Ylela only has the TV rights for the Val di Fiemme races. does not have TV rights to the Toblach races televised by Viaplay, but you can see the best bits in the app and on ‘s website after the races. You can find everything essential about the Tour de Ski here!
The Tour de Ski, the number one event of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, started with a bang for the Finns. Jasmine Joensuu took a rare place on the podium for Finns, when he was second in the free sprint.
The last time a Finnish woman was on the podium in a freestyle sprint at the World Cup was in December 2009 in Davos.
Then it was answered Aino–Kaisa Saarinen.
The last time a Finn reached the podium in the freestyle skiing sprint at the World Cup was in December 2013. Then he reached the top three Martti Rugged.
Also, no less than five Finnish skiers made it to the semi-finals, i.e. to the top 12. In the free sprint, such a treat is very rare for blue-and-white skiers.
of the International Ski Federation FIS according to statistics the last time such a Finnish day was experienced in a sprint in Rybinski, Russia in January 2009.
According to FIS statistics, this was only the fifth time that five Finns are among the top 12 in the freestyle skiing World Cup sprints on the same day. In addition to Rybinski, this had previously happened in Lahti in 2009, in Stockholm in 2007 and in Borlänge in 2003.
Today was a day of joy for Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, who currently works as Urheilu’s skiing expert. She gladly handed over her scepter from the previous Finnish women’s podium place in free sprints to Jasmi Joensuu.
– Jasmi skied a really good race. Overall, the day was intact. He showed good fitness and good tactical skills. Everything went smoothly today, Saarinen marveled.
For Joensuu himself, the podium place was an emotional thing. He has openly talked about the end of his relationship on social media, so now it was nice to be on the crest of a wave for skiing.
For Joensuu, the podium position was of great importance for the World Championships at the turn of February-March, when today’s race distance freestyle sprint is also contested in Trondheim. Joensuu said that the second place brought credit to the fact that he is able to fight for World Championship medals.
Saarinen also saw a really big value in a podium finish.
– Yes, this is a big mental thing. The myth is busted. Now it’s easier for Jasmin and the others to get to the podium, Saarinen assesses the break of the 15-year streak without a podium.
Crazy full turn
For the Finns, the freestyle sprint has been quite the crowning glory in recent years. I have thought a lot about how to get the free sprint in order. In the previous World Cup sprint in Davos, only four Finns made it through the qualifiers. The contrast with Toblach was quite a lot, since now there were more Finns in the semi-finals.
How was such a complete translation possible?
– Toblach has been a good place for us Finns. Maintenance has been successful there many times, like last year, for example, Saarinen reminded of the Finnish double win on New Year’s Eve with the traditional ten.
At that time Kerttu Neck and Perttu Nice one were able to get on the highest podium.
– Even now, the athletes praised the skis. To the eye of the beholder, the skis also looked good for skiing. Of course, the athletes were also in good shape. Everything is now positive in the Finnish team, Saarinen was happy.
Overall, Finland has had good sprint performances this season. At the opening of the World Cup in Ruka, seven Finns made it to the heats using traditional skiing. That was already a rare treat.
– Our sprint level has increased. As a coach, it is important for me that the results improve on average and that the best days improve. When we have really good skis and the athletes are in good shape, we can fight for the top places. Then it’s good to implement the tactics, Finnish coach Ville Oksanen stated after the race.
In recent years, Swedish women have reaped success in sprinting. Now only one athlete from Sweden made it into the top twelve.
– Usually the Swedes are praised, but the day was a disappointment for them. Today they were not ahead of us. I’m not saying that this would be normal, that we would do the same thing every time, but we are going in a really good direction, Oksanen pointed out.
Niskanen raised his shares
In terms of the whole Tour de Ski, perhaps Kerttu Niskanen’s ninth place was the hardest thing. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen said in advance that Saturday’s opening race will be the most difficult for Niskanen.
Now, however, Niskanen grabbed valuable bonus seconds for himself by going far in the sprint. Remember Norway as one of the successful candidates for this year’s Tour Therese Johaug is now 32 seconds behind Niska and Sweden Ebba Andersson 36 seconds behind.
On Sunday, the Tour continues with a 15-kilometer traditional cross-country race.
With a good sprint success, Niskanen also secured a good starting position for the race, as he was placed there based on Saturday’s results. It seems from Saari that Niskanen is now in good shape. Virekin is excellent.
– With today, Kerttu raises his own shares in the Tour’s overall competition significantly. Kerttu surprised me in a very positive way, Saarinen described.
Tour de Ski results service: