The united man was upset by Ruka’s skiing section. He was fifth. If the man had been allowed to ski the race again, according to his words, he would have definitely had a blast.
Eero Hirvosta took the fight. PASI LEISMA
– That’s a headache. It was a missed opportunity.
Combined athlete Eero Hirvonen27, was dead on Friday in Koillismaa.
– Things should have been done differently.
The Finn was in the lead until the end of the 7.5 kilometer ski section, but succumbed to three Norwegians and a German in the final stages.
– If I could ski the race again, I would ski the whole race to the fullest, so that there was no one else in the final race. I would have been among the three for sure if I had skied the whole race. I didn’t dare to trust my condition, but I skied a little cautiously. It was good and easy skiing the whole race.
The 7.5 km race was held on a 2.5 km track with two steep climbs and one fast descent.
The action of the competition organizers was a hindrance.
– I don’t understand when only one traditional groove is run in the middle of a long descent. It’s a really bad thing in a free joint departure. Everyone wants it and you can’t get anywhere else.
On the other hand, no one wants to start a long descent from the pole position.
– First you throw yourself to the wolves. That’s why no one was going to be the first to leave. There was quite a crunch at the end. Quite a joke.
Tough week
The combined cross-country race went to Letkajenka. PASI LEISMA
Hirvinen’s week has been difficult due to personal troubles. He left Koillismaa until he returned on Thursday evening.
On Friday, the man from Central Finland did not want to identify his personal grief.
– It was great to ski the competition. There was more of a competitive feeling on the ski track. In the morning there was a feeling on the hill that there was no rush from the race. Now that final solution came to mind.
The Finn made his breakthrough six years ago in Ruka. He grabbed two ball positions. The 2017–18 season has been the best of my career so far. From there you can find, among other things, the most recent personal ball position from March 2018.
After the cannon season, the man has struggled with various health problems.
– Now I have been fine. I haven’t even gotten sick during the basic training season.
It means that Ruka’s fifth place on Friday was not the best of the season.
– I believe that physically I am in really good shape. When everything is in order in the jump, I can fight for the top places.
THE FACTS
Combined skiing, 7.5 km, final results:
1. Jens Öftebro, Norway 19.24,6
2. Jarl Magnus Riiber, Norway +0.4
3. Jørgen Graabak, Norway +1.1
4. Johannes Rydzek, Germany 3.1
5. Eero Hirvonen, Finland +3.5
6. Johannes Lamparter +6.0
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10. Ilkka Herola +16.2