sensation at the Tour de Ski with the first World Cup victory of his career. The end of the season then became, for example, an interruption at the 20 kilometers of Lahti.
At the end of the race in Äänekoski, Hyvärinen addressed his audience and pretended, for example, that he was talking on the phone. He praised the atmosphere of the games profusely.
– When we finish the interviews, I’ll go out there among the audience.
Sunday, relay day, Hyvärinen considered the most important race of the weekend. About the men of the Puijo Ski Club Iivo Niskanen message participation is a puzzle because of a back spasm.
Personal SM medals are also tasty.
– I don’t have these Finnish championships except for one before. Now there were two at once.
Ristomatti Hakola broke away at the end with a strong push for silver.
– The boys (Vuorela and Ruuskanen) were not willing to pull. I thought that if Late (Lauri Vuorinen) joins the group, the final battle becomes tougher.
Hakola knew he would beat Vuorela and Ruuskanen in the final stretch, even if he was leading the pack.
The road was heavy.
– This was spring weather. Let’s enjoy the spring weather, as I said yesterday. Pretty rough. At the end I felt like…
At this point, Hakola’s hair got mixed up in the interview when Markus Vuorela came to mess around.
– I skied on your skis, didn’t I! Hakola shouted.
– Een…
Did you ski on Vuorela’s skis?
– I don’t. It just doesn’t know how to ski, Hakola replied humorously.
When asked about tactics, Vuorela instead revealed in an interview that he had an agreed code language for the race with his teammate Hakola from Jämin Jänte.
– We had a few code words agreed in advance. One was that if you have to leave Arsi, then “Leponiem”. And if we start to pass to the end, then it was “Pirjo’s pakari”.
The backgrounds of the code words were found in the sponsors of the skiers. It is said that all the code words were shouted on the way, but Ruuskanen did not fall.
– Yes, we went to that end with “Pirjo’s pack”.
In addition, it was agreed that Vuorela would say “your control” when Hakola had permission to run away. Vuorela forgot to say that.
Championship races and Finnish Cup 5/6 race weekend, 2nd day pursuit races:
1) Perttu Hyvärinen, Puijon HS 44.27,7
2) Ristomatti Hakola, Jämin Jänne +48.3
3) Markus Vuorela, Jämin Jänne +52.7
4) Arsi Ruuskanen, Kuusamo Erä-Veikot +53.7
5) Lauri Vuorinen, SkiTeam 105 +1.07,0
6) Remi Lindholm, Imatra Athletes +1.08,9
7) Joonas Sarkkinen, Proski Oulu +1.28,0
8) Olli Ahonen, Imatra Athletes +1.34,0
9) Oskari Hökkä, ProSki Oulu +1.50,1
10) Olli-Pekka Laitila, Vehkalahti Veikot +1.55,6
116 men skied to the finish line.