Lauri Vuorinen felt cold. A feeling of disappointment for Ristomatti Hakola as well.
Last season’s free sprint WC bronze winner Lauri Vuorinen qualified on the Tour de Ski stage 1/6 of the continuation.
The man from Rovaniemi was in the 31st place in the qualifying, also called a time trial, while the 30 best went to the continuation in the free sprint as usual.
– We had a pretty bad team effort, Vuorinen commented.
Only from Finns Niilo Moilanen (27:s) and Joni Mäki (28th) made it to the next round. They qualified for the next round along with Vuorinen Petteri Koivisto, Cross mat Hakola, Perttu HyvärinenIIvo Niskanen and Niko Anttola.
Vuorinen’s drop was almost a scandal and Hakola’s performance was a big disappointment. The other qualified Finns participated in the race with no expectations of success, because in the Tour you have to go around every stage or else the game is over.
– The body has a fairly basic feel, but maybe a little on the loose side, Vuorinen estimates.
The competition altitude is about 1,200 meters above sea level.
– I came here already on Christmas Eve, so there have been days of adaptation here. Race height should no longer affect Sunday.
Bad ski
Lauri Vuorinen qualified. Jussi Saarinen
It appeared visually that Vuorinen did not have very slippery skis.
– In this qualification, it’s just a feeling, but it certainly felt that way. When I went downhill for the first time and a guy came in front, and I couldn’t fly past, Vuorinen rotted.
– Of course it’s sad. I’ve made it to quite a few races, and I haven’t qualified for a moment. I knew it would come at some point. But I’m not particularly worried yet. Everything has gone very well, he added.
The man from the Ounasvaara Ski Club was last outside the top 30 in March 2024, when he was 36th in the free sprint of the Lahti World Cup.
It was obvious to the naked eye that even Hakola didn’t have the equipment.
– I don’t know what it was. It should be hard from the start to the finish, but it’s not. Yes, these tools should be enough to continue, Hakola replied.
He said that he suffered from a small illness around the previous mc weekend in Davos.
– I’m in Davos for Christmas, so the height is not a problem. Not all Moomins were in the valley.
Ristomatti Hakola qualified. Jussi Saarinen
THE FACTS
Results, men’s sprint qualifying (v):
1. Johannes Klæbo (NOR), 2.27,15
2. Gus Schumacher (USA), +1.76
3. Oskar Vike (NOR), +1.92
4. Lucas Chanavat (FRA), +2.06
5. Valerio Grond (SUI), +2.07
6. Lars Heggen (NOR), +2.41
7. Janik Riebli (SUI), +2.89
8. Ansgar Evensen (NOR), +3.17
9. Davide Graz (ITA), +3.34
10. Harald Amundsen (NOR), +3.40
—
28. Niilo Moilanen, +5.07
29. Joni Mäki, +5.16
—
31. Lauri Vuorinen, +5.42
67. Petteri Koivisto, +11.13
79. Perttu Hyvärinen, +12.56
85. Ristomatti Hakola, +13.08
89. Niko Anttola, +13.74
91. Iivo Niskanen, +14.07