According to Krista Pärmäkoski and Iivo Niskanen, the absence of Russian athletes will not cause any changes to Finnish tactics on the Holmenkollen trails.
The absence of Russian skiers will set the tone for the cross-country World Cup at Holmenkollen in Norway over the weekend.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes will no longer be allowed to participate in the FIS competition during the current season. The reason is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With the decision, Holmenkollen will be left out of the top name in the Women’s World Cup, among other things Natalia Nepryaeva and his country Tatiana Sorina. The most famous absentee in the men’s competition is Alexander Bolshunov.
Iivo Niskasen According to Russia, the invasion of Ukraine has caused a debate among World Cup skiers.
– It is a sad and serious subject that inevitably affects us all, Niskanen says.
According to Niskanen, the absence of the Russians will dampen the last competitions of the World Cup.
– It would have been nice to receive them in a good mood. Now that is not possible.
Krista Pärmäkoski says his tactics are not affected by the absence of the Russians.
– It’s hard to get out of there, but it hardly affects the course of the race. Therese Johaug will certainly go their separate ways and the others will wrinkle in pursuit. Nepryaeva would probably have tried to keep up. I am in the role of a follower in the hose and then I try to hit at the end, Pärmäkoski says.
Fatigue weighs on Pärmäkoski
At the Holmenkollen on Saturday, a 30-kilometer women’s cross-country traditional race will be held.
– I’m pretty tired. For me, the right solution was to skip the Drammen sprint race on Thursday. The week after the Olympics was pretty tough and it feels like fatigue is hitting now.
Holmenkollen has been promised sunny weather on Saturday. However, the warm weather is not expected to melt the trails on Saturday.
– The weather stays reasonably fast. We have to look at how the situation changes towards the end of the race and how it affects the ski choices, Pärmäkoski evaluates during the competition.
Niskanen names the young Swede a challenger
At Holmenkollen, the men will compete in a 50-kilometer traditional group race on Sunday.
On the men’s kingship trip, the piste career is expected to go soft during the race.
– Changing skis becomes relevant if the weather is warm here. Within two hours, the condition may change and during the race the weather may require a different type of lubrication or a completely new ski.
Niskanen is aiming for first place in Holmenkollen’s traditional competition, the victory of which he calls one of his dreams.
Would Alexander Bolshunov have been the kind of skier you would have escaped in Sunday’s race?
– Well, he wasn’t in such a strong mood last weekend, he’s always been strong here in his fifties. I would have had to use similar elements in tactics anyway. I basically wouldn’t be her [Bolshunov] with him left the race to the end. I don’t think the absence of the Russians will affect my tactics.
Niskanen lists Norwegians and Sweden as his worst competitors William Poromanwhich ranked Lahti in the traditional 15 kilometers third in Niskanen and Johannes Hoesflot Kläbon.
– I don’t know how long enough his endurance is. The French and Dario Cologna did not compete in Lahti, but I believe the Norwegians are the toughest opponents here.
The women’s 30-kilometer race will be shown on TV2 on Saturday from 10.55.