Even Northug has already risen to Johannes Kläbo’s position in Norway’s harsh pecking order. On Sunday, we can expect strong Finnish performances.
– This kind of situation was certainly not aimed at by the operation, Iltalehti’s skiing expert Reijo Jylhä says.
Only five out of twelve Finnish skiers made it to the heats when the freestyle sprints were contested at the Lillehammer World Cup on Saturday.
Jylhä considers four Finnish women who skied to the heats to be a good balance, but on the men’s side only Joni Mäki reached the top 30.
– Load management or change is not yet clearly visible in the race performance. It is really important to think about what to do from now on, Jylhä underlines the performance of the national team.
The cross-country skiing amazed the expert.
– The Finns were sailing. No one was in very good positions in the heats. Krista Pärmäkoski except that there was coagulation in the goal area. It was a striking feature.
Displaced the stars
Krista Pärmäkoski’s skiing looked strong. EPA/AOP
Norwegian Even Northug the early season has impressed Jylhä. Legendary by Petter Northug the little brother was second in the traditional sprint in Ruka and now third in the freestyle in Lillehammer.
These are Northug’s first individual World Cup podium places in his career.
– He skis technically very similar to Petter. The hands move exceptionally fast and the slide is long. The skiing is technically balanced. He has the potential to ski really hard.
Jylhä estimates that the 27-year-old Northug has increased his shares in the Norwegian national team based on his performances in the early season.
– He is purely looking at the sprint Johannes Kläbon after Norway’s best skier. The ranking is really high. Northug can indeed make it to the World Cup.
– Erik Valnes and Emil Iversen are now in the lowlands.
Iversen was 13th in 10 kilometers in Ruka and 35th in the free 20 kilometers. At Lillehammer’s ten, he skied to 12th place. Iversen didn’t even compete in the sprint.
Sprint specialist Valnes was only 11th in the Lillehammer sprint. In Ruka, the sprint ranking was fourth.
Even Northug has been a comet in the early season. PASI LEISMA
Other new names were also seen in the men’s sprint. A 20-year-old Swede Edvin Anger advanced to the final and immediately started skiing in the lead. The ranking was fourth.
Norwegian skier two years older Ansgar Evensen was sixth in the final.
– There are more new followers in skiing than ever before. Switzerland also has good young promises.
Top ten
Jylhä believes in the success of Pärmäkoski and Niskanen on Sunday. Timo Lindholm
Going to Pärmäkoski looked promising in Jylhä’s opinion. The Finnish star was 17th in the final results, even though he fell to a Norwegian skier in the heats.
– Krista’s leg was sharp and the skiing looked good.
The Lillehammer World Cup culminates on Sunday in the men’s and women’s 20 km traditional race. From Pärmäkoski and Kerttu from Niskase is allowed to wait a lot.
– They should be in good positions in the top ten.
Women’s sprint (v) results
1. Emma Ribom (SWE) 3:20,40
2. Maja Dahlqvist (SWE), +0.17
3. Tiril Weng (NOR), +1.11
4. Jessie Diggins (USA), +2.24
5. Victoria Carl (GER), +5.67
6. Johanna Hagström (SWE), +9.43
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17. Krista Pärmäkoski
18. Jasmin Kähärä
22. Jasmi Joensuu
29. Anni Alakoski
40. Katri Lylynperä
43. Anni Lindroos
Men’s sprint (v) results
1. Johannes Kläbo (NOR) 2.56.45
2. Federico Pellegrino (ITA), +0.75
3. Even Northug (NOR), +1.23
4. Edvin Anger (SWE), +1.51
5. Pål Golberg (NOR), +1.64
6. Ansgar Evensen (NOR), +24.83
—
24. Joni Mäki
32. Lauri Vuorinen
38. Juuso Haarala
42. Lauri Mannila
54. Emil Liekari
63. Niilo Moilanen