Santtu Silvennoinen
In Italy, skiers were measured more harshly than ever before in a similar competition format, writes Santtu Silvennoinen from Val di Fiemme.
Jessie Diggins finished in the final on Saturday at the Tour de Ski. Jussi Saarinen
It was the toughest women’s combined skiing ever.
Therese Johaug’s winning time in the 20 km race held at Lago di Tesero ski stadium on Saturday was 54.53.3.
The comparison is a bit one-eyed, because there are different tracks and different weather conditions, but in general, the Lillehammer World Cup combined race track has been considered the toughest on the ski tour for women.
In December, Johaug won the 20 km combined race in his home country with a time of 54:31.5.
Jonna Sundling, who came sixth in Lillehammer, was 1:36.0 with the Norwegian. The first eleven women were within two minutes of each other in the race that was skied a month ago.
Kerttu Niskanen, who skied sixth in Val di Fiemme on Saturday, lost to first place in 2:06.2. The first eleven women were within two and a half minutes of each other.
The differences could be described as shocking.
The free section in particular was rough for the women, as most of the journey was made with hoe technology and the vast majority of the land was plowed. There weren’t many rest moments during the 10-kilometer journey.
Therese Johaug ran away from her racing sisters and broke a 30-second gap to second in Saturday’s combined race at the Tour de Ski. Jussi Saarinen
The International Ski Federation modified its rules for the 2022–23 season so that women and men compete over the same long distances in the World Cup. In value competitions, the rule comes into effect this year.
The women have skied three 20 kilometer combined races with the new rules. Val di Fiemme on Saturday, Lillehammer in December and Trondheim World Cup last season.
In the Trondheim trial held in the future World Cup terrains, the difference between first place Ebba Andersson and sixth place Victoria Carl was 22.7 seconds. The top eleven women were within 70 seconds of each other.
For women, extending the combined race by five kilometers from fifteen to twenty kilometers has been a very successful change.
The men’s combined race in Val di Fiemme went down the drain. Jussi Saarinen
After the men’s combined competition on Saturday, it was magical on Saturday, when differences do not want to arise during any part of the journey and in the end Johannes Klæbo wins.
The men’s combined races were shortened by ten kilometers due to the rule reform, from thirty to twenty kilometers.
The reform was very toxic for, among others, the top of the traditional way of progress like Iivo Niskanen.
In 2022, the Kuopio native won bronze in the 30-kilometer combined race at the Chinese Olympic Games on a grueling track and in very slow conditions.
A Finnish medal in the men’s 20 km combined race at the World Championships in Trondheim would be a sensation.
