Jasmi Joensuu broke the seam of her life

Jasmi Joensuu fell into a tactical error in the semi-final of the traditional sprint and did not make it to the next round. Jussi Saarinen

The goal was half empty, but Jasmi Joensuu didn’t put the puck in.

– It was all my own fault. Should have skied to the final, Joensuu commented.

The Finn was really convincing in the Tour de Ski stage 5/7 traditional sprint time trial and in the quarter-finals, but the semi-finals went to hell.

– I trusted that the ski is so good and that I can get down to the finish line quickly and go on. Heidi Weng went to the finals at a more reasonable pace. I should have just continued the bet myself.

Both last season and this season, Joensuu has favored a tactic where he pressed the pin on the board for as long as possible. At times, the lactic acid attack has been too fierce to fight for victory, but on Friday in Val di Fiemme it was not about that.

It was the wrong tactic. In the semi-finals, Joensuu and his partners tied the ropes on the longest climb of the course before the long finish line.

– It would have been possible to start at the top and continue the bet. Things happen so fast. I wanted someone else to come out on top.

Did you think that you would save some bangs for the final and not pull the gas at the bottom of the semi-final?

– We have to take care of the semi-final before we can focus on the final.

Joensuu was third in her set, but due to the scrimmage, the set was so slow that the women in the second semi-final in places 3–4 lost both final spots.

Names on the side

Women’s traditional sprint lacks a lot of world championships. They are out of the top ten of this season’s World Cup sprint competition Jonna Sundling (first place before Friday’s race), Johanna Hägström (fifth), Coletta Rydzek (sixth) and Mathilde Myrvold (eighth).

Other elite sprinters from recent seasons on the sidelines include, among others Maja Dahlqvist, Kristine Skistad, Emma Ribom and Frida Karlsson.

During these snows, Joensuu will hardly have such a great place to win a World Cup competition.

– When the seventh place in the World Cup is a really big disappointment, that way you can say that things are fine, Joensuu stated.

– A tactical mistake. The first of this season. You have to learn from mistakes, and you shouldn’t stay sad, he added.

Tells quite aptly about the Finn’s development, when seventh place in the World Cup can be considered a disappointment.

– This is a disappointment for everyone, especially for me.

Next winter’s Olympic Games should be contested on the same track as on Friday. Possibly, there will be small changes to the track so that after a long climb, you don’t immediately start a long descent that brings you to the finish line.

– Quite a good track. Now I know what not to do.

Joensuu plans to continue the Tour.

– There was so much left to do.

The Finn is sixth in the overall competition and second in the sprint competition.