Lauri Vuorinen and Iivo Niskanen were third in the pair sprint. It completed a great day of Finnish skiing, when Krista Pärmäkoski and Johanna Matintalo were second in the women’s category.
If the women’s pair sprint final was dramatic on the opening day of the World Cup in Lahti, so was the men’s final.
In women, Sweden Jonna Sundling and Linn Svahn pushed for an overwhelming victory. Finland’s women’s first team Krista Pärmäkoski and Johanna Matintalo instead, they took the longest shot in a colorful struggle for other places. They were different.
The men also saw a moderately sovereign winner, Norway’s number one team Paul Golberg and Johannes Hösflot Kläbo. But behind the tip it hurt and it happened in men too. In the end, the second place was taken by Norway’s second team (Håvard Solås Taugböl and Even Northug). The third place was happily taken by Finland’s first team (Iivo Niskanen and Lauri Vuorinen).
Finland’s second team Cross mat Hakola and Ville Ahonen was seventh in the end.
Vuorinen’s fierce final fight
Compared to the women’s race, the men’s larger group stayed together longer. After the third leg, Finland’s first team (Niskanen) came to change in fifth and Finland’s second team (Hakola) in sixth. The difference between Hakolan and the top was only 2.39 seconds.
The essence of Finland’s first team was not promising in terms of the podium fight. For example, at the end of the fourth leg, Vuorinen brought Finland to the exchange in fifth, the top four was a bit rough.
The fifth leg progressed in such a way that France and Norway’s first team were on the run when it came to the last count. Then came Norway’s second team and Finland’s Iivo Niskanen with small differences. In terms of the podium fight, it already looked really bad.
But then in the decline of the stadium area of France Jules Chappaz went wrong. It opened an opportunity for Finland.
On the last leg of France Richard Jouve furiously caught up with Lauri Vuori. Before landing at the stadium, Jouve caught Vuorinen’s butt. But Vuorinen lasted as long as he did, by a hundredth.
The crowd in Lahti was ecstatic when the goal camera’s verdict came: Finland is third.
However, ‘s newsroom did not dare to celebrate yet.
– We still want that paintball camera image, we still need it, shouted the narrator Kimmo Porttila.
– Let’s see, said the expert calmly Ville Nousiainen.
Then the TV audience also got to enjoy the paint camera slow motion.
– Now we see it! I’m excited as if this is happening right now, Porttila laughed.
Both Porttila and Nousiainen burst into laughter when Vuorinen and Jouve stretched to the finish line in slow motion.
– After all, it’s… It’s a step ahead. That’s it! Toe first. Yes! Lauri Vuorinen and Iivo Niskanen on the podium, Porttila mesosi.
– Remember to stretch.
If the Finnish women’s podium place was a rare treat, so is the men’s. Finnish men have been on the podium in the World Cup pair sprint four times throughout history.
The previous Finnish men’s podium was in 2019 in Lahti, when the pair sprint was contested last time with a traditional one. Then Ristomatti Hakola and Joni Mäki were third. Finland has never won the men’s pair sprint at the World Cup.
Lauri Vuorinelle’s podium place is the first in the World Cup, taking into account all competitions. He has previously been at his best, fourth in the individual distance of the sprint and in the relay.
– Really great! I’ve thought about whether I might reach the podium during my own career. There is nothing better than taking the first podium place in Lahti, Vuorinen tasted.
– I gave my all on the last climb and hoped that I could separate myself from the others. But I could feel one guy breathing down my back as we headed into the downhill section. I succeeded, even though it took a while to chalk the lines, Vuorinen said.
Iivo Niskasen, who skied with Vuorinen, did not have a great day.
– The first two sections were so incredibly quiet that I could have imagined that I would finish even better, Niskanen stated.
– The steep section was rough for many laps. The leg was not sharp enough to keep up with the Norwegian, Niskanen admitted.
Updated at 18:42: Added comments.