Vilma Nissinen and Anni Alakoski won the traditional 10 km race in heavy weather in Vantaa.
Anni Alakoski won the skiing Suomen Cup on Saturday before the traditional skiing 10 km time trial Vilma from Nissi.
Alakoski beat Nissinen with a difference of 12.6 seconds. The fight for victory was the struggle of two sick athletes.
– It’s a really good feeling about the win. It has been really difficult weeks behind us, Alakoski described to Urheilu.
– There have been all kinds of health problems. Now they are left behind. The body is working right now. That’s the main point.
Vilma Nissinen has also had health problems. He didn’t really return to competitions properly until January at the Tampere WC.
– I had a flu at the beginning of the week. I had time to do three workouts. I came to the starting line with quite a risk. It was the same thing before the Tampere WC. I was thinking that it would be nice to ski healthy and have healthy weeks, Nissinen said.
Nissinen has been building his fitness since the beginning of December. The going had been good until the Tampere WC.
– There has been quite a lot of stress in January. It probably shows when you’ve been sick. I’m trying to get in as good shape as possible so that I can ski hard even in the last SC championships in the spring, Nissinen stated.
None of the skiers selected for the World Championships in Planica took part in Saturday’s competition. Instead, many skiers showed their strength towards the spring World Cup races, such as the Salpausselkä Games.
The conditions were a headache for the skiers. The track had become soft. For example, Nissinen had had to change his racing shoes half an hour before the start.
The winner Anni Alakoski spent 30 minutes and 46.8 seconds for 10 kilometers.
– The road was really heavy today. We rarely see ten games of more than half an hour. Even though the track is pretty, I got to do a lot of work. The track was also soft. The rods sank a little. That’s why it was a little stickier, Urheilun Aino-Kaisa Saarinen pointed out.
He was third in the competition Anni Kainulainen 5.1 seconds ahead of Nissi and 12.6 seconds ahead of Alakoski.
– The top three had a good race. I think their condition seems to be improving. They will certainly fight hard for the spring World Cup and especially for a place in the World Cup in Lahti, Saarinen said.
Ten men in line at 1:30 p.m. in Vantaa. You had to be part of the World Cup team in the race Cross mat Hakola and Remi Lindholm. However, Hakola will not participate in the competition.
– No start permit today. The flu symptoms are in waves, and the body was at plus degrees this week, Hakola wrote on Instagram.