Head coach Teemu Pasanen does not believe that Corona will affect Iivo Niskanen’s main goal of the season.
Iivo Niskanen getting sick with corona just before the opening of the skiing world cup was the head coach Teemu Pasanen too big disappointment. Niskanen has managed to achieve a great result in Ruka and has won the 15 km traditional cross-country time trial no less than four times.
This week’s Ruka World Cup will now be missed by Niskas.
– Iivo would certainly have had a good result in Ruka. It is of course disappointing that he won’t be able to start, Pasanen stated.
After the national team camp in Olos, which ended last Thursday, Niskanen stayed in Muonio to train alone, and on Sunday he skied a training competition with other skiers camping in Olos.
According to Pasanen, Niskanen’s speed in the practice race was good, so based on that, the Olympic champion was in suitable striking condition for the season. Niskanen was supposed to travel to Ruka on Wednesday and join the World Cup team.
– Then today I received a call from Olos that he has now contracted the corona virus.
Pasanen does not think that Niskanen’s illness will affect his main goal this season, i.e. the World Cup skiing in Planica. The World Cup competitions are skied in February-March, and Niskanen’s main trip, the 50-kilometer traditional skiing joint start competition, is scheduled for March 5.
– Fortunately, there is a lot of time for the World Cup, and this does not necessarily affect it in any way. Of course, it depends on how severe the symptoms of Corona are and how long he has to change his training because of it, Pasanen stated.
– If it’s a corona with minor symptoms, he can certainly get over it quite quickly. But of course this now affects these first World Cup weekends.
Niskanen is not the only skier who misses Ruka because of the corona. Among other things, an Olympic winner from the Norwegian team Ragnhild Haga and sprinters Sindre Björnestad Skar and Marte Skaanes have become ill.
The Finnish team in Ruka
Sprint:
Jasmi Joensuu, Anne Kyllönen, Jasmin Kähärä (U23), Katri Lylynperä, Johanna Matintalo, Krista Pärmäkoski, Olli Ahonen, Juuso Haarala, Lauri Mannila, Niilo Moilanen (U23), Joni Mäki, Lauri Vuorinen
National group
Anni Alakoski, Anni Kainulainen, Hilla Niemelä (U23), Maaret Pajunoja, Vilma Ryytty (U23), Amanda Saari (U23), Väinö Kotro, Lauri Lepistö, Wiljam Mattila (U23), Ike Melnits (U23), Verneri Poikonen, Verneri Suhonen
Normal journeys:
Anni Alakoski, Jasmi Joensuu, Anne Kyllönen, Johanna Matintalo, Kerttu Niskanen, Krista Pärmäkoski, Niko Anttola (U23), Perttu Hyvärinen, Lauri Lepistö, Remi Lindholm, Joni Mäki, Markus Vuorela
National group
Anni Kainulainen, Jasmin Kähärä (U23), Katri Lylynperä, Hilla Niemelä (U23), Vilma Ryytty (U23), Eevi-Inkeri Tossavainen (U23), Juuso Haarala, Petteri Koivisto (U23), Emil Liekari (U23), Arsi Ruuskanen, Joonas Sarkkinen, Lauri Vuorinen
broadcasts the Ruka World Cup on its channels, TV1, TV2 and Puhe. The first race broadcast starts on Friday on TV1 at 10:55 a.m. with sprint qualifying. Puhe will be heard at 12:05. More detailed television broadcast times can be found at Areena and teletext on page 355.